Roland Hall -- Basketball, Volleyball
Named after Admiral E. J. Roland (Class of 1929), who served as Commandant of the Coast Guard. Roland was Captain of the Coast Guard football squad that won the President's Cup in a competition with the Army, Navy and Marines. The First Lady, Mrs. Lou Henry Hoover, presented the trophy.
Completed in 1967, Roland Hall is a five-level structure overlooking the Thames River. Roland houses Alumni Gym, where our volleyball and basketball teams compete and Roland Pool, home to our swimming and diving teams. The six-lane, 25-yard pool is also used daily for athletic training programs for our cadet-athletes, physical education courses, as well as military training programs necessary to carry out the missions of the Coast Guard for all cadets.
Our new Emlen Tunnell Strength & Conditioning, the Dr. Hallie E. Gregory Field House (Indoor Track), and Athletics Administrative offices also exists in Roland. On the ground floor, our cadet-athletes take advantage of the newly renovated Athletic Training Room and our Cadet-Athlete Fueling Station. Our Tennis Courts, High-Ropes Course, and our Obstacle Course are all located on the grounds of Roland Hall.
Roland Pool
Roland Pool is home to our men’s and women’s swimming and diving program. The six-lane, 25-yard pool is also used daily for athletic training programs for our cadet-athletes, physical education courses, as well as military training programs necessary to carry out the missions of the Coast Guard for all cadets.
Emlen Tunnell Strength and Conditioning Center
Video Tour
The new Emlen Tunnell Strength & Conditioning Center features state-of-the-art equipment and is located in Roland Hall, replacing the racquetball courts. This nearly 8,000-square foot, two-level center provides outstanding views of the Thames River and CGA waterfront, while delivering a training space for the entire Corps of Cadets to aid in their physical development.
Who was Emlen Tunnell?
Former U.S. Coast Guard member and Pro Football Hall of Famer Emlen Tunnell enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1943 and in 2011 was posthumously awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal for his heroism in rescuing his shipmates on both the Etamin (in 1944) and Tampa (in 1946). Tunnell was the first African American and first defensive player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. He was the first African American player for the New York Giants and went on to become the first African American scout, talent scout, assistant coach and first full-time assistant coach in the NFL.
Dr. Hallie E. Gregory Field House - "Strive to Excel, Foster Unity, Instill Respect"
In April of 2019, the 5th Deck of Roland Hall was renamed the Dr. Hallie E. Gregory Field House. The facility is home to the Coast Guard Academy indoor track and field team. It also can be used as an indoor tennis court and an indoor practice facility.
Who was Dr. Hallie E. Gregory?
Dr. Hallie E. Gregory spent 18 years at the Coast Guard Academy from 1971 to 1989. Dr. Gregory was, along with Roger Guyas, the founder and advisor of the Genesis Club, a support organization for minority cadets (now the Genesis Council). During his 18 years at the Academy, Dr. Gregory served as assistant athletic director, full professor in the physical education department, men’s basketball coach for 5 years (winning 2 Commonwealth Coast Conference titles), assistant basketball coach for 8 years and head track coach for 5 years. Dr. Gregory was twice named “Coach of the Year” in the Commonwealth Coast Conference; and named “Coach of the Year” by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) four times in the 22nd District. He coached his basketball team to “most improved” status in the New England Division III and as head track coach developed two national champions in Division II and six All Americans. In 2001 Dr. Gregory was inducted into the Coast Guard Academy’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Cadet Memorial Field -- Football, Men's and Women's Lacrosse
The Academy's football field and stadium complex was originally named Jones Field in memory of Cadet Henry L. Jones, the first cadet to die while on duty when he was washed overboard while on a training mission. Now Cadet Memorial Field honors all cadets who have died at sea or on duty. A memorial inscribed, "To God I resign my spirit; my life to my country" can be found across from Billard Hall on the right side of the field's entrance.
The field's state-of-the-art turf system was installed in 2004, which was made possible due to the donations from the class of 1953. The Football Press Box was funded by Roger Walther class of ‘58, along with the Otto Graham Athletic Legacy Fund, and the 1963 Football Championship Team. The press box was dedicated in 2009. In addition to our football games, CMF hosts both our men’s and women’s lacrosse games.
Nitchman Field -- Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Track
Nitchman Field is named after Professor and Coach, Nelson Nitchman who retired in 1989 after 44 years at the Academy. He was the Assistant Physical Education Director and Director of Intramurals. During his tenure, Nitchman coached Football, Basketball and Baseball.
The Lower Field Complex includes the Softball Field, Baseball Field, Soccer Turf, and Outdoor Track. This area of the campus runs along the Thames River and includes the Rowing Center and Jacobs Rock, the Sailing Center.
The Soccer Turf and Track were renovated in 2006. The Press Box was dedicated in 2008 with members of the class of ’53 whose donations made it possible.
Coast Guard Academy Rowing Center
Built in 1982, the United States Coast Guard Academy Rowing Center sits directly on the Thames River at the northern tip of campus, just north of the Gold Star Bridge in New London.
Once launched, cadets have 24 miles of river to train on. The Rowing Center includes three boat bays, indoor tanks, training space complete with ergometers and weights, men’s and women’s locker rooms and coaches’ offices. This wonderful facility was provided to our cadets by the USCGA Alumni Association and the Coast Guard Academy Foundation.
Billard Hall
Billard Hall is named after Rear Admiral Frederick C. Billard, Superintendent of the Cutter School of Instruction from 1914-1918. Credited as the founder of the modern Coast Guard Academy, Billard moved the Academy from Fort Trumbull to its current location in 1932 and expanded the curriculum to four years. Billard established the school's motto, Scientiae Cedit Mare (The Sea Yields to Knowledge) in 1920, and was an outstanding proponent of competitive sports.
Built in 1932, Billard Hall was our primary indoor athletics facility before Roland Hall was built. Today Billard Hall is a multipurpose space primarily used by our Cadet Corps. Billard houses a pool, our wrestling room, a cardio fitness room, and our newly dedicated Otto Graham Hall of Athletic Excellence.
The Otto Graham Hall of Athletic Excellence contains our Athletic Hall of Fame inductee awards and celebrates the history and tradition of athletics in the lives of our Corps of Cadets. The members of the Hall of Fame are former Academy Athletes and Honorary Members who have upheld the Coast Guard's core values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty.
Billard Hall Weight Room
Jacob's Rock -- Sailing & Seamanship Center
Jacob’s Rock, is situated on the Thames River. The building is the home of the Academy’s varsity sailing teams and sail training programs. As one of the best waterfront sailing facilities in the country, many of the most prominent college sailing events are hosted at Jacob’s Rock each year.
Jacob’s Rock is a three level structure that includes men’s and women’s locker rooms, sail storage bay, boat bay and a large silo on the first floor. The All-American room, trophy displays, coaches’ offices, team room and large meeting room are on the second deck. The observation deck on the third floor offers unparalleled spectating on the race course.
Built in 1984, the facility was built with contributions to the Coast Guard Foundation from the USCGA Alumni Association, private citizens, corporations and foundations interested in the United States Coast Guard Academy.
