SAN ANGELO, Texas — The Angelo State University Rambelles soccer team has a new clubhouse. The university hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday to officially open of the new $2.4 million facility.
The ASU Soccer Complex has been officially renamed the LeGrand Soccer Complex in recognition of a significant gift by long-time supporters Dr. Robert and Jean Ann LeGrand to fund construction of the Rambelles Soccer Clubhouse and other complex renovations.
Its been almost a year since ground was broken for construction of the 3,934-square-foot clubhouse that houses locker rooms, a mud room, a uniform room, coaches offices, restrooms/showers and an approximately 900-square-foot covered porch area. It is also equipped with state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment.
The addition of the soccer program's first dedicated clubhouse completes a two-year, $3.14 million renovation project at the LeGrand Soccer Complex. The second phase of the project also included the installation of a new scoreboard.
"I believe the LeGrand Soccer Complex is now the top soccer complex in the Lone Star Conference and probably the region, and the Rambelles Soccer Clubhouse is the crown jewel," Travis McCorkle, head soccer coach, said in an ASU release. "Our facility also competes nationally among the best within all of NCAA Division II women's soccer, and the clubhouse is an awesome place that our players can call their own. Having top-notch facilities also helps with recruiting. The new clubhouse will certainly help us continue to attract outstanding student-athletes to represent Angelo State."
The first phase of the renovation project featured the installation of stadium seating, a covering steel canopy, a modular press box and related infrastructure. The additional seating has more than doubled the complex's capacity, which was previously about 500 fans.
"It is a tremendous privilege to be part of an athletics program that cares so much about its student-athletes, coaches and fans - and receives such outstanding and generous support from its friends and alumni," James Reid, ASU athletic director, said. "Angelo State is known for having some of the top athletics facilities in all of NCAA Division II, and we can't thank Dr. Bob and Jean Ann LeGrand enough for helping us bring our soccer complex into that realm."
Funding for the clubhouse and other complex renovations is also just the latest example of the LeGrands' dedication to ASU athletics. Their legacy of support goes back over a decade to 2008, when they began funding athletics scholarships, as well as renovations to what was then the LeGrand Multipurpose Sports Complex. They also helped fund further upgrades to the complex that allowed the Rams football team to begin playing home games on campus in 2014 at the re-named LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field.
Since 2010, the Rambelles soccer team has won seven Lone Star Conference regular-season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament eight times. Numerous players have earned All-LSC, All-South Central Region and All-America honors, and McCorkle is a five-time LSC Coach of the Year. The entire coaching staff was named South Central Region and NCAA D-II National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2020-2021 by the United Soccer Coaches (USC) organization following ASU's first-ever undefeated season.
During the fall 2023 season, the Rambelles finished third in the LSC and compiled a 9-7-4 overall record. Midfielder Mia Czarnecki (business major) was named LSC Academic Player of the Year and five other Belles players earned All-LSC recognition, including midfielder Katelin Heise (exercise science) making the All-LSC first team.
