Troy coaches excited about new arena

The building of Troy’s new basketball arena is still years away, but it hasn’t stopped basketball coaches Don Maestri and Michael Murphy from building up excitement.

“It’s welcome news,” said Murphy, the women’s coach. “Like most things, you wanted it to happen last week. I’m really excited about the future and what it can do for this University.”

Last week, trustees gave the go-ahead to Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. to issue up to $57 million in bonds for the arena, a new dining hall and fraternity village. The board of trustees voted on the approval for a new multi-purpose facility last fall.

The new arena will likely seat 5,000 to 6,000 for games. All three new facilities will be recruiting tools for student-athletes, Murphy said. He pointed to the new Trojan Village student dorms and the new Jack Hawkins Jr. College of Education Building as recruiting tools.

“In my six years here, every building that has gone up has been first class,” Murphy said. “I don’t expect the arena, cafeteria or fraternity village to be any different.”

The location hasn’t been set, but Maestri, the longtime men’s coach, said the top choice is on the golf course behind the golf clubhouse, which is adjacent to the parking lot on the press box side of Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium. He said that architects would have to test the surface to see if it would hold the facility. Right now, Troy University is taking bids for architects.

Maestri’s wish list for the new arena included a practice facility where the teams could use if the main floor is already in use. Currently, the teams practice at the student recreation center if forced out of Trojan Arena.

Coaches are also hoping for a small weight room in the facility. All Troy athletes use the football weight room at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium.

Troy adds signee: Levan Patsatsia, a 6-foot-6 forward from Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College, became the second signee for the men’s team. Patsatsia signed with Arkansas out of the Republic of Georgia and played sparingly as a freshman in the 2007-08 season before transferring to PJC.

“He’s a perimeter player and a very hard-nosed type guy,” Maestri said. “He plays with a lot of intensity and has a good feel for the game. He’s got a good basketball IQ and we think he’ll help us right away.”

Troy signed 6-foot-4 guard Vernon Taylor late in April. The Trojans have three more scholarships to give for next season.