Corporate
ADD no match for Carabins’ attentive Boissoneault-Glaou
Throughout the 2017-18 season, U SPORTS sits down with one key athlete, coach, and staff member of each U SPORTS athletic program in our new interview series “Getting to know…”
Name: Kenneth Schildroth
School: MacEwan University
Position: Director of Athletics
Previous job/position: Manager Interuniversity Sport, York University
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
1. How did you get to your current position, and what do you enjoy most about our job?
I was the men’s basketball coach at McGill University for 15 years and was also the intercollegiate co-ordinator, which laid the foundation for a career in educational sport. That led to further opportunities in this field at York and MacEwan. It’s just so inspirational to work with such talented student-athletes, coaches and support staff, who have such passions for sport.
2. Who has had the most influence on your career?
I’ve had many people who’ve been influential along the way. Sports-wise, my mentor has been Ken Shields, who I first met at Laurentian University but continued a relationship with at the University of Victoria. On the administrative side, I owe a lot to Robert Dubeau (McGill), Patricia Murray and Jennifer Myers (York), and Catherine Heslep, John Corlett and David Atkinson (MacEwan).
3. What is your greatest sporting moment or achievement?
The opportunity to compete as a player in a men’s basketball national championship (Laurentian in 1977-78) was pretty special. And then to return to the national championship as a coach (McGill in 1984-85 and 1985-86, as well as an assistant with Laurentian and Saskatchewan) was amazing. I’ve also had the opportunity as an institutional leader to have teams advance to a national championship (several sports at McGill and York), which has been a thrill.
4. How would you define a MacEwan University student-athlete?
Extremely talented, multi-dimensional student, who’s committed to academic, athletic, and community engagement.
5. What does success look like for the MacEwan University athletics program?
Graduating credentialed student-athletes and competing in Canada West and U SPORTS championships. We take pride in helping to produce well-rounded student-athletes who are engaged in their communities.
6. What’s the biggest challenge you face in today’s sports world?
The greatest challenge is keeping pace with technology, financial costs and expectations of student-athletes.
7. Where would you like to see Canadian university sport in the next three to five years?
It’s going to take a cultural shift, but I’d like to see university sport embraced more widely by Canadian society. We do it in hockey. We can do it in university sport. It’s just going to require a cultural shift to be more like the American system. University sport is valued in the community because student-athletes are truly multi-dimensional talented people.
8. If you could sit down for dinner with one person in the sports industry (athlete, coach or manager), who would it be? Why? What would you talk about?
It was Ken Shields early in my career and it would still be Ken Shields today. I would ask him about excellence and how to build successful programs.
9. What would you say to a sports fan who’s never watched a U SPORTS game/tournament/competition?
It’s the best ticket in town.
10. What do you enjoy doing when you’re away from work?
I run. I spend time with my son, my wife and dog. I love the great outdoors.