MCKENZIE, Tenn. – Bethel University Board of Trustee member Patty Kahlden was in McKenzie Friday for a special reason. A longtime supporter of the university and the Bethel Athletic department presented Football Coach Michael Jasper and Senior Athletic Director Brad Chappell a generous gift of $500,000 for the football program.
The Kahlden Complex, which hosts the Bethel softball and baseball programs, is a centerpiece on campus and is a result of previous donations by Tom and Patty Kahlden.
Kolby, the son of the Kahlden’s was a 2019 Mid-South Conference 1st team all-conference offensive lineman for the Wildcats. Kolby was a member of the MSC All-Academic team.
Kolby was also named a member of the 2019 National Football Honor Society. The honor goes to players who maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers.
Patty Kahlden said, “We are so happy to help the Bethel University football program with the initial money needed for a new facility. Bethel University has been a wonderful place for our son, Kolby, to play football, shoot sporting clays, get an education and to grow into a great adult. We felt that it was important for us to ‘pay it forward.’ Our hope is that potential and current students will be able to enjoy this new facility that is being planned and that other like-minded folks and supporters will donate as well.”
Jasper commented, “ I can’t begin to express how appreciative I am to the Kahlden family for this gift to football. This is a huge step in continuing to build the legacy of football that I have envisioned. It takes more than just the hard work of the coaching staff and these amazing student-athletes – it takes support from the community and donors like the Kahlden’s. I had the honor and pleasure of coaching Kolby and have also had the honor of growing close to the Kahlden family as if they are my own. It is my prayer that others follow suit in their support making Bethel football the best program in the nation.”
Chappell said, “Today was a spectacular day for Bethel Athletics and in particular Bethel Football. Tom and Patty Kahlden made an incredibly generous gift to our football program this afternoon. I cannot begin to explain how important this gift is to the success of our student-athletes. The Kahlden’s have been staunch supporters of Bethel Athletics for several years now. This gift is the start of a campaign to raise money for a new football building and I am challenging all alumni and Bethel supporters to help make this dream a reality.”