ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Thanks in part to an $8 million challenge grant from the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation, Augustana has announced plans for construction of the Austin E. Knowlton Center for Innovation in Health, Wellness and Human Performance. The facility, scheduled for completion in 2020, will house an aquatic center with a 25-yard competition pool, as well as classrooms, team spaces, office space and exercise laboratories.
 
With the addition of the center, plans are to expand the rosters of the Viking women's and men's swimming & diving teams and explore the addition of women's water polo as a varsity sport while maintaining men's water polo as a club sport. Augustana currently sponsors 25 varsity athletic programs.
 
The building of the Knowlton Center comes about as part of Augustana's introduction of kinesiology as an academic program. Kinesiology is the study of physical activity and human movement and tentative plans are for the program to be available to the incoming class of 2023. Several other areas of academic study will also be housed in the building.
 
Since 1971 all aquatics programs in Augustana have been housed in the Carver Center Pool. The Vikings have been swimming at the varsity level since 1929-30 when the men's team was coached by Quad City legend H.V. "Shorty" Almquist. Women's swimming has been a varsity sport since 1976-77. Augustana has captured eight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin men's titles and five on the women's side.
 
Dan Lloyd is the current head coach of both the men's and women's programs and he has fashioned a record of 18-10 with the men and 17-11 for the women.
 
Augustana Director of Athletics Mike Zapolski expressed excitement at the announcement. "Discussions on this concept first began several years ago, and I am ecstatic about today's announcement. This project represents a significant 'win' for Augustana. A new and expanded aquatic venue will allow for the growth of the Augustana swimming and diving programs—plus put the College in a solid position to add men's and women's water polo as future varsity sports. On the academic front, the new kinesiology major will complement Augustana's nationally recognized science offerings and serve as an attractive recruitment tool for our entire coaching staff."
 
Founded by the late Ohio businessman and philanthropist Austin E. Knowlton, the foundation that bears his name also funded significant upgrades to Augustana's football and track & field facilities. Housing Charles D. Lindberg Stadium, Ericson Field, Paul V. Olsen Track and the Ken Anderson Academic All-America Club, the Austin E. Knowlton Outdoor Athletic Complex was dedicated in 2013.