University Of North Florida Athletics Breaks Ground On Soccer Practice Facility
7/27/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida Athletics officially unveiled an update on Monday on a transformative project that will create a new dedicated soccer practice complex for its Men's and Women's Soccer programs.
The project will further enhance the student-athlete experience, while supporting the continued growth and success of the programs.
"Investing in new grass practice fields is about elevating the daily experience and development of our student-athletes," Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Nick Morrow said. "This facility will provide a safe, high-quality training environment that mirrors game conditions and supports peak performance. At the same time, these fields position the University of North Florida as a premier destination beyond campus, creating opportunities to attract professional clubs and international teams to train in Jacksonville. This initiative not only strengthens our competitive edge, but also enhances our ability to showcase UNF on a global stage and create meaningful connections between our student-athletes and the highest levels of the game."
"We couldn't be more excited about what this new two and a half field practice complex will mean for our program and our student-athletes," Women's Soccer Head Coach Eric Faulconer added. "This facility will provide an incredible environment for our players to train and develop every day. We already have one of the best match day surfaces in the nation, and we will now have one of the nation's best training grounds as well. I'm very grateful to Nick Morrow and our entire campus administration for their vision, leadership, and commitment to making this project come to fruition. This investment in our program and our student-athletes will be transformative, and we're excited to see this vision come to life."
"The development of these soccer practice fields is a tremendous investment in the future of our program and, most importantly, in the student-athlete experience," Men's Soccer Head Coach Marlon Montanella said. "Having dedicated, high-quality training spaces will allow our players to train more consistently and efficiently, while creating an environment that supports their technical, tactical, physical and overall development. We're incredibly grateful for the continued support and commitment from the university and our administration to provide our student-athletes with the resources and facilities needed to compete at the highest level."
Elevated features of the new complex will include two and a half natural grass practice fields constructed by The Motz Group, designed with top-of-the-line irrigation and drainage systems to maximize field quality and year-round availability. The new practice fields will showcase TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda grass, which will provide championship-caliber playing surfaces that can support the demands of training throughout the year.
Additional enhancements from the project include a dedicated half field for goalkeeper training and strength and conditioning activities. The complex will allow increased accommodation for early morning and evening practice sessions with the implementation of NGU LED sports field lighting.
Designed with future growth in mind, the project also features opportunities for expansion to accommodate additional support facilities, spectator amenities and the continued growth of the soccer programs.
This transformative renovation features sports field equipment provided by Kwik Goal and Sportsfield Specialties. The first-class training environment will not only elevate the daily experience for current student-athletes, but will serve as a significant recruiting advantage for future Ospreys.
While providing championship-level playing surfaces, the new soccer practice complex will support student-athlete development, daily training operations and long-term program success.
The new soccer practice complex, combined with ongoing enhancements at Hodges Stadium, will help continue to drive sports tourism in Jacksonville. Serving as the general contractor for the project, Charles Perry Partners, Inc. (CPPI) will be overseeing construction of the state-of-the-art facility. These renovations will complement the improvements at Hodges Stadium, creating a comprehensive soccer infrastructure that will support both training and competition needs. By providing championship-caliber infrastructure, the project will support the continued growth of North Florida Soccer and will serve the program for years to come.
