The University of Minnesota announced a $6 million donation to help fund a new basketball facility on Friday.

Robert Eddy, a University graduate and retired telecommunications executive, made the donation to the athletics department’s facilities project.

The University honored Eddy at the men’s and women’s basketball games Saturday and Sunday for his contribution to the programs.

“Bob has been a proud supporter of Gopher Athletics and our student-athletes,” athletics director Norwood Teague said in a statement.

The new basketball development center will house offices for the men’s and women’s basketball coaching staffs, locker rooms and more, according to a release.

“This most recent gift will provide our men’s and women’s basketball programs with the facilities, training and support they need to compete with the top programs in the conference and the country,” Teague said in the statement.

Eddy, who resides in Big Lake, Minn., has donated to the University in the past and serves on the University’s Heart Advisory Committee.

Last September, the University received a $25 million donation from Land O’Lakes, Inc. and the Land O’Lakes Foundation, with a bulk of the money going toward the facilities project.

About $15 million was set aside for the center for excellence, a prominent piece in the upcoming “Athletics Village.”

In January, the University announced a $15 million gift from late regent David Larson and his wife, Janis, to help fund the new Football Performance
Center.

Eddy’s donation is part of the confirmed $65 million that the athletics department has raised for the ongoing $190 million athletic facilities project.