Creighton University dedicated the Ruth Scott Training Center on February 4, 2019 in a ceremony that included Bill and Ruth Scott, Creighton President Fr. Daniel S. Hendrickson, S.J., McCormick Endowed Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen, women’s basketball head coach Jim Flanery, volleyball head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth, and student-athlete Megan Ballenger as speakers.
The $5 million training facility was the latest addition to the east campus athletic corridor. Fewer student-athletes miss practice because of gym and classroom schedules, and all Bluejay student-athletes benefit. Designed primarily for volleyball and women’s basketball, this facility acknowledges the hardworking, talented coaches and student-athletes Creighton hopes to retain.
Aligning with Creighton Athletics’ mission of recruiting, retaining, developing and graduating outstanding student-athletes, this facility is a vital developmental resource for both programs. It provides an alternative 16,109 square-foot space to ensure both programs have ample court time to develop individually and as a team. As the volleyball program’s success continues to expand its season by more than a month, having a designated practice gym alleviates scheduling challenges, as well as providing ideal practice times for both programs as their competition seasons overlap.
The Ruth Scott Training Center provides space for two full-sized basketball and volleyball courts, six basketball hoops, two automated volleyball nets that lower from the ceiling, state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment to film and review practices, a hydration station and additional storage space.
In recent years, both the Creighton women’s basketball and volleyball programs have achieved incredible success on the national stage. In 2024, the volleyball program captured its 11th consecutive BIG EAST Conference regular-season title. The Bluejays finished the season playing in their 13th consecutive NCAA Tournament and second Elite Eight.
The women’s basketball program has made the postseason in 20 of the past 24 seasons, highlighted by a run to the Elite Eight in the 2022 NCAA Tournament after picking up wins over No. 8 Iowa and No. 10 Iowa State before falling to eventual national champion South Carolina.
In addition, the space provides more opportunity for the Creighton community to host additional special events at D.J. Sokol Arena during normal practice times. This facility also sends a strong national message showing Creighton Athletics’ dedication to women’s athletics,
student-athletes and coaches. Construction on the training center was completed in January 2019, with the facility dedicated on February 4, 2019.
The facility was made possible thanks to many generous donors, especially lead donors Ruth and Bill Scott, whose generosity has
transformed the entire east-campus athletics corridor.
