UNF announces $8M transformational gift from Kernan Hodges Estate for Hodges Stadium renovations

The University of North Florida is proud to announce a generous $8 million gift from the Estate of Kernan R. Hodges in support of Hodges Stadium. The gift will be used for the renovation and upgrade of the stadium, home to the UNF soccer and track & field teams.

Hodges Stadium and the Visit Jax Track have attracted major sporting events to Jacksonville, bringing more than 200,000 hotel room nights booked and $160 million in total economic impact since 2012. The recent gift will help increase the impact of Hodges Stadium in the community.

"We are thankful for this transformational gift from the Hodges family that will help UNF recruit future Ospreys, strengthen community connections and enhance campus life," said UNF Interim President Angela Garcia Falconetti.

The 9,400-seat Hodges Stadium houses a lighted field, nine-lane international track, the Browning Athletic Training and Education Center and UNF Athletics Department offices.

The transformational gift from the Hodges family has helped UNF add national broadcast level lighting and a digital video board to the stadium. The gift, along with $6 million allocated from the City of Jacksonville in 2025, is also supporting additional upgrades including renovations to the restrooms, locker rooms, press box and infrastructure improvements. UNF is also exploring the addition of premium seating.

"These enhancements to Hodges Stadium will elevate the experience for our student-athletes and strengthen UNF's ability to attract national and international events which will further amplify the stadium's significant economic impact on our community," said Nick Morrow, UNF Athletics Director. "The Hodges family has been dedicated supporters of UNF for decades, and we are deeply grateful for their ongoing generosity."

The facility first opened in January 2004 and was named Hodges Stadium after a gift of $2 million from George and Kernan Hodges in October 2006. The Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium was named in 2021 after the Duval County Tourist Development Council committed $950,000 for the resurfacing of the competition and practice tracks at the facility. Hodges Stadium has hosted several professional soccer teams and is the current home of Sporting Jax's men's and women's soccer teams.

The Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium is a first-choice venue for hosting a variety of national and international track competitions. It hosted the NCAA track & field East First Round eight times (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025), and the ASUN Conference Outdoor Track Championships annually since 2009.

In addition, the stadium has served as the host site to Florida's high school state track & field championships multiple times along with the USATF Masters Championships, American Track League, Bob Hayes Invitational, USATF Junior Olympics and AAU Club National Championships. The field serves as a practice facility for one of the teams participating in the TaxSlayer (Gator) Bowl each December. The stadium and field also served as the practice facility for the Philadelphia Eagles during the Super Bowl XXXIX that Jacksonville hosted in 2005.

UNF is set to host the NCAA East First Round in 2027, NCAA Division II National Championships in 2028 and FHSAA Track & Field Championships through 2028.

Recent UNF soccer and track & field program highlights include:

Soccer

• North Florida Men's Soccer claimed back-to-back ASUN Regular Season and Tournament Championships, in addition to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2024 and 2025.
• The Ospreys notched a program-record 12 wins, 12-5-2 record, that included nine shutouts and an undefeated home record at Hodges Stadium.
• North Florida had a conference-best eight All-ASUN selections in 2025 that included the program's first-ever ASUN Player of the Year selection and Midfielder of the Year sophomore midfielder Anton Khelil, ASUN Defensive Player of the Year senior defender Jaylen Yearwood and ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year junior goalkeeper Luciano Natoli.
• The program has claimed four Conference Regular Season Championships and three Conference Tournament Championships since its first season in 1991.

Track and Field

• North Florida Track and Field recorded its highest indoor team placements in program history with runner up finishes on both the men's and women's side at the 2026 ASUN Indoor Championships. The event saw North Florida record six ASUN event titles between both teams, in addition to a total of 19 All-ASUN podium finishes. Junior Rey Hernandez was named the 2026 ASUN Men's Indoor Track and Field MVP at the event.
• In 2025, Smilla Kolbe became the program-first ever NCAA Indoor and Outdoor First Team All-American, and one of three Outdoor All-Americans in program history.
• North Florida has had 42 total NCAA Outdoor Track and Field East Region Championships qualifiers in program history.