Wake Forest Dedicates Chris Hurd Player Development Center
10/22/2018 1:43:00 PM | Baseball
Wake Forest Athletics held a ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate the dedication of Wake Forest baseball's newest facility.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- On Friday, Oct. 12, Wake Forest Athletics hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate the dedication of Wake Forest baseball's newest facility, the Chris Hurd Player Development Center.
The ribbon cutting ceremony marked the culmination of a multi-phase project that began in the fall of 2016 at David F. Couch Ballpark. Attendees of the event included Director of Athletics Ron Wellman, head coach Tom Walter, Chris Hurd along with his family and several former teammates, the Wake Forest baseball team, and dozens of loyal supporters of Demon Deacon baseball.
"This facility is a complete game-changer for our program," head coach Tom Walter said. "Its impact on our team has been felt since we moved in downstairs prior to the start of the 2017 season, and now that the build out of the second floor is complete, and the pitching lab is up and running, our future looks even brighter. The foundation of our program is built around helping our players compete at the pinnacle of their ability level. Our responsibility in doing that requires us to give them all the information and resources necessary to be successful. With the addition of the Chris Hurd Player Development Center to David F. Couch Ballpark, our resources are the absolute best in the nation. The completion of this building takes us from great to elite overnight, and we are incredibly grateful to Chris and his family for their support."
The latest phase of the Chris Hurd Player Development Center was made possible, in part, thanks to the generosity of Chris and Nancy Hurd who made the lead gift toward the project. It features a team meeting room, dedicated video room, coaches' offices, a biomechanist's office, a conference room, game day suites, and a baseball heritage area.
The initial phase of the project, which included construction of a new dugout and bullpen, locker room, equipment room, training room, team lounge, nutrition area, and pitching lab was completed in February of 2017.
As he expressed his thanks during the ceremony, Director of Athletics Ron Wellman spoke about how the facility reflects the vision that is shared between Hurd and the athletic department.
"Our department's mission is to Develop Champions, and as I talked with Chris, it quickly became clear that his mission is the same. We want to develop our student-athletes into champions off the field, and we want to win championships on the field. We want to win national championships, and we intend to do that. But Chris also recognizes that the teams that win championships have a special bond. They support one another, and they are good teammates to one another, and this facility truly reflects that idea. It is the type of facility that you study in, you play in, you get to know your teammates in; it's a facility that really promotes team bonding and the development of the kind of team chemistry that leads to championships."
Hurd graduated from Wake Forest with a BS in Business in 1981. He began his Wake Forest baseball career serving as a backup third baseman while also seeing action as a relief pitcher. He continued to develop both in the field and behind the plate and went on to lead all Deacon hitters with a .336 average during the 1979 season and played a key role in providing the offensive power for the team which posted its winningest record in 15 years. Hurd now serves as President and CEO of the Hurd Auto Mall in Johnston, Rhode Island — one of the largest GM Dealerships in New England. His many accolades include: National Blue Chip Business Award winner, Rhode Island Family Business of the Year, and Time Magazine Dealer of the Year Award. Chris has been married to fellow Wake Forest classmate and alum, Nancy, for 36 years, and he considers his greatest accomplishment to be helping Nancy raise their four children: Sarah, Frank, Caroline and Rebecca.
After Hurd, Wellman and Walter officially cut the ribbon on the new facility, the festivities moved inside where Hurd had the honor of being the first former Wake Forest baseball player to sign his name on one of the featured displays in the new heritage area – a 12' x 8' WF logo made up of 511 baseballs. Assistant Director of Athletics for Development Bill Merrifield invited all former players in attendance to sign a ball after the ceremony, explaining that they hope to get as many former players as possible to come visit and add their signatures to the display.
Hurd was then introduced by former teammates Greg Lefelar ('81) and Brick Smith ('81) and addressed the crowd.
"It's a real honor for me to be here today and to support the Deacon program. So many of the blessings in my life have been, in some way, shape or form, affiliated with baseball, and truthfully, I have felt the need and the desire to give back on many levels," he explained.
"My four years at Wake were absolutely among the best years of my life. I got a spectacular education, I made lifelong friendships, I met my beautiful wife here, and I had the honor of being a Diamond Deac which is something I've carried with me ever since. I forget everything," Hurd joked, "but I remember all kinds of things about the Wake Forest baseball program — our coaches, our players, my teammates, our games — those memories are never going to go away. So on behalf of my wife Nancy and my family, I'm honored to be able to help with what is going on here at Wake Forest, and I just can't tell you how special it is to be a part of that."
Hurd went on to talk about how impressive the new facility is, saying, "I've been in the Patriots locker room and the Red Sox clubhouse, and this place blows them away. It's just really spectacular."
He concluded his remarks by speaking directly to the current members of the baseball team.
"Enjoy what's happening today; enjoy the passage of time. You've heard it before, but it goes by so fast, and if you guys are really lucky, someday you'll have the memories and the friendships that I have, and you'll look back and know that you were at a very special university, playing the greatest sport that was ever invented, and these guys on your left and your right – if you want them to be – they'll be your brothers for life."
