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Gary Hogan Field
The Little Rock baseball program has called Gary Hogan Field (formerly Curran Conway Field) since 1978, but everything from the playing surface to the name is nothing like it has been in the past.
The 2022 season saw a new maroon outfield wall installed with new signage around the field and around the concourse.
Before the start of the 2004 season it was announced that an anonymous $1.6 million gift had been given for the renovation of the baseball field at Curran Conway Park. It was also announced the field would be named Gary Hogan Field in honor of the former head coach and current Little Rock associate athletic director.
Hogan directed the Little Rock baseball program from 1986 to 1996. He ended his 11-year tenure with 276 wins, the most in school history. Hogan engineered one of the greatest athletic moments in school history when the Trojans defeated #1 ranked Oklahoma State 7-3 during the 1987 season. Prior to his coaching stint, Hogan was the sports director at Little Rock's CBS affiliate KTHV Channel 11 for eight years.
"I was touched, honored and humbled all at the same time when I was told about naming the field in my honor. You can't believe what this means to me and my family," Hogan said. "My family spent many hours out at Curran Conway Field over the years. Junior (Hogan's son) grew up there and my daughter helped my wife run the concession stand during games."
The renovation project transformed Gary Hogan Field into one of the top facilities in the Sun Belt Conference and in the Mid-South region.
"I am most grateful to the donors for wanting our baseball players to compete in a first-class facility," University of Arkansas at Little Rock Chancellor Dr. Joel Anderson said. "Our coaches, baseball players and fans are going to love the changes. To my knowledge, Gary Hogan is unsurpassed among coaches at this institution, past and present,in his personal investment in the program he was leading as coach. It is a particular pleasure to see therenovated fieldnamed for him."
The renovation project started with the installation of 30,000 square feet of AstroTurf 1200 which will cover the entire infield. This surface is currently used by three Major League Baseball teams. The outfield remains natural grass, but will have a new irrigation system.
A new lighting system was installed on six new light towers and will have enough lighting to exceed standards required for collegiate baseball. A new 90-foot by 90-foot outdoor workout area and bullpen was constructed down the right field line. Half of the workout area will feature artificial turf while the other half will consist of grass/dirt infield. The area will also feature five bullpen mounds.
A 10,800-square foot climate-controlled indoor practice facility was also constructed down the right field line. The building has a surface identical to the infield and features five retractable hitting tunnels. There is an 80-foot retractable hitters drill area and three dirt bullpen mounds. All netting in the indoor facility has the ability to slide to one side to create an area large enough for full infield practice drills.
Cosmetic improvements were made to the existing seating area and roof covering the grandstand. A new sound system, backstop, screen and a four-foot vinyl covered chain link fence were constructed down each foul line as well.
Spectator seating areas were expanded on both sides of the grandstands. These terraced hillsides were constructed with multiple levels, allowing fans to sit on lawn chairs or blankets to view games. Also, 200 seatback chairs were added to the grandstand prior to the 2005 season.
Little Rock began using Curran Conway in 1978. At the time the infield consisted of rocks and dirt, and the outfield was a mass of dried, brown grass. During the early 1980s, the facility was in such bad shape that home games were to Ray Winder Field and Fort Roots Field in North Little Rock.
When Hogan took over the program in 1986 the facility was "a rock pit and dust bowl,"he said. Hogan immediately went to work on the field, and found supporters willing to donate more than $500,000 worth of services and materials to upgrade the field into a playable facility. Over the years, Hogan installed a turf infield, grass outfield, dugouts, outfield wall, an indoor hitting facility and also landscaped the surrounding grounds of the ball park.
Another artificial turf infield, new warning track and outfield drainage system were installed before the 1998 season. The Wheeler Complex was added before the 2001 season. That renovation project included a new player clubhouse, offices for the coaching staff, player meeting rooms, new dugouts, umpires locker room, press box and gated front entrance. A new state of the art scoreboard was added during the 2003 season.
DIRECTIONS
Click here for directions to Gary Hogan Field.
KRIS WHEELER COMPLEX
Thanks to the generosity of Jack Wheeler, Little Rock was able to complete the first phase of the renovation project of Gary Hogan Field in 2001. The project included new locker rooms for players, coaches and umpires, and a players clubhouse, concessions area and public restroom facilities.
The complex is named in honor of Jack Wheeler's son, former Little Rock baseball player Kris Wheeler. During his five-year playing career (1998-2002), Kris Wheeler defined persistence and determination. He was a gifted athlete who overcame numerous injuries to post career-best offensive numbers during his senior season and emerged as a true team leader.
The Wheeler family was heavily involved in Trojan baseball prior to their gift for the Kris Wheeler Complex. Behind Jack Wheeler's efforts, the baseball team received new dugouts and drainage for Gary Hogan Field. Mr. Wheeler donated approximately $800,000 in cash and services rendered for these projects, which marked the initial renovations to Gary Hogan Field prior to the anonymous gift which completed the project.