Indiana University Northwest honored two very special philanthropic supporters, Terry and Karen McMahon, on Wednesday, Feb. 9 with a ribbon cutting of the newly improved and updated athletic facilities made possible by their generosity.
“Much of the success and advancement of our athletic program can be directly attributed to the years of support from Terry and Karen McMahon,” said Director of Athletics, Ryan Shelton, while providing a tour of the new spaces.
The McMahons partnered with IU Northwest’s Office of Development to donate $100,000 to improving athletic facilities and programming. With roots in IU Northwest and IU Bloomington, they have many ties to the institution and have long supported the RedHawks—even rallying their colleagues and friends to aid in their endeavors. Previously, they funded the buildout of the McMahon Resource Room, a multi-functional and versatile space for athletes, that debuted in 2019.
Their most recent substantial gift was used to renovate the training room, locker rooms, and resource room. The training room has now doubled in size and has new hydrotherapy tubs, training tables, and physical therapy equipment. Student-athletes can easily take advantage of the healing effects of the whirlpool baths as needed, and the athletic trainers are even more equipped to support the athletes.
What surely excites the student-athletes the most are the newly renovated locker rooms. What before felt like a tight space now features beautifully crafted custom wood lockers, personalized to each athlete. The RedHawk spirit comes alive in the warm and welcoming space with powerful messaging to inspire and energize the proud men and women who come here to prepare before games. It’s a space to celebrate as a family when victories are made, and a quiet and comforting place to console each other after a loss.
Javier Heridia, interim coach of men’s and women’s cross country, men’s basketball coach, and coordinator of Recreational Sports, spoke about how the space feels inviting to the athletes. He explained how the locker rooms are where relationships are made off the court; where coaches come in
and hear conversations about their social lives and school.
“They’re really communicating and building relationships, and that’s what it’s all about,” Heridia said. “It’s changed our culture, and they don’t want to leave. It’s a great feeling; a home away from home.”
Shelton echoed Heridia's words and said locker rooms serve as a safe haven for many athletes in a variety of situations.
“The locker room very much becomes a clubhouse where the student-athletes spend a lot of time together. It means a great deal to them. Athletics is not all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a grind. Little things make a big difference every day,” said Shelton.
The McMahons felt the need to invest in the RedHawks program because they saw how students, staff, and coaches really put their hearts into their work.
“During the past several years, Karen and I came to appreciate the efforts of the IU Northwest Athletic Department in providing meaningful leadership, as well as strong coaching to the student-athletes,” Terry McMahon said. “This outstanding endeavor has produced a strong base for the future of the
athletes. We are pleased to be a small part of this successful program.”
Terry earned his accounting degree from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in 1962. In 1972, Terry started his own CPA firm, which employs 30 professionals servicing the needs of more than 500 businesses and additionally, prepares more than 1,300 individual and fiduciary tax returns.
Terry and his wife, Karen, have a special allegiance to IU Northwest and IU Bloomington. Three of their children graduated from IU Bloomington and another received his master's degree from IU Northwest.
Before the ribbon-cutting, Chancellor Ken Iwama spoke of the immense kindness the McMahons have displayed and the gratitude the entire institution has for them.
“I know you’re both selfless and humble,” Iwama said.
He described the impact that these upgrades have made on the educational institution as a whole and thanked the Office of Development and the Athletic Department for facilitating this transformational gift.
“This has a larger effect. It’s something that drives two of our main goals for our new strategic plan with recruitment and enrollment,” he said.
The new facilities and resources IU Northwest now have to offer, thanks to this profound gift, will help recruit talented and academically driven men and women. The campus proudly welcomes these aspiring individuals into the RedHawk family. When they graduate and take on new roles in the community, that pride will continue as they stand to make a difference with the experience they’ve gained, in class and on the court.
