Lehigh Athletics is calling for investment in the people, places, and programs that will make possible its winning future by kicking off a major fundraising effort.
“I challenged our Lehigh Athletics community a year ago with a simple phrase: dare to be great,” says Jeremy Gibson, Murray H. Goodman Dean of Athletics. “After seeing our student-athletes, teams, coaches, and staff push boundaries, win championships, and earn accolades over the past 12 months, I can say clearly that we have momentum.”
As part of Lehigh’s $1.25 billion GO Beyond: The Campaign for Future Makers, Lehigh is looking to alumni, fans, and friends to provide transformative support for athletics in several key areas:
- Recruiting, developing and retaining athletes and coaches — endowing coaching positions and scholarships to help top student-athletes and coaches build their legacy.
- Revitalizing historic spaces — upgrading where athletes practice and compete, including Stabler Arena, Cundey Varsity House, Grace Hall, Rauch Field House, and the entire Goodman Campus
- Deepening the integration of athletics within the academic experience — creating hubs for research and innovation, like the Center for Peak Performance, which unites training, sports medicine, rehabilitation, nutrition, mental wellness, and leadership development.
- Winning championships — continuing Lehigh’s rich history of building leaders and champions.
The effort’s success hinges on heightened support, but Lehigh Athletics is off to an extraordinary start. $20 million has been raised for key objectives in athletics in the opening phase of this initiative and will serve as an amazing catalyst to achieve the ambitious fundraising goals.
“Student-athletes, teams, and coaches have consistently demonstrated that Lehigh belongs on the biggest stages,” says Carol Packard, vice president, Development and Alumni Relations. “This fundraising effort affirms our steadfast commitment to Lehigh Athletics’ distinct edge, competitive depth, and comprehensive excellence.”
“Lehigh isn’t just winning in isolated pockets,” says President Joseph J. Helble ’82. “Lehigh is being recognized broadly for outcomes, research, value, and return on investment. Lehigh Athletics has expanded that circle of recognition. Our successes are shared and mutually beneficial in admission recruitment and then distinctly integrated across academic environments and student experiences.”
Gibson acknowledges that sustaining Lehigh’s amazing momentum requires ambition and historic action.
“When faced with a challenge, Lehigh Athletics never yields,” says Gibson. “From first meeting Lafayette on the gridiron in 1884 to elevating women’s wrestling to varsity status in 2025, Lehigh’s most ardent fans have rallied to support Lehigh teams and student-athletes as they dare to do great things.”
