The “We Believe!” Project

Transforming the Huston Memorial Sports Complex

Ask any Pioneer baseball alumnus who was coached by the late Jerry Gatto, and they’ll be quick to tell you about his “I Believe” philosophy.

In fact, many of them carry a card with the complete motto in their wallets to this day: “Believe in yourself. Believe in your teammates. Believe something good is going to happen. And believe, through hard work, success will be achieved.”

Honoring Jerry Gatto

A dynamic and inspiring leader on and off the diamond, Gatto led the Pioneers for 22 seasons as baseball coach (1981–2002). He also served as director of athletics for three years and director of athletics development for 10 years. He died earlier this year at age 80.

Building on Gatto’s legacy, Lewis & Clark is currently raising funds to transform our existing Joe Huston Memorial Sports Complex into a state-of-the-art facility that is among the best in the Northwest Conference. The campaign is designed to strengthen the Pioneers baseball and softball programs; help facilitate the expansion of Lewis & Clark’s varsity sports to include men’s soccer and women’s lacrosse; and provide a permanent memorial to Gatto, the winningest coach in school history.

Strengthening Our Competitive Edge

Originally built as a practice and intramural facility, Huston Sports Complex was upgraded to become the permanent home of Pioneers baseball and softball in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Located just behind the law school campus, it has been modified piecemeal over the years and was last updated in 2010.

The “We Believe!” Project will transform the Huston Sports Complex into an athletics facility that celebrates our rich sports heritage. In addition to featuring a fully turfed field, it ensures that key components— including clubhouse, dugouts, batting cages, press box, and stadium seating—are upgraded to meet or exceed current standards in the Northwest Conference.

By fully renovating the diamond and naming it the Jerry Gatto Baseball Field, and by embedding his “I Believe!” motto in a permanent memorial plaza, this project extends Gatto’s profound legacy to future generations of Pioneers.

Enhancing Student Success

Lewis & Clark’s strategic plan, Exploring for the Global Good, underscores the integral role that athletics and recreational sports play in our goal of developing the student as a whole person. In fact, 19 percent of our students compete at the varsity level and many more participate in club and recreational sports. With the addition of men’s soccer and women’s lacrosse as varsity sports, we will increase our ability to attract and retain a broader range of students and expand opportunities for more students to realize the benefits of being NCAA Division III athletes.