Chilton County’s athletic booster club plans to bring a 14,500-square foot “training facility” to the school, possibly in time for football season.

Tiger Club will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the school lunchroom to discuss the project.

“If we’re going to compete at the level we should, an athletic facility upgrade has to happen,” said Jason Bice with the Tiger Club.

Don Hand Alumni Fieldhouse, which was named in honor of the legendary coach that helped build the structure and CCHS football, features about 60 lockers. Athletic director and football coach Brian Carter said he expects as many as 100 football players this spring.

“We’ve really just outgrown what we have,” Carter said.

The new facility would benefit all CCHS athletes, Carter and Bice said. The weight room—which would be 3,000 square feet, about three times larger than the current weight room—would be used by athletes in several different sports.

A 2,600 square feet multi-purpose room could be used for wrestling practices (the team currently uses the band room) and could be fitted with nets for baseball and softball practice.

Also, depending on the season, Alumni Fieldhouse could provide a home for teams currently without one.

“A couple of sports right now are just carrying their stuff around,” Carter said.

The facility would also include a large room for pre-game meals and meetings, three coaches’ offices, a film room and a kitchen.

The facility would be built between the south end zone at Tiger Stadium and Country Club Road.

“It would kind of complete the stadium,” Carter said. “Even if there was a new school built or something, we’re still going to play at Tiger Stadium. It would be a landmark of the city.”

Carter estimated the project would cost between $500,000 and $750,000, all of which would be paid for by Tiger Club.

That’s what Monday’s meeting is for. Bice stressed the meeting is for anyone interested in CCHS athletics—regardless of sport and even those that don’t have children involved with a sport.

“I would like to think we can have this thing ready by this football season,” Carter said. “The main thing will be getting it going. It is something I think is needed for moving CCHS athletics to the next level.”