Nike co-founder Phil Knight is helping out Duck basketball with a major rebound.

A $100 million endowment was announced to the University of Oregon Sunday night.

UO Photo

The inside of McArthur Court, home of University of Oregon basketball.

The deal to create the Oregon Athletics Legacy Fund was announced Monday afternoon. It was the largest gift in the history of the University.

The money is not targeted specifically for an arena, university officials said. Rather, it will create the Oregon Athletics Legacy Fund, which will help support all athletic programs.

But indirectly, officials said, the donation will boost the university's effort to replace aging McArthur Court with a new

arena near the eastern edge of campus.

University of Oregon’s McArthur Court is known around the PAC-10 as one of the loudest, rowdiest, courts imaginable.

But until now -- the funding was not all there.

Background: See the proposed arena

Earlier this year, Duck athletic director Pat Kilkenny kicked in $2.5 million of the $4 million dollars raised for the project. Former Portland area auto dealer Scott Thomason and his wife Deborah Autzen pledged another million dollars.

"Phil and Penny Knight are long and generous supporters of the university,” UO President Dave Frohnmayer said. “They have demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering both athletic as well as academic excellence on the Oregon campus. This contribution reflects a continuing strong dedication to higher education and our students. We are deeply moved by their unprecedented generosity,"

A new model was unveiled in April. In 2003 University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer said the new building, with 15,000 seats, would be impressive.

The Knights have also given funding for the School of Law, the UO Libraries, more than 15 endowed faculty positions, and a other academic and athletic gifts.