NSU soccer complex latest in university’s upgrades

When Nicholls State athletic director Rob Bernardi first walked on campus seven years ago, he saw an athletic department with potential to compete.

Unfortunately, he also saw an athletic department that was in dire need of renovations and upgrades in several key areas.

Seven years later, with the backing of the university, Bernardi has witnessed the athletic department grow. The latest in a number of projects is upgrades to the soccer field.

“We do have the soccer facility getting under way although it is a little late,” Bernardi said. “Mike Fesi, the owner of Pipeline Construction in Houma, is the donor of the new soccer facility. It’s taking awhile because he is running a business and he has other things going on. We do anticipate that project getting under way here full speed real soon. Once it gets started we anticipate that it will move quickly.”

Bernardi added, “The soccer field itself will stay where it is. The building added will include locker rooms, coaches offices and meeting rooms.”

He also plans on upgrading the turf on the practice field behind Barker Hall as well as constructing a driving range for the golf teams.

“It’s been there since 1986,” Bernardi explained about the turf. “I think it’s time we did something to it.”

“Our golf teams have to drive to Ellendale Country Club in Houma for practice everyday,” he continued. “With the new driving range they will be able to practice anytime before, after and in between classes.”

In addition to the soccer field, the university will soon start building the new student recreation center. At the same time, Bernardi said a new tennis facility would be built to accommodate the men’s and women’s tennis teams.

“That project should begin in either late fall or early spring,” he said.

Sometime in the future, Bernardi said he would also like to see the men’s basketball offices expanded and new scoreboards for both football and basketball. There is no timetable for those projects, the athletic director said, but he hopes something can be done within the next couple years.

“If it were up to me, I would like to have it done tomorrow,” he said. “But I would think in the next couple years we will hopefully make some headway in that.”

During Bernardi’s tenure, Nicholls has added a new donated turf on the football field, a new floor and new bleachers in the Stopher Gymnasium and an updated back stop and more bleachers at Ray E. Didier baseball field.

“Everything we have done has been for the benefit of the university and our student-athletes,” Bernardi said. “The student fees helped out a lot.”

Over time, through the recently assessed fees on tuition, private donations and fundraising, Bernardi has ensured that the image and the athletic facilities across campus have met his expectations and has helped the athletic facilities appear more welcoming to potential recruits.

The facelift started pre-Katrina when the women’s basketball offices were expanded to make it more convenient for the coaches.

When Katrina struck, Stopher Gym was used as a shelter and the floor received damage. It took a year, but the gym was given a new floor and bleachers on the first level.

Since then, Bernardi said he has taken things one step at a time to make Nicholls more presentable.

In addition to the Guidry Stadium, Stopher Gym and Didier Field renovations, two new buses were purchased to make road travel more comfortable.

“It’s not easy traveling to road games,” Bernardi said. “We wanted to make travel as convenient as possible for our athletes.”

Most recently, red and gray seats spelling out NSU were added to the upper deck of Stopher.

Overall, Bernardi said he is pleased with the way things have worked out and believes Nicholls has done as good a job as any with the resources they have in backing and supporting the upgrades.