Gunlock family donates $6 million to Miami athletics
An architectural drawing of the Gunlock Family Performance Center, a state-of-the-art athletic facility that will feature a weight room, football locker room, offices for coaching staff, players’ lounge, team meeting rooms.
written by Miami University athletics
A family with deep ties to Miami University and its athletic programs is making one of the largest single donations ever received by the athletic department. The gift was announced today (Dec. 16) by David Sayler, Miami’s athletic director.
Randy Gunlock, a 1977 Miami alumnus, and his wife, Vicki, (of Dayton, Ohio) are providing a lead gift of $6 million to construct the Gunlock Family Performance Center, a state-of-the-art athletic facility that will feature a weight room, football locker room, offices for coaching staff, players’ lounge, team meeting rooms, hydrotherapy area, student-athlete rehabilitation center, recruiting and equipment room and reception area. The facility will be built between Yager Stadium and the newly-constructed Indoor Sports Center.
“This donation reflects Randy and Vicki's understanding of how athletics can enrich and expand the college experience,” said Sayler. “This gift leads the way for others to invest in building a brighter future at the university and helping us to continue our philosophy and rich history of Graduating Champions.”
“Miami provided me with phenomenal experiences,” explained Randy. “My time as a student-athlete was instrumental in preparing me for the challenges of entrepreneurship after graduation. This gift is given in the spirit of encouraging the next generation of Miami student-athletes to take full advantage of their time at the university. We are excited about the renewed commitment made by the university, President Hodge, David Sayler and his entire athletic department staff, and believe that Head Coach Chuck Martin is the person to lead Miami Football back to prominence."
“Randy is the quintessential Miami student-athlete - an individual who is driven to succeed in the classroom, on the field, and following graduation and who recognizes the importance of supporting and improving the broader communities of which he or she is a part,” said Sayler.
Both Randy and Vicki participated in college athletics. Vicki was a four-year letter-winner on the crew team at the University of Charleston and Randy was a three-year letter winner and former captain of the Miami University football team (1973-76). During those seasons, the team’s win-loss record was 35-9-1 overall resulting in three MAC Championships. Miami advanced to three bowl victories against teams from the Southeastern Conference: Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. After graduating from Miami in 1977, Randy founded a real estate development company and constructed over 11-million square feet of retail space throughout the Midwest.
Randy’s father, Bill Gunlock, was also a successful Miami student-athlete, lettering in football from 1948-50, during which period Miami won a pair of MAC Championships and had an overall win-loss record of 21-6. After graduating from Miami in 1951, Bill held assistant football coaching positions at Heidelberg College, Bowling Green State University, the United States Military Academy at West Point, and The Ohio State University. Following his coaching career, Bill founded and operated a company before retiring. Bill is a former Miami University trustee, foundation board member, and Red & White advisory board member. He was inducted into the Miami University Hall of Fame in 2008.
