Sonny and Kate Dykes Donate $1 Million to TCU Athletics
8/27/2024 10:00:00 AM | Football, General
Gift honors Jamal Powell and Shirley Enis
FORT WORTH -- TCU Head Football Coach Sonny Dykes and his wife Kate have donated $1 million to TCU Athletics.
The Dykes' gift will be split between honoring former TCU offensive lineman Jamal Powell with his name on the weight room in the new Mike and Brenda Harrison Football Performance Center as well as recognizing Shirley Enis, late wife of TCU Trustee Hunter Enis, with an endowment in her name to support women's athletics at TCU.
"Sonny and I are so appreciative to be at TCU," Kate Dykes said. "When we first came here in 2017, we saw how special the TCU community is. We are very proud to give back to a place that means so much to our family and recognize Jamal Powell and Shirley Enis for the impact they made on our lives. From his playing days here, Jamal always had a place in his heart for TCU and became a part of our family when he coached with Sonny. Shirley had such a passion for TCU and was one of the kindest people Sonny and I ever met. She immediately welcomed us into her TCU family, and we are so honored to return the love she shared with us."
Powell was a three-year letterman (2000-02) for the Horned Frogs, earning First-Team All-Conference USA honors his senior year. He then began a collegiate coaching career with Dykes hiring Powell as his offensive line coach at SMU in 2018. They worked together for three years until Powell's passing in April 2021 at the age of 39.
"Coach and Mrs. Dykes' heartfelt gift in honor of Jamal Powell and Shirley Enis demonstrates their generosity and leadership in our community," TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr. said. "From the moment the Dykes joined the Horned Frogs family, they have shown an incredible dedication to TCU and our student-athletes. We are so thankful for their gift, which illustrates their commitment to, and belief in, the future of Texas Christian University."
Construction began in January 2024 on the Mike and Brenda Harrison Football Performance Center and the other three facilities in the Athletics Human Performance Center Renovation and Expansion projects, including the Simpson Family Restoration and Wellness Center.
"Sonny and Kate Dykes are thoughtful and selfless leaders who represent all the values that define TCU," TCU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jeremiah Donati said. "This commitment illustrates how they are more than just about football. For them it is always about others and the big picture for TCU. Sonny and Kate choosing to honor Jamal Powell and Shirley Enis speaks volumes of their respect and admiration for two individuals who were and are very special to our campus community and who made a lasting impact during their respective lives. With great pride we will watch our football student-athletes call the Jamal Powell Weight Room their home inside the Mike and Brenda Harrison Football Performance Center for the next generations of Horned Frogs. The Dykes have also sent a strong message with their focus on sustaining women's sports success into the future. Shirley would be honored to know our women's sports programs are being enhanced through a gift carrying her name."
The facilities upgrades are part of TCU's Campus Master Plan, encompassing strategic growth for the physical development of the university.
"The generous gift from Sonny and Kate Dykes is a powerful endorsement of their confidence in the trajectory of TCU Athletics," TCU President Daniel Pullin said. "We are so grateful for their generosity, which helps TCU to continue to provide the best resources and support for our student-athletes, and for honoring the memory of Jamal Powell and Shirley Enis, two individuals who loved the Horned Frogs deeply and will always be remembered throughout our community."
The Dykes' gift will be split between honoring former TCU offensive lineman Jamal Powell with his name on the weight room in the new Mike and Brenda Harrison Football Performance Center as well as recognizing Shirley Enis, late wife of TCU Trustee Hunter Enis, with an endowment in her name to support women's athletics at TCU.
"Sonny and I are so appreciative to be at TCU," Kate Dykes said. "When we first came here in 2017, we saw how special the TCU community is. We are very proud to give back to a place that means so much to our family and recognize Jamal Powell and Shirley Enis for the impact they made on our lives. From his playing days here, Jamal always had a place in his heart for TCU and became a part of our family when he coached with Sonny. Shirley had such a passion for TCU and was one of the kindest people Sonny and I ever met. She immediately welcomed us into her TCU family, and we are so honored to return the love she shared with us."
Powell was a three-year letterman (2000-02) for the Horned Frogs, earning First-Team All-Conference USA honors his senior year. He then began a collegiate coaching career with Dykes hiring Powell as his offensive line coach at SMU in 2018. They worked together for three years until Powell's passing in April 2021 at the age of 39.
"Coach and Mrs. Dykes' heartfelt gift in honor of Jamal Powell and Shirley Enis demonstrates their generosity and leadership in our community," TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr. said. "From the moment the Dykes joined the Horned Frogs family, they have shown an incredible dedication to TCU and our student-athletes. We are so thankful for their gift, which illustrates their commitment to, and belief in, the future of Texas Christian University."
Construction began in January 2024 on the Mike and Brenda Harrison Football Performance Center and the other three facilities in the Athletics Human Performance Center Renovation and Expansion projects, including the Simpson Family Restoration and Wellness Center.
"Sonny and Kate Dykes are thoughtful and selfless leaders who represent all the values that define TCU," TCU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jeremiah Donati said. "This commitment illustrates how they are more than just about football. For them it is always about others and the big picture for TCU. Sonny and Kate choosing to honor Jamal Powell and Shirley Enis speaks volumes of their respect and admiration for two individuals who were and are very special to our campus community and who made a lasting impact during their respective lives. With great pride we will watch our football student-athletes call the Jamal Powell Weight Room their home inside the Mike and Brenda Harrison Football Performance Center for the next generations of Horned Frogs. The Dykes have also sent a strong message with their focus on sustaining women's sports success into the future. Shirley would be honored to know our women's sports programs are being enhanced through a gift carrying her name."
The facilities upgrades are part of TCU's Campus Master Plan, encompassing strategic growth for the physical development of the university.
"The generous gift from Sonny and Kate Dykes is a powerful endorsement of their confidence in the trajectory of TCU Athletics," TCU President Daniel Pullin said. "We are so grateful for their generosity, which helps TCU to continue to provide the best resources and support for our student-athletes, and for honoring the memory of Jamal Powell and Shirley Enis, two individuals who loved the Horned Frogs deeply and will always be remembered throughout our community."
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