MTSU Athletics Receives $1.5 Million From Murfreesboro Businessman

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Photo: Courtesy of MTSU Athletics.

A local Murfreesboro resident and businessman John Floyd has donated $1.5 million to Middle Tennessee State University’s Athletic Department.

The generous donation was made in support of the Blue Raider Athletics Association’s fundraising campaign “Build Blue,” which aims to raise $15 million for the construction of a new athletics facilities on campus.

Floyd, the founder and owner of Ole South Properties Inc., Tennessee’s local, independent home builder, launched his own real estate career at the age of 23 in 1986. Today, his company is recognized among the Top 100 Home Builders in the nation.

“I’m just reinvesting in the community,” says Floyd. “I’ve done extremely well in this community, and MTSU in many ways represents a lot of my success.”

“This investment by John Floyd and Ole South Properties in our Build Blue campaign is a game changer in our efforts to transform our Athletics facilities and bring substantial change to the look and feel of our campus,” shares University President Sidney A. McPhee. “We deeply value John’s continued friendship and commitment to our university and greatly appreciate the ongoing support of Ole South Properties in both athletics and academics.”

Floyd has a long history of providing financial support to MT Athletics, the University, and the Murfreesboro community as a whole. Just a few highlights of his philanthropy include:

  • Ole South is the Official Home Builder of MT Athletics, which allows it to partner with local charities, such as the Second Harvest Food Bank for a free-throw promotion during MT men’s basketball games, donating thousands of meals to help struggling Middle Tennessee families
  • Ole South is a proud supporter of Raider Realty, a student realty company that operates a privately held, for-profit business providing the complete gamut of commercial and residential real estate services in Middle Tennessee
  • Floyd previously pledged another seven-figure financial gift to boost the professional prospects of students preparing to graduate from MTSU. That $1 million pledge helped launch the Center for Student Coaching and Success at MTSU, which focuses on helping soon-to-be graduates make a successful transition from college classes to gainful employment
  • Each year Ole South donates more than $1 million to area non-profit organizations that continue to provide vital programs and services throughout Middle Tennessee.
  • Ole South is also a major financial supporter of K-12 education in Rutherford County.

“John is a great friend to our University and is one of the leading business people in our city, region, and state,” says Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. “We are extremely humbled that John has made this type of investment and commitment to our athletic facility plan. This is a giant step forward in our Build Blue campaign.”

MTSU Athletics announced a $66 million project in November to build a new student-athlete performance center behind the north end zone of Floyd Stadium, as well as to make stadium improvements–the first of a three-phase, $100 million-plus plan to be funded by private support to upgrade athletics facilities.

Blue Raider fans can visit BuildBlueNow.com to learn more about the Blue Raider Athletic Complex plans, see concept art, and join Floyd in donating.

Steven Boero
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