VERMILLION, S.D. — The momentum for the Gassen Family Fieldhouse project continues to grow as Miles and Lisa Beacom have generously gifted $500,000 to the project, announced University of South Dakota Athletic Director Jon Schemmel on Wednesday morning.
 
One of South Dakota's leaders in philanthropic giving, Beacom's gift to the fieldhouse project on campus continues to set the stage for the elevation of the USD Track & Field student-experience. USD's business school – the Beacom School of Business – is named after Beacom.
 
"I am so grateful to Miles and Lisa Beacom for their investment into the Gassen Family Fieldhouse," commented Schemmel. "Their incredible generosity inspires so much ambition in the state of South Dakota continues to make a tremendous impact on the University of South Dakota!"
 
The state-of-the-art indoor track and field facility was officially announced back in August 2025, following a $20 million dollar gift from Mr. Denny Sanford and will be named after the President and CEO of Sanford Health, a USD track and field alum, pending approval from the South Dakota Board of Regents.
 
"Lisa and I think the world of Jill & Bill Gassen! The fact that Jill & Bill met while on the USD track team, makes the naming of the Gassen Family Fieldhouse even more special," said Beacom. "The Gassen Family Fieldhouse will have a significant impact on the USD campus & the students at USD!"
 
The new indoor facility will feature a 200-meter banked track with a pair of perimeter warm-up lanes, plus a 60-meter straightaway. It will also feature a pair of long jump/triple jump pits, two pole vaulting stations, two high jumps over straightaways and a pair of throwing cages.
 
The venue will feature elevated seating for 2,000 spectators and a viewing concourse that opens to the track and field events below. 
  
As the new home of South Dakota track and field, the facility will also include coach offices, a recruiting lounge, a training and nutrition center, and locker rooms. 

Miles Beacom is a Dakota State University alumnus, where he ran track for legendary Coyote track and field coach Dave Gottsleben. Beacom has served as the CEO of Premier Bankcard since 1993. Throughout his career in business, Beacom has been very supportive of athletics throughout the state of South Dakota, including making the Dakota State track and field and football stadium possible.