Plachy Hall Gym
Constructed in 1965 to meet the needs of the college’s rapidly growing student enrollment, ASU’s athletic facility was named after one of Adams State’s most honored presidents, Dr. Fred J. Plachy.
The facility offered much needed space for physical education courses as well as an Olympic-size swimming pool, weight room, trainers’ facilities, basketball/volleyball/wrestling arena, and indoor track fieldhouse. ASU’s men’s athletics were first headquartered on the second floor of Richardson Hall in the area now called The Little Theatre. In 1939 men’s athletics moved to the newly constructed Rex Gym, while women’s athletics began in Richardson Hall.
And while there were numerous exciting college and high school athletic events held in Rex Gym over the years, the construction of Plachy Hall gave the San Luis Valley a new showcase arena for sports events and other activities.
The new facility was state-of-the-art, with seating for 3,200 people to accommodate a variety of occasions, including ASU’s graduation ceremonies, as well as big-name entertainment.
In 1967, Plachy Hall, along with Alamosa’s altitude of 7,544 feet, attracted a number of Olympians from around the world who were seeking a training site that was similar to Mexico City, the site of the 1968 Olympic Games.The 1968 men’s Olympic basketball team trained at Plachy Hall, including future NBA stars Jo Jo White, Spencer Haywood (who played at Trinidad State College in Colorado), and former Denver Nugget Charlie Scott. Their coach was the legendary Basketball Hall Of Famer Hank Iba, who, incidentally, ASU’s own Dr. Bill Dickey worked for at Oklahoma State after he graduated college.
The high altitude also plays a big role for the current Grizzly teams. Rex Field and Plachy Hall are the second highest collegiate athletic facilities in the country. The ASU softball field is the highest. A sign reminds visiting teams of this fact as they enter Rex Field from the visiting locker room, a definite psychological reminder and scare tactic.
In 1996, the completely renovated and student-financed Rex Gym reopened as “Rex Activity Center,” housing a health facility complete with basketball courts, modern weightlifting and exercise equipment, a climbing wall, and much more. Over the more than 30 years Plachy Hall has served the college and community, ASU has enjoyed a virtual parade of athletic excellence. Since the construction of Plachy Hall, ASC has earned 38 team National Championships in the NAIA and NCAA, with 16 titles coming in men’s cross country, 11 in women’s cross country, eight in wrestling, two in men’s indoor track, and one in women’s indoor track.
Driving Directions
Adams State University is located in Alamosa, Colorado, a city of 10,000 people. Situated in the San Luis Valley, the campus is surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan mountain ranges. With towering peaks of over 14,300 feet, the mountains provide a variety of winter and summer sports. Within a two-hour drive are five ski areas and such historic towns as Taos, Santa Fe, and Creede.
Denver is 220 miles to the north, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, is 200 miles to the south.
When you arrive in Alamosa, we are prominently located on the west end of town. A printable campus map is located below for your convenience.
Click Here for Campus Map (PDF)
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