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Bill Rowe’s gift helps support cost-of-attendance expenses for Bears baseball players.
Photo provided by Missouri State University
Bill Rowe’s gift helps support cost-of-attendance expenses for Bears baseball players.

Former MSU athletics director donates to baseball program

Posted online

Last edited 3:19 p.m., Feb. 5, 2021


Missouri State University’s former athletics director made a substantial donation to the college baseball program, officials announced yesterday.

Bill Rowe’s gift for the MSU baseball program goes toward the university’s $250 million Onward, Upward capital campaign. He also previously served as the head basketball coach.

Brent Dunn, executive director of the Missouri State Foundation, declined to disclose the donation amount from Bill and Nydia Rowe. Dunn said the Onward, Upward campaign has raised $215 million, with the campaign scheduled to close at the end of 2022.

Rowe’s latest donation will help fund cost-of-attendance expenses for baseball student-athletes. COA is an annual stipend allowed by the NCAA that is over and above scholarships to help student-athletes cover expenses such as academic supplies and transportation, according to a news release.

COA amounts vary between schools, with MSU’s current COA at $4,070, according to the release. The MSU baseball team currently has 36 players, according to the 2021 team roster.

“Coach Rowe and Nydia continue to leave a lasting mark on Missouri State athletics. No one loves this university more than Bill and Nydia,” said Kyle Moats, current director of athletics, in the release. “We are forever grateful for the contributions they have made and continue to make.

“Coach Rowe started our baseball program and led it to national success.”

Rowe established the Bears baseball team in 1964 and served as head coach until 1982, when he became athletics director. He oversaw the university’s transition to NCAA Division I athletics and the Missouri Valley Conference in 1990.

Baseball Bears head coach Keith Guttin said the gift would provide essential funds to allow the program to go forward.

“This is a continuation of the services and gifts made by coach Rowe to the university he loves since he stepped on to our campus 60 years ago,” Guttin said in the release.

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