A winning investment

In 2018, Lynn University began rolling out its Lynn 2025 strategic plan—a gradual and transformative university-wide endeavor rooted in Lynn's mission to provide an innovative, global and personalized education. As part of this plan, the university committed to elevating the Lynn experience and expanding its programs, services, opportunities and capabilities. This included completing a master plan for Fighting Knights athletics. 

"We've invested $10 million in new facilities and upgrades to facilities, equipment and transportation for our athletics programs since 2018," said Chris Boniforti, chief strategy and technology officer at Lynn. 

Improvements include a new strength and conditioning center for athletes, a new gym floor, and updates to the tennis courts, swimming pools and soccer field. New baseball and softball fields are currently under construction. These enhancements have elevated Lynn Athletics at a time when competition between universities is at an all-time high. 

From volleyball spikes to basketball tip-offs, the freshly renovated gym floor at the Count and Countess de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center is brighter, bolder and ready to capture unforgettable memories.  

Adam Milewski, head coach for women's volleyball, led the team to win the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II National Championship—the first in the history of Lynn's women's volleyball program. Milewski views the new gym floor as a valuable recruitment tool and a commitment to success.  

"It's absolutely beautiful," said Milewski. "It's not only the gym, but you see Lynn's commitment to excellence throughout all of campus, and the new gym floor is such a great example of it."  

Michael (Mike) Perez, head coach for men's and women's tennis at Lynn, has guided both NCAA Division II programs to success over the past 36 years. Lynn's most-winning coach to date, earning over 700 victories for women's tennis, over 500 victories for men's tennis, and seven national championships, Perez remembers their humble beginnings. 

"We launched the tennis program when I began my career at Lynn in 1989," said Perez. "We knew we could win regardless of our facilities, but to achieve some equity with other universities, Lynn made an investment in our facilities that really bolstered our program. It reinforced the university's commitment to its student-athletes."

Today, Lynn's Perper Tennis Complex is home to one of the country's most successful tennis programs. It features six lighted courts, covered center-stadium seating and a digital scoreboard. At the start of 2025, Lynn revitalized the courts with its brand colors and a new surfacing compound that elevates play. 

"Facilities don't win you matches or games, but this is a hyper-competitive environment," said Perez. "When prospective students, transfer students or other universities come to Lynn, they see how we present ourselves through these facilities. These enhancements have given us opportunities to recruit more quality student-athletes and achieve record-breaking success."

Lynn's Perper Tennis Complex even caught the attention of New Balance, which chose the location to film a commercial starring American pro tennis star Coco Gauff. The ad aired during the U.S. Open, just before a match between Gauff and former Lynn women's tennis star Leolia Jeanjean.  

"That was a highlight for me because it spoke to the caliber of our facilities," said Perez. "Having a top-notch tennis complex instills a lot of pride, motivation and excitement."

During Lynn's 2024 State of the University address, Lynn President Kevin M. Ross also announced plans to build new fields for the NCAA DII Fighting Knights baseball and softball teams, completing Lynn's vision to create a unified sports complex in the southwest quadrant of campus. The new complex will provide coaches and student-athletes with a state-of-the-art facility to attract high-caliber players, improve the training experience and enhance team performance.  

"The new ballpark…will greatly enhance the experience of our student-athletes and elevate our competitive level in one of the best baseball conferences in the nation," said Rudy Garbalosa, head baseball coach for Lynn. 

"Once we get the new field, it's really going to give us the push we need to strengthen our recruiting efforts and help us be one of the best teams in the conference," said Cassidy Pickett, head softball coach for Lynn.  

Manchester City selected Lynn's Bobby Campbell Stadium as their training site for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Ahead of their arrival, the professional football club made significant contributions to both the stadium and the Mary and Harold Perper Intramural Field by resodding the grounds and enhancing the overall grass quality to closely match the standards of its soccer fields in England. 

The Perper Field also features upgrades, including a new scoreboard and lights that allow Lynn's Fighting Knights and club sports teams to practice and compete day and night. 

"Hosting one of the world's top football clubs was a tremendous opportunity for our university," said Athletics Director Kathy Kroupa. "Not only as a premier training location, but also as a chance to build meaningful relationships with world-class teams."