Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center

Considered one of the finest facilities of its kind in the nation, the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center (formerly UCM Multipurpose Building) is in its 50th year of service to the university in 2026-27. The $5.5 million facility was built at no expense to the State of Missouri, as financing was accomplished solely through student fees.

Previously named the UCM Multipurpose Building, the building was renamed in February 2024 in honor of former longtime UCM Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Jerry M. Hughes, who served in the position for 40 years (1983-2023) before passing away in January 2023.

The facility is one of the busiest places on campus. In addition to being the home of Mules and Jennies basketball and indoor track and field, Jennies volleyball, and Mules wrestling, the facility is used by university students, faculty, and staff, as well as the general public.

The main arena can accommodate four basketball courts or six volleyball courts at once, or all the events for an indoor track meet.

The Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center has a seating capacity of 6,500 for basketball and volleyball, making it the largest such facility in the MIAA. It also seats 1,640 fans for indoor track meets and 10,000 people for concerts.

Numerous special events take place in the building each year. It hosted the Missouri State High School Activities Association’s state volleyball tournament from 1988 to 2008, and state high school basketball playoff games are also played annually in the building.

In addition, the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships have been contested in the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center. The facility is also used for Central Missouri's annual commencement ceremonies, major concerts, and other UCM events.

The building underwent a major renovation during the spring and summer of 2026, with the installation of a brand-new, state-of-the-art Robbins Sport Surfaces MVP Court System, replacing the previous wood floor installed in 1998. In addition, Impact Signs installed a new, high-definition center-hung LED display in April 2026. The new video display provides a 60 percent more LED viewing area and three times the resolution of the previous unit. Each face of the new, four-sided LED board contains an impressive 2,097,152 LEDs. In addition, the sideline tables were also upgraded with new high-resolution video screens incorporating SMD technology and a 3.9mm pixel pitch. The tables have the same physical dimensions but will deliver twice the resolution of the previous models and feature 278,528 LEDs.

Prior to the 2024 Jennies Volleyball season, a new, Taraflex Sport M Plus playing surface was installed on the east side of the facility where volleyball plays its home matches.

The facility received a new look at the start of the 2008-09 basketball season with the replacement of the general admission seating on the South end, and new chair-back seating in the lower reserved section on the North end of the arena.

The building underwent another major change in the summer of 2012 with the addition of a new center-hung display featuring a four-sided digital scoreboard with a 6'5" x 8'8" 10mm video display on each of the sides, with a static digital scoreboard underneath each display. In addition to the new center-hung display, the Multipurpose was equipped with new auxiliary wall scoreboards with stat panels. Three-sided shot clocks were added to both baskets, and a 30' LED Scorer's Table system was also purchased for use during basketball games.

The first basketball game was played in the building on Nov. 27, 1976, when the Mules defeated Midland Lutheran College 92-75. The Jennies played their first contest in the facility on Dec. 8 of that season, dropping a 66-44 decision to Tarkio College.

The Jennies posted their first win in the building on Jan. 7, 1977, with a 76-42 victory over Grand View College. The facility was formally dedicated eight days later as the Mules beat Southwest Missouri State 90-62.

The Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center was designed by the architectural firm of Mantel and Teeter of Kansas City, Mo., and is managed by Cory Allensworth.

Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center - 500 S. Washington Street; Warrensburg, MO 64093