Diddle Arena

One of the finest on-campus facilities in the country, WKU's E.A. Diddle Arena is in its 49th year of operation in 2011-12, and serves as the home of Hilltopper and Lady Topper basketball, and Lady Topper volleyball. The building, named for legendary Hilltopper coach E.A. Diddle, was officially dedicated in December 1963, and underwent a $32 million renovation in 2002. The renovation has been the focal point of WKU's extensive athletic complex makeover which has also included numerous enhancements to baseball's Nick Denes Field, the construction of the softball and soccer complex on Creason Drive and the expansion to football's Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Included in the Diddle Arena renovation were a new playing floor, all-new seating, two "Pepsi Vision" video boards and 16 luxury suites. But those were just the changes made to the playing arena. An addition was added to the back side of the facility which houses new training and weight rooms, as well as a 30,000-square foot auxiliary gym complex containing two regulation basketball courts with a firewall divider. New locker rooms and office facilities were also added for multiple sports and the athletics administration. The utility and versatility of the arena has been amply demonstrated throughout the years. It has been the site of NCAA Regional Tournaments in both men's and women's basketball, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association's Girls Sweet 16 basketball tournament, and an NBA exhibition game. The facility has also hosted several Sun Belt Conference basketball tournaments, and was the site of the 2003 and 2009 SBC Volleyball Championship. Diddle Arena has staged numerous concerts, hosted WKU's annual spring and winter commencements, and has even welcomed the President of the United States during a 1988 visit by Ronald Reagan. In addition to being one of the homes for WKU Athletics, Diddle Arena also contains classrooms and activity areas for the Department of Physical Education and Recreation as well as the WKU Army ROTC program.