Nebraska baseball coach gives update on clubhouse facility upgrades

Nebraska baseball head coach Will Bolt spoke with the media for the first time on Thursday about new clubhouse upgrades in the works for baseball and softball. The baseball clubhouse will cost $5.5 million and will include improvements to the team’s dining area, recovery facilities and locker room.

The move was announced in an April 29 episode of Sports Nightly, the Huskers Radio Network’s daily talk show.

“We’re also doing about a $5.5 million rebuild of the baseball clubhouse, when the season is over,” NU Director of Athletics Troy Dannen said, “and softball is getting about a $4 million rebuild of their clubhouse.”

Name, image and likeness drive recruiting, but Bolt said a new locker room will help with player development.

“We know what kind of drives the conversation now, and it's a little different than that, but the player amenities that we're going to have will be top notch, in terms of recovery, in terms of the development piece, from nutrition,” Bolt said. “And having that housed here, that's a difference maker, especially for a developmental program like I think — here in the middle of the country — that's what we are.”

Bolt said Dannen noticed a need to upgrade the locker room, dining area and recovery facilities.

“When Troy got here and he walked through here, he's like, ‘This is not acceptable for what you guys are trying to do, let alone what you're already doing with what we see,’” Bolt said.

Baseball is poised for a third straight NCAA Tournament bid, while softball will earn its second straight postseason invite.

Bolt called the recovery and nutrition pieces a “difference maker,” in addition to having the Alex Gordon Training Complex and Haymarket Park. Plans for changes to the clubhouse date back to when Darin Erstad led the program from 2012 to 2019, Bolt said.

An athletic department spokesperson said construction may not start until after the season ends for the Lincoln Saltdogs, who also play at Haymarket Park and wrap up their regular season in early September.