Home › St. John Neumann News › St. John Neumann High
St. John Neumann’s basketball coach helps raise money, renovates gym within six weeks
DAVID ALBERS / Staff
Shannon McFee, St. John Neumann alumni and women's basketball coach, led the effort over the summer break to raise $150,000 to remodel the school's gymnasium.
DAVID ALBERS / Staff
Shannon McFee, St. John Neumann alumni and women's basketball coach, led the effort over the summer break to raise $150,000 to remodel the school's gymnasium.
More St. John Neumann High
- Girls prep basketball season preview: Team-by-team capsules
- Prep basketball: Nov. 18, 2008
- Prep soccer: Nov. 18, 2008
Tell us about it
- What would you add to this story? Tell us what we missed.
- Do you have photos from this event? Documents we need to see? Share with us.
- Upload photos & videos
- More ways to get your stuff online and in the paper.
STORY TOOLS
Share and Enjoy [?]
NAPLES — Shannon McFee knew where to look when he realized St. John Neumann’s gymnasium needed a facelift.
McFee, who was part of the high school’s first graduating class, has spent the past few years in the gymnasium working as the school’s basketball coach.
So when it came time to raise money to renovate the gymnasium, he looked no further than the St. John Neumann family.
They answered the call, raising $150,000 to renovate the gymnasium, which now has a new maple floor, new tile in the locker rooms, motorized bleachers and a paint job that makes the new gym seem much brighter.
“The kids deserve it,” McFee said. “They sacrifice so much as far as material things to come to Neumann. It is great to give them a facility to match their spirit.”
McFee and Mike Stevens, another Neumann supporter, started talking about renovating the gymnasium on June 7.
“We came up with a plan, researched what it would cost and asked friends to help us,” he said.
New Principal Denny Denison said McFee contacted him while he was on vacation and asked if the renovations could be done.
“My family and I were on vacation for three weeks. He called me on the first day and 21 days later it was halfway done,” he said.
Renovations to the gym began July 21 and crews worked to get the gym ready for this week’s return of students.
Donna Heiser, director of development for the school, said Golden Gate-based St. John Neumann had plans to renovate the gymnasium as part of Phase III of a $10 million capital campaign to improve the school.
McFee just sped up the process, she said.
In addition to raising $150,000 in donations, many who support the school donated labor and their time to help with the project.
“The people I expected to step up did,” McFee said. “This was built entirely by Neumann people. It is a special feeling. We are going to maintain some of the history by maintaining the old gym.”
McFee knows how important the gymnasium is and that, at Neumann, it is used for much more than gym classes or after-school sports. As a St. John Neumann student, he only got to use the gymnasium once, during his graduation in 1986. The gym was completed in April 1986, he said.
McFee said the new gymnasium also will benefit the basketball team, which has been used to playing on a quarter inch of rubber flooring over concrete.
“It is so much safer. We have a very aggressive style and on the old floor it could lead to a lot of wear and tear on their bodies,” he said. “I hope we don’t have some of the dead legs that we used to have at the end of the seasons.”
St. John Neumann junior Maddy Philbrick had one word to describe the gym.
“It’s amazing,” she said.
Junior Sarah McFee, Shannon’s daughter, said she was surprised at the work that had been done.
“I did not think it would happen this quickly,” she said.
But that seems about par for the course when it comes to their coach, said Valeria Gastaldello, 16.
“He’s the best,” she said. “He cares about the game (of basketball) and he loves us all. He is dedicated, very dedicated.”
Denison called the gymnasium a “wonderful gift.”
“It’s phenomenal,” he said.
Comments
This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. Break our rules, and we will ban you. No exceptions, no second chances. Read our privacy policy & user agreement.
Great Job Shannon!!
#1 Posted by Analytical_Skeptic on August 19, 2008 at 8:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice to see a prominient Naples attorney step up to the plate for Saint Johns.
Question though. Isn't St. Johns a private school with private funding?
#2 Posted by Jadip811 on August 20, 2008 at 4:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great Job Shannon...
FYI NDN St. John Neumann's first graduating class was 1984 not 1986 with shannon.
#3 Posted by intellectuallarceny on August 20, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
St. John is a private entity but funding comes from tution and donations. They don't have the tax money like public schools to build half a million dollar turf football fields.
#4 Posted by Daedalus on August 20, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Post your comment
(Requires free registration.)