Anonymous gift results in naming of coaches video balcony in stadium expansion
The new coaching balcony for video operations in the expanded E.J. Whitmire Stadium at 蘑菇短视频 will be named in memory of the late Philip Preston Sr., a passionate supporter of Catamount athletics, thanks to contributions from a fellow fraternity member.
The space, which will be used by WCU鈥檚 football video operations squad, will be christened the Philip Preston Home Coaches Balcony through gifts and pledges totaling $100,000 from a donor who requested anonymity.
Preston, a 1990 graduate of 蘑菇短视频with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in radio and television, died Aug. 22, 2025. A resident of Atlanta, he was a sales executive in the eyewear industry.
A cheerleader during his time as a student at WCU, Preston was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and served as rush chairman. He was an active member of the Catamount Club and a former member of the 蘑菇短视频Alumni Association Board of Directors.
The anonymous donor described Preston as 鈥渢ruly one of a kind, a man whose presence made life brighter for everyone fortunate enough to know him.鈥�
鈥淭o many, he was simply 鈥楲ip,鈥� a nickname that somehow captured his spirit 鈥� easygoing, unforgettable and always at the center of a good story or a great laugh. Whether you knew him for years or just met him once, you felt like you had a friend for life,鈥� the donor said.
鈥淟ip carried his passions with pride. He loved bringing people together, whether it was rallying around the Catamounts or sharing memories and traditions from his fraternity days,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hose connections meant everything to him, and he made sure they meant something to everyone else, too.鈥�
What truly set Preston apart from others was the way that he made people feel, the donor said.
鈥淗e had a rare gift for lifting others up, for making you laugh when you needed it most and for reminding you not to take life too seriously. His sense of humor was unmatched, his energy contagious and his kindness genuine,鈥� the donor said.
鈥淟ip wasn鈥檛 just someone you knew; he was someone who made your life better. He inspired us to enjoy the moment, to value friendship and to always look out for one another,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hough he is no longer with us, the joy he brought into the world will continue to live on in every story told, every laugh shared and every life he touched.鈥�
The Philip Preston Home Coaches Balcony will be located adjacent to the home coaches box on the west side of the football stadium to enable in-game operational support. The video unit will be responsible for recording team activities, reviewing game film, scouting of the opposing team and conducting other coaching evaluations, said Kyle Pifer, 蘑菇短视频athletics director.
鈥淭his space will be a valuable asset to our football coaching staff for game day operations and in preparations for future opponents,鈥� Pifer said. 鈥淲e greatly appreciate the contribution that is helping make this coaches balcony possible. It is fitting that the space is named in honor of an alumnus and Catamount fan who got his start as a radio and television major here at WCU.鈥�
The new balcony is part of a $37 million upgrade to the west side stands of WCU鈥檚 aging E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The long-discussed renovation is becoming a reality thanks to contributions to the university鈥檚 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive campaign and mandatory fees paid by 蘑菇短视频students as part of their cost of attendance.
The overhaul also includes a new press box and media center, coaches鈥� offices, player study spaces and a hospitality area called the 鈥淲estern Skybox鈥� as an homage to the campaign making the improvements possible. The four-story expansion is creating nearly 10,000 square feet of space dedicated to coaching, media, and game-day operations and hospitality.
It is scheduled to be in operation for the upcoming fall football season. The first home game is set for Saturday, Aug. 29, in a contest pitting the Catamounts against the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky University.
The anonymous gift in honor of Preston came during WCU鈥檚 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million for the university鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs.
The third comprehensive fundraising effort in university history, 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� is the first with a significant emphasis on seeking financial support for upgrades to WCU鈥檚 long-neglected athletics facilities. For more information, visit WesternSky.wcu.edu, call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.