Bobby Valentine Health & Recreation Center Dedicated

Sacred Heart University celebrated the Bobby Valentine Health & Recreation Center grand opening and dedication with a ribbon-cutting event at the start of the school year.

Students flooded the facility’s parking lot where they played with SHU-branded Frisbees and enjoyed cotton candy and popcorn. Faculty, staff, community members and friends of the University joined the crowd to hear speeches from administrators, a club sport student-athlete and Bobby Valentine himself. They encouraged students to try out the rock-climbing wall and bowling alley, to have a refreshing drink in the juice bar and get a physical work out after exercising their brains in the classroom.

Valentine, executive director of SHU athletics, helped raise funding for the facility. The former MLB manager and player said he is a “really lucky guy.” He said he was grateful his grandparents settled in Stamford and lucky he traveled world and took on jobs that people only dream of. He said he was even lucky when the Boston Red Sox decided not to hire him for a second year as manager. Instead, he received a call from SHU President John J. Petillo asking him to be athletic director. While Valentine said he was apprehensive about taking on the job, he learned.

Petillo said over the last six years Valentine has been athletic director, he’s always been “present” or available to the student-athletes. “Bobby carries SHU on his sleeves,” Petillo said. “He’s like living swag.” The audience laughed and applauded Valentine for his dedication the University.

Larry Wielk, dean of students and James Barquinero, senior vice president for enrollment, student affairs & athletics, also made speeches at the event. The ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting and tours of the three-story, state-of-the-art facility.