The ribbon cutting ceremony marked the culmination of a multi-phase project that began in the fall of 2016 at David F. Couch Ballpark. Attendees of the event included Director of Athletics Ron Wellman, head coach Tom Walter, Chris Hurd along with his family and several former teammates, the Wake Forest baseball team, and dozens of loyal supporters of Demon Deacon baseball.
"This facility is a complete game-changer for our program," head coach Tom Walter said. "Its impact on our team has been felt since we moved in downstairs prior to the start of the 2017 season, and now that the build out of the second floor is complete, and the pitching lab is up and running, our future looks even brighter. The foundation of our program is built around helping our players compete at the pinnacle of their ability level. Our responsibility in doing that requires us to give them all the information and resources necessary to be successful. With the addition of the Chris Hurd Player Development Center to David F. Couch Ballpark, our resources are the absolute best in the nation. The completion of this building takes us from great to elite overnight, and we are incredibly grateful to Chris and his family for their support."
The latest phase of the Chris Hurd Player Development Center was made possible, in part, thanks to the generosity of Chris and Nancy Hurd who made the lead gift toward the project. It features a team meeting room, dedicated video room, coaches' offices, a biomechanist's office, a conference room, game day suites, and a baseball heritage area.
The initial phase of the project, which included construction of a new dugout and bullpen, locker room, equipment room, training room, team lounge, nutrition area, and pitching lab was completed in February of 2017.
As he expressed his thanks during the ceremony, Director of Athletics Ron Wellman spoke about how the facility reflects the vision that is shared between Hurd and the athletic department.
"Our department's mission is to Develop Champions, and as I talked with Chris, it quickly became clear that his mission is the same. We want to develop our student-athletes into champions off the field, and we want to win championships on the field. We want to win national championships, and we intend to do that. But Chris also recognizes that the teams that win championships have a special bond. They support one another, and they are good teammates to one another, and this facility truly reflects that idea. It is the type of facility that you study in, you play in, you get to know your teammates in; it's a facility that really promotes team bonding and the development of the kind of team chemistry that leads to championships."
Hurd graduated from Wake Forest with a BS in Business in 1981. He began his Wake Forest baseball career serving as a backup third baseman while also seeing action as a relief pitcher. He continued to develop both in the field and behind the plate and went on to lead all Deacon hitters with a .336 average during the 1979 season and played a key role in providing the offensive power for the team which posted its winningest record in 15 years. Hurd now serves as President and CEO of the Hurd Auto Mall in Johnston, Rhode Island — one of the largest GM Dealerships in New England. His many accolades include: National Blue Chip Business Award winner, Rhode Island Family Business of the Year, and Time Magazine Dealer of the Year Award. Chris has been married to fellow Wake Forest classmate and alum, Nancy, for 36 years, and he considers his greatest accomplishment to be helping Nancy raise their four children: Sarah, Frank, Caroline and Rebecca.
After Hurd, Wellman and Walter officially cut the ribbon on the new facility, the festivities moved inside where Hurd had the honor of being the first former Wake Forest baseball player to sign his name on one of the featured displays in the new heritage area – a 12' x 8' WF logo made up of 511 baseballs. Assistant Director of Athletics for Development Bill Merrifield invited all former players in attendance to sign a ball after the ceremony, explaining that they hope to get as many former players as possible to come visit and add their signatures to the display.
Hurd was then introduced by former teammates Greg Lefelar ('81) and Brick Smith ('81) and addressed the crowd.
"It's a real honor for me to be here today and to support the Deacon program. So many of the blessings in my life have been, in some way, shape or form, affiliated with baseball, and truthfully, I have felt the need and the desire to give back on many levels," he explained.
"My four years at Wake were absolutely among the best years of my life. I got a spectacular education, I made lifelong friendships, I met my beautiful wife here, and I had the honor of being a Diamond Deac which is something I've carried with me ever since. I forget everything," Hurd joked, "but I remember all kinds of things about the Wake Forest baseball program — our coaches, our players, my teammates, our games — those memories are never going to go away. So on behalf of my wife Nancy and my family, I'm honored to be able to help with what is going on here at Wake Forest, and I just can't tell you how special it is to be a part of that."
Hurd went on to talk about how impressive the new facility is, saying, "I've been in the Patriots locker room and the Red Sox clubhouse, and this place blows them away. It's just really spectacular."
He concluded his remarks by speaking directly to the current members of the baseball team.
"Enjoy what's happening today; enjoy the passage of time. You've heard it before, but it goes by so fast, and if you guys are really lucky, someday you'll have the memories and the friendships that I have, and you'll look back and know that you were at a very special university, playing the greatest sport that was ever invented, and these guys on your left and your right – if you want them to be – they'll be your brothers for life."
Football Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
Wake Forest Head Coach Jake Dickert Weekly Press Conference (10/20/2025)
Monday, October 20
Wake Forest Postgame Press Conference vs. Virginia Tech (Oct. 4, 2025)
Monday, October 20
Coach Jake Dickert Postgame Press Conference vs. NC State (Sept. 11, 2025)
Monday, October 20