Hilltopper Heritage

Building History - E.A. Diddle Arena

Citation Excerpts from Vertical File - E.A. Diddle Arena Books 1 & 2 available in the Kentucky Library, Reference.

Other Names - Academic-Athletic Building No. 1
Date Built - Nov. 15, 1961 - 1963
Date Razed -
Cost of Construction - $3 million
Gross Square Feet -
Assignable Square Feet -
Architects - Frank Cain & Ben Johnson

Namesake - Edgar Allen Diddle (1895-1970) was born at Gradyville, Kentucky March 12, 1895 to John A. and Mary Elizabeth Hughes Diddle. After his early education at Columbia, Kentucky, Diddle entered Centre College at Danville in 1915 where he excelled in football and basketaball. He served in the Naval Aviation program during WWI, returning to Centre in 1918. He left again in 1920 to begin his coaching career at Monticello High School. In 1921 he coached at Greenville High School. On September 7, 1922, he joined the staff at Western as athletic director and coach of all sports. He relinquished his duties as head football coach in 1929 and of baseball in 1956.

Diddle married Margaret Louise Monin December 27, 1923 and they had two children, Edgar Allen Diddle Jr. and Mary Jo Diddle Phillips. He died January 2, 1970.

Col. Edgar B. Stansbury (1907- ). The Diddle Arena lobby was named for Col. Stansbury in 1998 after he pledged $1 million for scholarships. Stansbury came to Western in 1926 and plyaed football, basketball and baseball under Coach Diddle. He later returned as an assistant coach for football and baseball and served three seasons as tennis coach going on to serve as director of athletics and head of the Health & Physical Education Department. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.

History - Discussion and planning for this building began as early as 1956. By December 1960 plans had been drawn. Between 65 to 70 percent of the construction was funded through the sale of bonds with the remaining capital coming from the state. The building is a three-tier circular structure, 300 feet in diameter and a height of 90 feet from playing-floor to the highest point of the roof. When opened it seated approximately 8500 for basketball and could be use for concerts and theatre programming seating about 13,000. In addition, the building contains a swimming pool, auxiliary gym, and 30 classrooms.
A bulldozer was used for the groundbreaking on November 15, 1961 and the arena was dedicated on December 7, 1963. The Hilltoppers lost to Vanderbilt 82-60 in the opening game. In 1991 an electrical fire broke out. Several students attempted to douse the blaze. Seventeen students, firemen and WKU employees were checked for possible asbestos contamination.

When it was first constructed the arena housed the departments of Foreign Languages, Military Science and Physical Education.

Additions - 1980 - new scoreboard donated by American National Bank and Pepsi Cola

1987 - reroofed, $250,000
1992 - new seating, painting, weight room renovated, $90,000 from Hilltopper Athletic Foundation

1993 - digital scoreboard installed, $200,000 in corporate sponsorship; computerized ticket office, $57,000

1995 - new sound system

2001 - 2003 renovations: auxiliary gymnasium extension, lockerrooms, four main entrances, ticket office with drive through window, new office space, Hall of Champions museum, food court, W-Club room, Hilltopper Athletic Foundation VIP room, skyboxes, videoboards, scoreboards, new sound, light and HVAC systems, new basketball court, new seating, parking and elevator access, approximately $32.5 million from Hilltopper Athletic Foundation, sales of luxury suite, bond issue and donations