BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University Athletics and the BSU Alumni & Foundation are proud to announce a renovation project for the BSU Gymnasium, providing upgraded experiences and a new era for Beaver Basketball, Beaver Volleyball, and the greater Bemidji community.
 
The project, which is privately funded through donor support and crowdfunding, is scheduled to break ground in March 2027 and be completed in October 2027. The finished product will feature new bleachers, a viewing room, accessibility upgrades, and the newly minted Buckingham-Baalke Court. Alumni Trent and Beth (Buckingham) Baalke are leading the philanthropic charge with a $1 million lead donation to the project, which positions it as a transformational gift within the Facility Upgrades and Faculty Excellence pillar of the For the North campaign. The Baalkes view the renovations as an opportunity to give back in recognition of all they were given as student-athletes.
 
"We're fortunate to be in a position to help and to better the experience for students. Because somebody once did it for us," Trent Baalke said. "We wouldn't be where we are without Bemidji State University. BSU set us up for success and for the life we have with each other, so we're excited to give back."
 
Bemidji State athletic director Britt Lauritsen sees the Baalkes' donation as an investment in current and future students, allowing them to learn, grow, and lead in ways that enhance their lives well beyond their time on campus.
 
"Trent and Beth Baalke's contribution to this project exemplifies the power of the Bemidji State experience," said athletic director Britt Lauritsen. "They were deeply impacted by their time at BSU, and they're bridging generations by generously investing in BSU students for years to come."
 
"The gymnasium project is more than just a facility upgrade. It is a recognition that spaces like this are catalysts for building community and connection. This upgraded space will be accessible, functionally nimble, and inviting for all who enter — from athletic events, the longest-running powwow in the state of Minnesota, community events, and student recognition and engagement opportunities."
 
The Baalkes' gift, along with other leadership commitments, helps satisfy longstanding priorities of the facility upgrade commitments within the For the North campaign. Their donation has also positioned the gymnasium's funding within reach of the $2.5 million goal. The public is invited to join in with their own philanthropic support to see the project through to completion. Donations will be accepted through February 2027 at bsualumni.org/donate/gymnasium.
 
Those interested in making an impactful contribution or learning more about recognition-level giving opportunities are encouraged to reach out to Jesse Katz for additional information at jesse.katz@bemidjistate.edu or 218-755-2827.
 
About the BSU Gymnasium
Opened in 1960, the 2,500-seat BSU Gymnasium has been home to Bemidji State men's basketball for 66 years, and it has been the only home for women's basketball and volleyball. In the decades since the facility opened, the gym has also been home to a number of high school tournaments and playoff games, the annual BSU Powwow, and other events ranging from concerts and recitals to faculty meetings and Commencement ceremonies.
 
The BSU Gymnasium was closed for nearly two months in 2004 to undergo a floor replacement project. The facelift not only gave the facility an updated and a fresh look, the new maple-stripped floor is also a softer, more athlete-friendly foundation. The scoreboard was updated in 2007, and in the summer of 2018, the floor was stripped, reconditioned, and repainted. In the summer of 2021, new lighting was installed in the gymnasium to highlight the new look of the historic gym.
 
About the Baalkes
Beth played basketball for Joan Campbell and the women's basketball team from 1984-88, and she's enshrined in the Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1985-86 and 1986-87 squads that won the Northern Sun Conference and District 13 championships. In 2000, Beth was also recognized as one of the top 30 female athletes in Bemidji State history during the women's athletics 30th anniversary celebration. Trent played football for BSU from 1982-85 after being recruited by new coach John Peterson, and he was part of one of the most impressive program revivals in Beaver Football history.
 
After his playing career, Trent entered into the coaching ranks as an assistant at Bemidji State. He eventually broke into the NFL as a scout for the New York Jets in 1998. By 2011, he was the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, even reaching the Super Bowl in 2012. Trent held that role for six years and then served as the Jacksonville Jaguars' general manager from 2021-24. Now, he is a senior consultant for the Cleveland Browns and the University of Alabama football team.
Beth, meanwhile, is the boys and girls golf coach at Tomahawk High School in Wisconsin, and she's been involved in prep sports in a variety of capacities over the years.
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
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