Completed Event: Baseball versus (3) Georgia on June 15, 2026 , Win , 4, to, 3
Final
Baseball
4
vs (3) Georgia
3
University of Oklahoma Athletics
genrel_032801aaa
 |
Athletic Director Joe Castiglione announced an athletic gift of $2 million from Oklahoma City's Aubrey and Katie McClendon. |
McClendon Family Makes Third-Largest Gift In OU Athletic History
March 27, 2001
NORMAN, Okla. - University of Oklahoma Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione announced today the third largest gift in Sooner athletic history - a $2 million gift from Aubrey and Katie McClendon of Oklahoma City to Great Expectations: The Campaign for Sooner Sports. Aubrey McClendon is the co-founder, CEO and chairman of Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corporation, among the 10 largest independent natural gas producers in the United States.
The gift has been designated to support the $6 million renovation of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium's north side, which includes the Prentice Gautt Athletic Academic Center and Athletic Department offices for coaches, administrators and support staff, including the Athletic Director's suite.
The renovations include improvements and modernization to the study halls, classrooms and learning laboratories of the award-winning academic center.
President David Boren said, "I very much appreciate this very generous gift from Aubrey and Katie McClendon. It will help OU to reach the highest standard of excellence in serving our student athletes by contributing to their total university experience, including enhanced academic opportunities."
"We are most appreciative of this gift from the McClendon family," Castiglione said. "It will allow us to address critical needs for our student-athletes and coaches. The renovation will enhance opportunities for learning for our student-athletes as they work in our athletic academic center. The office areas, which have not been improved for more than 50 years, will be modernized, providing opportunities for increased efficiency and improved productivity.
"Finally, it will allow the department for the first time in more than 20 years to have the majority of our staff in one facility as we bring coaches and support areas together with administrative offices. This will allow a more effective approach for all of us as we work to help our student-athletes succeed in all they do," Castiglione added.
In recognition of the gift, the stadium's north side will be named for the McClendon family. The naming will honor both Aubrey's parents, Joe and Carole Kerr McClendon of Oklahoma City and Aubrey's maternal grandparents, Aubrey M. Kerr Sr. and Jewel J. Kerr. Aubrey M. Kerr Sr. was a 1928 graduate of the OU College of Law and was a member of one of OU's first Ruf-Nek squads. Joe McClendon is a 1951 graduate of the OU College of Business and Carole is a 1953 graduate of the OU College of Education. Katie McClendon is a 1980 graduate of Duke University and Aubrey McClendon is a 1981 graduate of Duke.
"I am very proud of my family's involvement in the life of the University during the past 75 years and we are happy to be able to contribute to the Great Expectations campaign," said Aubrey McClendon in making his first major gift to OU. Although Katie and I pursued our collegiate educations elsewhere, we are pleased to be able to support Oklahoma's premiere educational institution. Under President Boren's stewardship, we believe the University will play an ever-increasing role in leading our state to greater prosperity in the years to come. We are also proud of Mr. Castiglione's and Coach Stoop's significant achievements in returning OU so quickly to its traditional position of athletic excellence."
