LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The idea for the Jack Stephens Center was born on a golf course—but not just any golf course. Former Little Rock head men's basketball coach Porter Moser had just finished a round at Augusta National with Little Rock businessman Joe T. Ford. As they relaxed on the back porch of the club that hosts the Masters, they were approached by familiar faces.
Little Rock financier Jack Stephens walked over with friend and associate Warren Simpson. Stephens, a passionate sports fan, began talking with Moser about the program and how it compared to then John Calipari-led Memphis.
"'Do you know what kind of facilities they have [at Memphis]?'" Moser recalled telling the group. "'Indulge me and come visit our facilities.'"
Not long after, Stephens brought an entourage of Stephens Inc. executives to tour the old, dilapidated Trojan Fieldhouse.
Stephens was sold - on something bigger. What began as a proposal for a practice facility and a small arena to house women's basketball and volleyball was quickly vetoed. He wanted a larger arena. Two years later, construction began on a $20 million, 5,600-seat facility. The arena opened on November 22, 2005, with the Trojans defeating Navy—Stephens' alma mater.
On Saturday, Dec. 6, the Stephens family will celebrate another milestone at the arena named for their late patriarch. A 20th-anniversary celebration is planned as the Trojan women host Central Arkansas at 6 p.m., followed by the men against Arkansas State at 8.
"The Jack Stephens Center stands as one of the most significant examples of philanthropic vision in the history of the state of Arkansas," said Little Rock Director of Athletics
Frank M. Cuervo. "Jack Stephens and the Stephens family didn't just help us build an arena—they reshaped the trajectory of Little Rock Athletics and elevated what was possible for our student-athletes, our coaches, and our community. Their extraordinary generosity created a lasting landmark that continues to inspire pride, fuel our ambitions, and strengthen the city they have always championed. Twenty years later, the Stephens legacy remains woven into the fabric of Little Rock, and we feel its impact every single day."
An Eye Opener
When Moser met with the group at Augusta, he suspected they had no idea where the Trojans actually practiced and met each day. The men played home games at Alltel Arena (now Simmons Bank Arena), an 18,000-seat venue that seemed like a good solution—but it was used only on game days. Practices, meetings, and recruiting all happened in the old Fieldhouse, which also hosted most women's games.
So three weeks later, when Stephens and his associates arrived to tour the facility, Moser staged the scene for full effect.
"There was some garbage and old chairs sitting in a hallway waiting to be taken out, and me and the managers moved that out front," Moser said. "There was a small hole in [former player Jake Yancey's] locker that you could see through to the outside. I kicked it to make it larger. I also found a wasp nest and knocked it down, so wasps were flying everywhere."
The group was stunned.
"That's when it got real," Moser said. "They only knew what they saw on game day."
Wheels in Motion
Moser and then–Director of Athletics Chris Peterson never expected a new arena. The original vision was a practice facility plus offices and a weight room.
Stephens wasn't interested. He wanted to build a full arena. Peterson met with Warren Stephens and others in spring 2002. On November 22, of that year, Peterson was at a women's game in Itta Bena, Miss., when Warren called to say the family would finance a full-sized arena.
"Warren Stephens called and said, 'My dad wants to build [Little Rock] an arena,'" Peterson said. "We had proposed a 3,000-seat facility off Fair Park, but he didn't want that. He wanted it to be bigger."
Jack Stephens – The Common Man
Jack Stephens didn't write a check and walk away. He stayed deeply involved.
"He wanted to dot every 'i' and cross every 't," Peterson said.
The two worked closely and became friends, visiting other arenas—including Gonzaga's McCarthey Athletic Center—while playing countless Gin Rummy games together. Peterson accompanied Stephens during his service as chairman at Augusta National.
Though a wildly successful businessman, Stephens never forgot his humble Arkansas roots, which included summer jobs as a bellhop and shoeshine boy. His philanthropy stretched across the state and beyond—from Episcopal Collegiate School to the Jackson T. Stephens Spine Hospital to establishing The First Tee youth golf program at the request of the PGA.
