Earlier this year, information leaked out that USC would be funding a $15 million dollar overhaul to the Mcdonald’s Swim Stadium, thanks to a large, anonymous gift earmarked for the project.
The major donor on the project is anonymous no more: former swimmer Wilfred “Fred” Uytengsu, class of 1983, made an $8 million donation to turn the facility from a dated relic of the 1984 Olympics to one of the most spectacular facilities in the country. The new center will be called the Uytengsu Aquatics Center, and at his request the main pool will be named the Daland Pool after his former coach Peter Daland. This is the largest-ever gift to the Athletic Department by a former student-athlete.
Daland led the Trojans for 44-years from 1958 to 1992, including 9 NCAA Championships and 7 Conference Titles.
Current Trojan head coach Dave Salo said that “Fred’s gift is one purely of the heart. I have never met a man with such humility and integrity. He epitomizes what it means to be a USC graduate, with a true Trojan spirit. This lasting gift is not only a tribute to Fred’s generosity and love for his alma mater, but also a great acknowledgment of the man who made USC swimming and diving what it is today – Peter Daland.”
The new facility will seat up to 2,500 spectators, which is about 500 more than the current facility. It will also receive a huge upgrade to its video capabilities. But maybe the best part is that the new arena, once a somewhat utilitarian facility designed for competitive training and competition, will have features that will be more appealing to the Trojan student body as a whole.
Uytengsu came to USC as a walk-on, but graduated as a team captain. He went on to become the president and CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation, which is a major consumer foods producer in the Philippines; this is a role he inherited form his father Wilfred Sr. who was the company’s founder. Among his other sports interest is as the owner of the Alaska Aces, a 13-time champion team in the Philipines Basketball Association.
This continues a mission of philanthropist investment in higher education begun by his father; through their Uytengsu foundation, they have also made huge donations to the Phillipines’ Silliman University.
“I look back at my learnings and experiences at USC with fond memories and realize how many life lessons came from my education there. Without a doubt, swimming at USC – and for Coach Daland – was a great opportunity. And I am now pleased to be able to give back and support the university’s goal of upgrading facilities,” Uytengsu said of his gift.
“It is my hope that future Trojan swimmers, divers and water polo players will benefit from the new Uytengsu Aquatics Center and help keep these programs amongst the best in the U.S. I am also pleased to be able to name the pool after Peter Daland, who deserves to be recognized not just for his nine NCAA Championships, but also for the profound impact he had on all of the swimmers he coached over his 35 seasons as head coach of USC Men’s Swimming. Indeed the future is bright. Fight On!”