University of Tennessee, Knoxville RecSports

Mission

The mission of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) RecSports is to provide and engage our students and community with holistic recreational experiences that cultivate wellness and the Volunteer Spirit through programs, facilities, services and employment.

Vision

To engage and develop all Vols for a better future.

Facilities

RecSports boasts three main facilities and several shared spaces.
Opening in 2003, the Tennessee Recreation Center for Students (TRECS) is approximately 148,000 square feet of indoor recreation space. It is located next to an outdoor artificial grass field space called the RecSports Fields.
The Student Aquatic Center (SAC) — which opened in 1967 — is the main aquatics facility for recreation with additional multipurpose spaces.
Both the TRECS and SAC are located on the west side of campus close to many of the residence halls.
Sutherland Field Complex is a 38-acre field complex located three miles from main campus. The complex is comprised of four natural grass fields, four artificial grass fields, three sand volleyball courts and two softball fields.
RecSports shares space with academics in the Health and Physical Education (HPER) building and has a rugby field next to the greenway in close proximity to campus.

Programming

Aquatics

RecSports is a Red Cross training provider offering CPR classes, CPR instructor classes, lifeguarding classes, lifeguarding instructor classes, water safety instructor classes and Learn to Swim classes.
The Learn to Swim program offered over 150 group lessons this past summer.
The SAC — along with the Allan Jones Aquatic Center — serve as a major natatorium within the Knoxville area by providing practice and competition space for 13 high schools, six middle schools and other community swim teams.

Fitness

Offered an average of 61 group fitness classes in 22 different exercise formats each week in 2021-2022.
Engaged 89 unique members in a maximum of 789 personal training sessions — average of nine sessions per member.
Partnered with Campus Dining and Nourish Knoxville for a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Event.

Informal Recreation

Employs 120 student employees to oversee the main recreation facility (TRECS) and the shared HPER building.
Collaborates with campus partners for space and equipment for events.
Serves as a routine collaborator with the university-wide Wellness Wednesday event series.

Intramurals

Created three new Friday night events that include: Penalty Kick Challenge, Sitting Volleyball and Broomball.
In Fall 2022, six staff members attended the University of Georgia’s Southeastern Flag Football Officials Workshop.
Started a collaboration with Special Olympics to co-host Flag Football at Sutherland Field Complex.

Outdoors

In Spring 2022, co-hosted a canoeing adventure trip through Big Bend National Park with UT Chattanooga. Eight UT students attended.
Hosted an indoor climbing competition called Rocky Top Climbing Comp with over 100 students and community members participating.
Annually, Outdoors Pursuits enrolls around 12 students into their outdoor leadership course Student Outdoor Leadership Experience (SOLE) that prepares students to be future outdoors adventure leaders. The program includes multiple weekend long excursions, a wilderness first aid course and leadership development.

Sport Clubs

The Sport Clubs program is comprised of 38 clubs including two new additions, the Table Tennis Club and Men’s Club Basketball.
A former Men’s Rugby player Greg Janowick was selected in the second round of the 2022 Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft by the Utah Warriors.
A former Sport Club Manager and Baseball Club president, Kenny Miller, just got hired as an analyst for the Cleveland Guardians, an MLB team.
Currently, UT-Knoxville Bass Fishing Club opened the season ranked No. 9 in the 2022-2023 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year Poll.

Fun Facts

In 2021, RecSports offered ice skating on an artificial surface at a Wellness Wednesday event.
In 2011, RecSports co-hosted the university’s end of the year concert Volapalooza and rolled back the fence of the RecSports Fields next to TRECS to host Girl Talk.
In 1985, the bottom of the outdoor pool dropped out and the water drained. The hole was so big you could walk underneath the pool.
In 1967, when the SAC first opened, separate weight rooms were housed in the locker rooms.
One of 11 slightly larger than life-size statues of Smokey — the University of Tennessee live mascot — is housed outside of TRECS.

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