Savannah State University Athletics

The Savannah State Lady Tigers have played in the Willcox-Wiley Gymnasium since the program’s inception in 1985, with the exception of the 2000-2001 season when the team played in Tiger Arena. They moved back to Willcox-Wiley in the 2001-2002 season and continue to compete in the gym to this day.  Wilcox Gymnasium was completed in 1936 under the tutelage of then President Benjamin F. Hubert. The gym was named after William G. Willcox who had been a Superintendent of the City Public Schools of New York City and chairman of the Board of Trustees at Tuskegee Institute. Mr. Willcox’s widow donated $9,000 towards the overall cost of $45,312. The remaining $36, 312 came from Federal Funds. On February 18, 1956 an addition to Willcox Gymnasium was dedicated as Wiley Gymnasium in honor of the University’s second President, Cyrus G. Wiley. Wiley served Georgia State Industrial College from 1921 to 1926.  The $254,144 facility added spectator seating, and a new basketball court. In a massive campus building project that spanned from 1964 to 1971, a swimming pool was added to the Willcox-Wiley Gymnasium at a cost of $455,959.  Today, the Willcox-Wiley Gymnasium host the offices of track and field, and volleyball coaches, a full weight training facility, complete with state-of-the art conditioning and strength training machines.