Lance Leipold reacts to $300 million donation to Kansas from David Booth

Kansas head coach Lance Leipold was practically blown away by David Booth’s generous gift to Jayhawks athletics. The department received a $300 million donation from Booth, a Kansas alum.

A longtime supporter of the Jayhawks, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Booth’s gift was among the largest in the history of college athletics. Now, it’ll be put to good use in light of the football stadium being newly renovated as well.

Leipold has had a relationship with Booth for quite some time now. He said the gift was timed considering the landscape of college athletics.

“It’s unbelievable as someone of like David Booth had that type of generosity and the impact it’ll make for our football program and athletic department for many years to come during a time that’s so important for us to keep moving in so many different directions of things, whether it be stadium or revenue share and all the different things that may continue to evolve in college athletics,” Leipold said. “A gift like this gives us the opportunity, you know, to stay strong.”

Booth’s interactions with athletic officials and coaches have been very positive, according to Leipold. Clearly, a gift like this to Kansas is evident.

“Other times to have the opportunity to interact with him has been great,” Leipold said. “Obviously, he knows the importance of what athletics does for a university in many different scenarios, as he alluded to in the video. And he’s seen the benefit of what a successful college football program means in today’s age as well. And for that I can’t thank the man enough.”

This isn’t the first time Booth donated money to the Kansas athletic department. A big fan of his alma mater, Booth gave a reported $9 million in 2004 to fund the Booth Family Hall of Athletics attached to Allen Fieldhouse.

Over a decade later, Booth wrote a larger check. He signed over a reported $50 million to renovate Kansas’ football stadium and named it after Booth.

Recent renovations were just completed as well, something Kansas head coach Lance Leipold was thrilled about. The team was recently seen practicing inside the new facility.

“It’s been great,” Leipold said. “And, honestly, I probably wasn’t in there as much as you think. I really kind of stayed away from it. Not to get stressed out if it was gonna be finished on time, or what was going to be control what you can.”