DAHLONEGA - Lynn Cottrell donated $1 million for LED video boards at the baseball, soccer and softball fields at the University of North Georgia's Athletic Complex.
 
"This gift from Lynn Cottrell will significantly enhance our athletic complex and the experience of our student-athletes and fans," UNG President Dr. Bonita Jacobs said. "The generosity of donors like Lynn and Mike Cottrell makes an incredible impact at UNG, and we are very grateful for their support."
 
Baseball coach Tom Cantrell, softball coach Mike Davenport and men's soccer head coach Patrice Parris joined Mike and Lynn Cottrell, Athletic Director Lindsay Reeves and Jacobs at Coleman Field House for a Nov. 22 signing ceremony announcing the gift.
 
In addition to serving as the new scoreboards, the new video boards will be capable of displaying multiple zones of content, allowing it to show one large image or to be divided into multiple zones to share live video, instant replays, statistics and game information, graphics, animations and sponsorship messages. UNG will become one of the region's first Division II schools to feature digital video boards at all on-campus outdoor venues.
 
The baseball and softball scoreboards could be ready as early as the 2020 season.
 
Reeves is thankful for the Cottrell's generosity to the Department of Athletics. "The generosity of the Cottrell family extends deep into the UNG campus and through the local Dahlonega community and will allow for an enhancement to our already first-class athletics facilities," stated Reeves. "The addition of video boards at our outdoor venues will immediately elevate the gameday experience for our fans and student-athletes to the highest level and we are extremely grateful to the Cottrells for leading the way with this transformational gift."
 
Davenport, whose program won the 2015 national title and has won six straight Peach Belt Conference championships, is thankful for the new scoreboards on the way."We are blessed with some of the top facilities not only in Division II softball but the whole nation," Davenport said. "With the gracious donation from Mike and Lynn Cottrell, this will be another huge improvement to our facility for our student-athletes and our fans while they watch the Nighthawks play."
 
Parris said the digital scoreboards give UNG an advantage against its rivals."Our facilities are a major recruitment tool for our program; having a video board allows us to continue to market the University of North Georgia at the national level," Parris said. "It is truly a blessing and inspiration."

Cantrell echoed that sentiment. "I am extremely grateful for the continued and generous support of the Cottrells for the North Georgia baseball team and Athletic Department as a whole," Cantrell said.

Earlier this year, the Cottrells gave $10 million to help fund a new home for UNG's Mike Cottrell College of Business. Groundbreaking is expected in 2020 on the Cottrell Center for Business, Technology and Innovation on UNG's Dahlonega Campus, and the facility is expected to open in 2022. The gift announced in June was the second $10 million gift to UNG from the couple.
 
The 91,000-square-foot business and technology building, with an estimated total cost of $35 million, will be located off Chestatee Street near the main campus entrance.