The Morse Wittwer Sports Performance Center opened its doors last week with an official ribbon cutting to celebrate the investment in the future of the Fresno State Athletics Department.­

The new facility was named after­ Chris and Michelle Morse and Ken and Kristi Wittwer in recognition of their $500,000 donation. Morse and Wittwer were previously recognized as the first members of the Marvin and Tish Meyers Champions Circle, according to Fresno State Athletics.­

“It’s a great opportunity for our student-athletes to see what our fans and our donors and those people that surround the Bulldog program really do for us,” said Fresno State women’s basketball head coach Jaime White. 

Chris Morse told ABC30 that he has been a supporter of Fresno State athletics and academics for the last 10 to 15 years, so when the opportunity was presented by Athletic Director Terry Tumey and Senior Associate Athletic Director Tim Collins to help the 403 student-athletes, he jumped at the chance to improve their lives.­

The over 6,000-square-foot training center includes 12 platforms built into the floor and a large turf area for plyometrics. Aside from the up-to-date equipment, iPads with advanced technology to track student-athletes performance during their workout will be provided as well. 

Before the performance center was created, student athletes from 17 athletics programs shared a single weight room located near the Duncan football building. The Morse Wittwer Sports Performance Center resides in the North Gym, a closer and more convenient location for many student-athletes. 

Head coaches and athletes from the various athletic programs were present for the ribbon cutting ceremony, along with dignitaries such as Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Tumey and Collins. 

White is entering her ninth season as the head coach for the Bulldogs and said she hasn’t seen Fresno State be this efficient for athletics. 

“Really for us, for women’s basketball, it has been everything to have this facility be so close that we can practice in your gym and literally walk 10 feet and we are in a weightlifting facility that is beautiful. That is ours,” White said. 

The facility allows student-athletes, such as the men’s and women’s basketball programs whose offices are right next door, to go in and out, back to class or to study hall. 

Fresno State men’s basketball coach Justin Hutson said the convenience and accessibility of the location of the new facility is “imperative” for student-athletes.

“It helps every student-athlete because now the football weight room is not crowded…  Now they become better students because they have more flexibility to get into this brand new beautiful weight room because of the time commitment,” Hutson said.