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Steve Kerr donates $1 million for McKale renovations

Courtesy+of+Margot+KerrSteve+and+Margot+Kerr+donated+%241+million+to+the+UA+to+help+with+the+McKale+Center+renovation%2C+according+to+Arizona+Athletics.+Steve+Kerr+is+among+a+handful+of+donors+who+have+donated+for+the+McKale+Center+renovations.

Courtesy of Margot Kerr

Steve and Margot Kerr donated $1 million to the UA to help with the McKale Center renovation, according to Arizona Athletics. Steve Kerr is among a handful of donors who have donated for the McKale Center renovations.

The UA athletics department announced a $1 million donation by alumni Steve and Margot Kerr to help with McKale Center renovations on Tuesday.

Steve Kerr, a former Arizona men’s basketball All-American and now the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, said he hopes the gift will continue to allow Arizona to compete at an elite level.

“I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity I was given to be a part of such a special university,” Steve Kerr said in a press release. “This gift reflects my thanks and also my support for the future student-athletes who will come to Arizona to compete, study and shape their own lives moving forward.”

The ongoing renovation of McKale Center impacts 20 sports, including men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and gymnastics, which all use the arena to host competitions. The Kerrs’ $1 million gift joins the lead $6 million donation from Cole and Jeannie Davis.

“We are excited that Steve and Margot have decided to show this kind of support for Arizona Athletics,” director of athletics Greg Byrne said in a press release. “Steve is one of the icons of our athletics department, and he has been such a great ambassador for this program throughout his professional career.”

McKale Center renovation is currently in Phase One, which began in May. The renovation includes improved lighting, a new court and upgraded seating. Earlier this year, a new high-definition scoreboard as well as four 19-by-11 video screens  were added to McKale Center.

“I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Steve and Margot for their incredible generosity and continued support of our program,” men’s basketball head coach Sean Miller said in a press release. “Steve’s basketball career is extraordinary on so many levels.”

Steve Kerr played for Arizona in the 1980s, when the program transformed into a national powerhouse. Behind his stellar shooting, the Wildcats reached their first-ever Final Four in 1988 and finished the season 35-3. Steve Kerr remains Arizona’s career leader in three-point field goal percentage with a .573 percentage.

After graduating from the UA, Steve Kerr went on to play in the NBA for 15 years, including stops in Chicago and San Antonio where he won a total of five championships. Following his playing days, Steve Kerr was the general manager of the Phoenix Suns from 2007-2010.

Recently, Steve Kerr served as a commentator on TNT for both NBA and NCAA basketball before accepting the Golden State Warriors head coaching job in May.

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