"[Stephens] was a brilliant, generous man on a mission to make the world a better place," Peterson said. "I was blessed to know him and appreciate him and his family so much."
Moser also grew close to the family.
"It stands out how generous they were," Moser said. "It's one thing to make that much money, but another to be willing to donate it. That's what made them special."
Stephens died on July 23, 2005. The arena was completed in time for him to see it.
"He loved it," Peterson said. "It turned out just the way he wanted."
Luring a Legend
Coaches past and present agree the arena transformed recruiting. It also helped Peterson make one of the biggest hires in school history.
After the 2002 season, Peterson called Joe Foley—then at Arkansas Tech—hoping to land the legendary coach.
"I told him, 'No,'" Foley said. "I knew what kind of facilities they had, and no one could recruit to those."
Peterson had the perfect response.
"He told me they were building a new arena, and I got a lot more interested then," Foley said.
When Foley attends the anniversary games December 6, he'll walk across Joe Foley Court, an honor bestowed after 21 seasons that included numerous championships. Foley, a 2026 Little Rock Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, is reflective.
"I have so many great memories," Foley said. "We won a lot of games in that arena. It's always going to be special."
Peterson is direct: "There is no way we would have been able to hire Joe without the Jack Stephens Center."
The building is also important to current women's head coach
Steve Wiedower, who served two stints as Foley's assistant.
"We have had the best facility in whatever conference we've been in," Wiedower said. "It's a huge recruiting advantage. So many kids are impressed with everything the building offers.
"It's home to me. I've spent so much time here and have loved every minute of it."
Looking to the Future
In September, Cuervo announced departmental facility upgrades plans: a new baseball facility, a golf center, and an expansion to the Jack Stephens Center.
Plans call for a basketball operations center extending to the East off Derek Fisher Court—the programs' current practice gym—adding offices, meeting space, locker rooms and players lounges, as well as new weight room and sports medicine center.
"For more than two decades, the Jack Stephens Center has stood as a cornerstone of Trojan Athletics and a point of pride for Little Rock," said Cuervo. "Its history reflects the vision, generosity, and commitment of those who believed in providing a first-class home for our student-athletes, coaches, and fans. As we look to the future, our responsibility is to preserve and elevate this remarkable facility so it continues to serve the people of Central Arkansas for generations to come. Modernizing the Jack Stephens Center isn't just about maintaining a building—it's about honoring its legacy and ensuring our Trojans have the resources and environment they need to thrive."
Men's head coach
Darrell Walker said the renovation would be transformative.
"The Jack Stephens Center is already an outstanding facility," Walker said. "That addition would make it even more attractive to recruits and help coaches with space and accessibility."
Moser had an active hand in planning the arena's amenities and participated in the groundbreaking. But he never coached a game in the building. He left for Illinois State shortly after his father's passing to be closer to his grieving, ill mother.
It wasn't until two years ago—when his Oklahoma team held a closed scrimmage against Mississippi State - that Moser finally toured the completed arena.
"I toured every square in of the place – I went everywhere," said Moser, who is now the head coach at Oklahoma. "I couldn't believe it. It was so nice and has held up so well. They have taken such good care of it, just the way Mr. Stephens would have wanted."
A Legacy That Endures
Twenty years after opening its doors, the Jack Stephens Center remains more than brick, steel, and hardwood. It stands as a testament to a family's belief in Little Rock, a coach's vision, and a community's commitment to growth. Generations of student-athletes have trained, competed, studied, and celebrated within its walls. Championships have been raised, memories made, and standards elevated.
And now, as the next chapter begins - with new construction, new ambitions, and new dreams—the spirit that launched the arena at Augusta National still resonates.
Jack Stephens wanted something bigger. He wanted something better. Two decades later, the building he imagined continues to deliver exactly that.
