Memphis athletics receives $7.5 million gift, adding to record-breaking donation from Bryant family

The Gary W. and Barbara A. Bryant Family Trust plans to donate $7.5 million to the Memphis athletic department, the family announced Wednesday morning.

The gift will include a $500,000 leadership grant and a $7 million estate gift. The estate gift is an addition to the $13 million estate gift the family made in 2019 and raises the total to $20 million, the largest such donation in Memphis athletics history.

“Barbara and I believe strongly in obtaining a quality education that opens more doors and opportunities,” Gary Bryant said in a statement. “We are excited to expand our initial commitment to the University of Memphis athletic department to continue to enable future student-athletes to earn a great education and excel in their sport at my alma mater. We feel very fortunate to be able to provide a leadership gift for the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium project and only hope more alumni do the same. Go Tigers Go!”

The money from the estate gift will be used “at the department’s discretion to support the overall vision for Memphis Athletics and student-athletes,” according to a news release.

Gary Bryant graduated from the university in 1972 and later became the president and CEO of several insurance companies.

The leadership gift will go toward the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium renovation project. That’s a $220 million project that got under way last summer and is expected to conclude before the 2026 football season. The area next to the Tigers’ locker room on the field will be named the “Gary & Barbara Bryant Field Club.”

“We are extremely grateful and humbled by the extraordinary generosity of the Bryant family and their unwavering commitment to the future of Memphis athletics,” Memphis athletic director Ed Scott said in a statement. “Memphis athletics deeply values its relationship with the Bryant family and is honored by their benevolence.”

The gift comes as the department prepares to enter the revenue sharing era of college athletics. Memphis senior associate athletic director Terrence Lollie told The Commercial Appeal on Wednesday that the Tigers have declared their intent to opt in to the House settlement, which will allow the department to directly pay players once officially approved.

Scott has also made no secret of his goal to get Memphis out of the AAC and into a different athletic conference. Memphis turned down an approach from the revamped Pac-12 last year, but Scott said at the time one of the reasons Memphis didn’t take the deal was because of finances. Because the gift can be used at the department’s discretion, Scott and the rest of the department will have more flexibility.

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis athletic department receives $7.5M gift from Bryant family