Bobcat Athletics

Light the Star

TXST launches $50 million campaign to elevate Bobcat athletics

February 19, 2026
Matt Joyce

TXST launches $50 million campaign to elevate Bobcat athletics

February 19, 2026
Matt Joyce
The Light the Star logo reading "A brighter future for Texas State Athletics"

Texas State Athletics has begun a $50 million fundraising campaign to build on the momentum of the Bobcats’ move to the Pac-12 Conference and strengthen the program’s competitive edge on the national stage. 

The Light the Star campaign—named for the TXST tradition of lighting the Victory Star following Bobcat wins—focuses on raising money for student-athlete scholarships and payments, constructing new facilities, and boosting the Bobcat brand through increased season-ticket sales. 

“This is a defining moment for Texas State Athletics,” said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Don Coryell. “Light the Star is a call to action for every Bobcat to invest in the future of our programs.”

Light the Star campaign

The campaign’s five priorities are: 

  1. The Bobcat Excellence Fund, which was established after new NCAA rules took effect last summer allowing universities to make direct payments to student-athletes. 
  2. The proposed Student-Athlete Wellness Center and University Fieldhouse, which would include an academic center—supported by a $2 million gift from Mitchell Ward and Pam Willis-Ward—nutrition-based cafeteria, and climate-controlled practice field. 
digital rendering of large athletic building
Student-Athlete Wellness Center and University Fieldhouse
  1. A proposed Baseball/Softball Player Development Center with a pitching lab, enhanced batting and training spaces, player locker rooms, and fan amenities. 
  2. Support for Athletics endowments. Currently, earnings from more than 75 endowments and quasi-endowments help offset a significant portion of $7 million in annual scholarship costs. 
  3. Building the season-ticket holder base to enhance game-day atmosphere.

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Matt Joyce

Matt Joyce is the Editorial Manager for TXST's Division of Marketing and Communications.