Constructed in 1995 as the new home for ETBU's indoor athletic programs, Ornelas Gymnasium is recognized as one of the top basketball/volleyball facilities in the American Southwest Conference.

Made possible by a gift from the Ornelas family of Tyler, the facility has hosted both ETBU basketball and volleyball games since opening in time for the 1995-96 season. Prior to that, ETBU basketball had played its home games in Keys Gymnasium, which still stands as an intramural facility on the east part of the complex that now includes Ornelas Gym and the Dean Healthplex.

The gym was built with a classic look of bowl-type seating, with three levels of seating extending down to the gym floor. The facility includes floor bleacher seats, reserved chairback and upper level general admission bleachers.

ETBU students are allowed in the floor bleachers and can get up close and personal with the action to provide a nice homecourt advantage for the Tigers and Lady Tigers.

This past summer, the gym floor received a facelift. ETBU's trademark tiger-eyes logo was added to both baselines, and the floor was completely refinished with ETBU, ASC and NCAA logos added.

During last season's run to the American Southwest Conference East Division championship, the Lady Tiger basketball team went 10-2 at home in Ornelas Gym. Over the last two seasons, the program has been nearly unbeateable at home, with a combined 21-4 mark, for an .840 winning percentage.

As part of the complex that includes Ornelas Gym on the west and Keys Gym on the east is Dean Healthplex. Built with a gift from Ben and Mary Dean and opened on the same day as Ornelas Gym, the healthplex houses state-of-the-art equipment for physical fitness, such as treadmills, stationary bicycles, stair-masters and both free and machine weightlifting equipment.

The Dean Healthplex also includes four raquetball courts. All Healthplex facilities are free and open to ETBU faculty, staff and students. The complex also includes offices for the athletic director, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and volleyball coaches, and kinesiology faculty.