Why Taylor University Chose Chilly GOAT for Its Athletic Recovery Facility

An upgrade from aging whirlpools brings a new recovery experience for athletes—and the promise of less daily work for athletic training staff.

For a commercial athletic facility, choosing recovery equipment means thinking about both the athletes who use it and the staff who keep it ready.

At Taylor University, those considerations helped shape the decision to bring Chilly GOAT Alpine PRO cold tubs into Stillman Fieldhouse. The athletic training department serves 450 athletes across 18 varsity sports, and head athletic trainer Casey Hackman brings 26 years of experience at Taylor to the decision.

The university wanted to upgrade its recovery equipment while making the daily routine more convenient for staff.

Casey Hackman - Head Athletic Trainer for Taylor University 

Built Around the Needs of an Athletic Program

Recovery at Taylor varies by sport, season, and schedule. An athlete preparing for practice may have different needs from someone coming in the day after a game.

“A lot of our athletes come in here to use hot and cold therapy recovery tubs,” Hackman explains.

Contrast baths—moving between hot and cold water—are already part of the department’s approach. The Alpine PRO units will support that established routine, with access planned for athletes across all 18 varsity sports.

Hackman says the tubs will be available for athletes working with the training department following an injury, as well as those preparing for their next practice or game.

That breadth of use makes the equipment choice relevant to the entire athletic program.

Moving Beyond Hundreds of Pounds of Ice

For facility buyers, one of the most practical parts of Taylor’s story is what the university is replacing.

Hackman describes the Chilly GOAT tubs as “an upgrade to the 25 year old whirlpools that we had.”

Along with a new experience for athletes, he anticipates greater convenience for the staff responsible for maintaining the equipment. His priorities include “not having to go through hundreds of pounds of ice a week to chill them” and reducing the daily refilling and cleaning work associated with the old setup.

Those expectations speak to a familiar challenge in athletic facilities: the work required to prepare and maintain recovery equipment day after day.

At Taylor, reducing that burden was an important part of the upgrade. The decision considered how the tubs would fit into the staff’s routine alongside how athletes would use them.

Chilly GOAT Alpine PRO at Stillman Fieldhouse, Taylor University

A Choice That Reflects the Facility’s Ambition

Stillman Fieldhouse houses football and lacrosse locker rooms, meeting spaces, and a shared hitting area for baseball and softball. The recovery equipment is part of Taylor’s investment in that athletic environment.

When asked why the university chose Chilly GOAT, Hackman’s answer was direct:

“We wanted the best on the market by the best company and the best athletes out there.”

For Taylor, the choice reflects the standard it wanted to set for its athletes and its facility.

What Facility Buyers Can Take From Taylor’s Story

Taylor University’s decision highlights two questions worth asking when considering a commercial cold tub: How will it serve your users, and what will it take for your staff to keep it ready?

With Alpine PRO, Taylor is investing in an upgrade intended to support recovery across its varsity athletic program while reducing the ice handling and daily upkeep associated with its aging whirlpools.

Considering an upgrade for your facility? Connect with Chilly GOAT to explore how Alpine PRO can fit your program’s needs.