Dr. R. Blake Kline of Anesthesiologist Consultants of Florence and his wife Leslie have made a $250,000 pledge toward Coastal Carolina University's Adkins Field House.

Kline, who graduated from Coastal in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in biology, says his decision was prompted by his love for Coastal and by his friendship with fellow alumni Mark and Will Adkins, who pledged $1.5 million to the field house project last year.

"I feel I've been very fortunate, and my undergraduate education at Coastal is what 'jump started' me into my career," says Kline, who is chief of anesthesiology and medical director of the operating room at Carolinas Hospital System in Florence. "I waited tables with Mark and Will Adkins at Slug's Rib on Restaurant Row while we were students at Coastal. When I read about their gift last year I thought that contributing to the field house would be a meaningful way to honor Coastal and my good friends the Adkins brothers. I am very excited about the growth of CCU and the incredible football program Coach Bennett and his staff have put together. I sincerely hope that our contribution will trigger my former classmates to contribute and aid in the continued success of Coastal Carolina University."

The 43,000-square-foot field house facility is set to be built adjacent to Coastal's Brooks Stadium and will be named in honor of the Adkins brothers. Adkins Field House will also provide additional seating for the stadium. While early sitework is under way, construction on the field house is expected to begin in 2008.

In honor of Kline's gift, the hospitality area on the third floor of Brooks Stadium will be named the R. Blake Kline Hospitality Suite.

Kline graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1994, and he did his internship and residency in anesthesiology at the Medical College of Georgia.