U SPORTS News

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…”

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Name:  
Curt Warkentin
School:  University of Manitoba
Position:  Associate athletic director
Seniority:  10 years
Previous job/position:  Athletic director at Canadian Mennonite University
Hometown:  Winnipeg

 


  1. How did you get to your current position, and what do you enjoy most about your job?

I moved from being an assistant coach at a large university to being an athletic director at a small university to being associate athletic director at a large university.  I enjoy the staff team and coaches I work with at Bison Sports as well as working with colleagues across Canada West and U SPORTS on various committees.

  1. Who has had the most influence on your career?

Tom Kieswetter, Coleen Dufresne, and my parents.

  1. What is your greatest sporting moment or achievement?

Walking into the stadium as part of Team Canada for the 2015 Summer Universiade during the Opening Ceremonies in Gwangju, South Korea.

  1. How would you define a University of Manitoba Bison student-athlete?

 For me, my inspiration.

  1. What does success look like for the University of Manitoba athletics program?

Personal growth, alongside academic and athletic achievement.

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  1. What’s the biggest challenge you face in today’s sports world?

Tyranny of the urgent.

  1. Where would you like to see Canadian university sport in the next three to five years?

Connected more strongly to the bigger picture – within each university, and within Canadian sport delivery system.

  1. 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?

I’d sit down for dinner with anyone in the sports industry.  All would be great opportunities to learn.  But for entertainment value I will choose David Feherty.

  1. What would you say to a sports fan who’s never watched a U SPORTS game/tournament/competition?

These student-athletes are full-time university students, who attend classes, study, write papers, etc., and they spend about 15-30 hours per week training and competing to represent their university.  Many of them also give time and energy to various community service projects as well.  If you are looking for inspiration and role models for your kids, you have come to the right place.

  1. What do you enjoy doing when you’re away from work?

Golfing, playing hockey, hiking, canoeing, board games, and cheering for the Winnipeg Jets!