Dan Treadaway
Institute Communications and Public Affairs
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 An
early rendering of the planned Zelnack Basketball
Center |
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When it comes to Yellow Jacket basketball, Stephen
Zelnak Jr. is truly “the man.”
Last year, Zelnak made a leadership commitment that
initiated efforts to design and construct a new basketball
practice facility, a much-needed structure due to the
outdated condition of the Freshman Gym, where practice
sessions are currently held for men’s and women’s
intercollegiate basketball.
Recently, Zelnak pledged additional funding to the
project, raising his total commitment to $3.75 million.
When Zelnak’s pledge is combined with an anonymous
commitment of $1.25 million, the result is an impressive
$5 million in commitments in just one year’s time.
(Commitments from all donors to the project now exceed
$6 million.)
“Steve Zelnak’s generosity has taken our
basketball program so far in such a short time,”
said Athletic Director Dan Radakovich. “It’s
hard to express just how grateful our student-athletes
and our coaching staff are for this inspiring level
of support. Pending approval of the Institute and the
University System of Georgia Board of Regents, we plan
to recognize Steve and his family through the naming
of the new practice facility. We are proud to have his
name so closely associated with Tech basketball.”
The Zelnak Basketball Center, to be constructed near
the Alexander Memorial Coliseum, will be a state-of-the-art
facility that will not only attract the finest new players
from high schools across the nation, but also play a
major role in retaining and supporting current players.
“When you’re competing at the level of
our basketball programs, the pressures on these young
student-athletes are considerable,” said Men’s
Basketball Head Coach Paul Hewitt. “Having practice
facilities of the highest quality means our players
have the best resources we can offer to help them improve
and refine their skills year-round and get the most
out of their abilities.”
“I am very pleased and humbled that Georgia Tech
plans to honor my family and me through the naming of
the basketball facility,” said Zelnak, who graduated
from Tech in 1969. “I hope it will serve well
the needs of our players and coaches, who have worked
so hard to achieve remarkable success.”
An avid basketball fan and former competitive player,
Zelnak is chairman, president and CEO of Martin Marietta
Materials of Raleigh, North Carolina.
A current member of the Georgia Tech Advisory Board,
the Georgia Tech Foundation Board of Trustees, and the
Campaign Steering Committee, Zelnak previously served
on the College of Management Dean’s Advisory Board
and the Alumni Association Board of Trustees. His previous
commitment established the Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Dean’s
Chair in the College of Management, currently held by
Steve Salbu.
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