You know you're not in just any college office when you open the door to Coach Weis' office in the newly built Guglielmino Athletics Complex at Notre Dame. The first thing you notice is wood; rich beautiful wood exemplifying the masculinity deserving of a coach's workspace.

Custom Millwork and Display, Inc. (formerly a division of Paladin Caseworks), of South Bend, Indiana, had the honor of building the custom woodwork in the athletic center and Coach Weis' office. Owners Jerrel Mead and Joe Welker are completing final touches to the complex that will tie the building together with a coordinated presence.

Custom Millwork had already earned a solid reputation with Notre Dame when the university was ready to accept bids on the new athletics complex. Mead said, "We had just finished the woodwork for the DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts ... so they knew our work." They were invited to bid on the complex. "We procured the job on the base bid, but through the months ahead the job more than doubled in upgrades."

Jerrel explains how the process of taking on such a large project transpires. "An architect drew up the original concept, and then McShane Construction of Rosemont, Illinois, built the building on a 'design/build' contract. I then worked closely with their project manager for all the specific design issues."

While the design issues were fine-tuned, rift-cut white oak was ordered and shipped. Once the wood arrived, and the final plans were approved, construction could begin.

Most of the items were pre-finished-to-fit, allowing placement by an installation contractor. This helped the project go more smoothly; but that's not to say it was easy. For example, Mead's brother, Carroll Mead of Michiana Woodworks in Niles, who worked with Jerrel on the project, explained the challenge of two massive trophy cases.

"The original drawings wouldn't work and it became a difficult piece of engineering. Each finished piece took four men to lift. The wood-framed glass doors alone weighed 150 pounds."

This past summer turned from busy to hectic as the August 1st deadline neared, so Jerrel asked Carroll to complete several other projects around the complex, including the cabinetry behind the coach's desk and the cabinetry in the conference room and first and second floor reception desks.

Simultaneously, Custom Millwork and Display continued creating items for the building such as: chair rails, benches, crown moldings, borrowed-light window system moldings, storage racks and equipment shelves, taping area cabinetry, and many countertops.

In the coach's office, Custom Millwork trimmed out a full 12-foot high wall of layered windows overlooking a patio and the distant practice field. Jerrel Mead said, "The room is really rich with woodwork. It gives the feeling of authority and respect." Coach Weis' desk sits facing the window wall, allowing him to view the practice field activities. Directly behind him sits a massive credenza built by Carroll Mead. Carroll, being from Niles, laughs as he mentions that a Michigan fan built the unit for a Notre Dame coach.

A doorway to the left of Coach Weis' desk leads you to his workroom, which the Coach fine-tuned himself. The original "L" shaped layout of shelving and cabinetry did not fit his taping equipment, so he redesigned the shelving to wrap around on three sides, while keeping the cabinets limited to one wall. Jerrel and Joe implemented his requests, giving him maximum space for his binders, video tapes, and personal accessories.

Looking at the athletics complex's interior as a whole, one notices the unique and timeless beauty of the rift-cut oak harmoniously flowing from room-to-room.

Jerrel is most proud of the Morse Recruiting Lounge, "because the gothic window is clad in wood soaring high into the cathedral beamed ceiling, with the walls trimmed out in paneled wainscot and three-piece crown moldings all around the lounge at nine feet high. It looks fantastic." With a contemplating look he continues, "Any new recruit sitting in that room would have to say 'whoa... this place is incredible."

Just as all the players on a football team must thoroughly prepare and work together, these dedicated, skilled craftsmen collectively transformed the empty walls of the athletic complex into a unique, impressive building for the Notre Dame community to enjoy. Jerrel summed it up with this humble remark "We are privileged to have done it!"