The legacy of former men’s basketball coach Rick Byrd lives on as his name will be immortalized in the Curb Event Center.
The playing surface of the Curb Event Center will be unveiled as the Rick Byrd Court on Feb. 15 during Belmont’s Homecoming, according to a press release from Belmont athletics.
“Rick Byrd’s name on this court should inspire every Bruin who competes here to demonstrate integrity, character and enthusiasm as they play,” said university president Dr. Bob Fisher in the press release.
Along with the court, a new endowment scholarship will be named after Byrd, recognizing his dedication to the lives of student-athletes and the broader campus community, according to the press release.
People can donate to the Rick Byrd Scholarship Endowment on the Belmont Bruins webpage belmontbruins.com/coachbyrdscholarship. The university also pledges to match all donations that reach $1.5 million through May 31, 2021.
“The naming of the court and establishing a scholarship in his name is the appropriate way to honor his legacy. It gives me great satisfaction in knowing that the Curb Event Center court will forever bear his name as a reminder of the incredible impact he has made on the Belmont community,” said athletic director Scott Corley in the press release.
Byrd coached the Bruins for 33 years and won 805 games in his career before announcing his retirement in April. He built up Belmont’s basketball program, carrying it from NAIA to NCAA Division I and most recently leading the Bruins to their first NCAA Tournament win in program history.
“I am very thankful to Belmont University for this recognition,” Byrd said in the press release. “I truly wish we could put the names of all the players – the ones who earned the wins and championships – on the court, but I gratefully accept this honor on their behalf. I cannot overstate how meaningful this is to me and my family.”
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Photo by Carina Eudy.