The Dr. Jack R. Pierce Soccer Complex is located on the northwest side of campus and supports games for both the men and women’s soccer teams. The complex, dedicated September 30, 2017, honors Pierce’s faithful support of Austin College athletes across all sports throughout his career at Austin College. A beloved member of the biology faculty from 1967 until his sudden death in 2016, Jack could be found at most every home Kangaroo sporting event. He also served as the College’s NCAA faculty athletics representative and devoted many hours in an advisory capacity in issues of student-athlete eligibility and welfare. Also the College’s health sciences advisor, Jack held the Mary W. and Foster G. McGaw Chair in Health Sciences and guided many students in their career paths in the health sciences.

Pierce received many awards and honors for his teaching, academic service, and campus involvement; this additional recognition was a most fitting tribute for his enthusiastic encouragement of the Kangaroos.

Lights and signage were added to the complex with gifts from Jack’s adult children, John Pierce and Laura Pierce Weldon, and donations from Bob and Lee Dean Ardell ’74; Tom Hall ’78; Ann Ross’66;  President Emeritus and First Lady Emerita Oscar and Anna Laura Page; and Don and Nan Davis, vice president of institutional enrollment.