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view . fall 2012
Prestigious international recognition bestowed on Grace
UWindsor basketball coach assists with CTV Olympic coverage
Athletics director
Gord Grace has been
recognized by his
peers for leading his
department through
a transformation
that
has helped to bring the
University of Windsor to
the forefront of Canadian
university athletics.
Grace received the
International Athletics Director of the Year Award from
the US-based National Association of Collegiate Directors
of Athletics at its annual convention in Dallas in late
June. The association represents more than 6,500 college
athletics administrators at 1,600 institutions throughout the
United States, Canada and Mexico.
“This is quite an honour, but I really feel this is a
department award,” says Grace. “It is a reflection of the
effort and hard work put in by the staff, the coaches, and
the athletes.”
UWindsor president Dr. Alan Wildeman said, “We are
proud of Gord’s efforts to raise the profile of the University
of Windsor through our very successful athletics program
which continues to gain national attention. This prestigious
award from an international group of his peers is very well-
deserved, and speaks to the high level of dedication Gord
has to the success of all our Lancers.”
Among the accomplishments it cited in honouring
Grace were:
• The success of Lancer varsity teams, including
three national championships in 2011, seven squads
ranked in the country’s top 10 that season, and
individual student-athletes winning provincial and
national recognition
• A campus recreation and intramurals sports program
praised for its excellence in diversity of programs and
student opportunities
• Improved athletic facilities that include a new outdoor
stadium and the Forge Fitness Centre
• Grace has also taken on leadership in his profession,
recently completing a term as president of Ontario
University Athletics and serving on the Canadian
Interuniversity Sport board of directors
This winter, he will be back on the international stage
as he serves as the chef de mission for Canada’s entry into
the 26th FISU World University Games in Trentino, Italy,
December 11 to 21.
Lancers Women’s Basketball
Head Coach Chantal Vallée
brought her expertise to the London Olympics as a basketball
analyst for CTV Sports Canada basketball coverage.
Vallée, who coached her team to back-to-back
Canadian championships in the past two years, covered
Team Canada’s games during the Olympics. She worked
out of the studio in Toronto alongside play-by-play
announcer Paul Jones.
Before the Games, Vallée said “I am thrilled about this
new adventure and for the chance to share in the Olympic
Games this year. I’m honoured that CTV and producer
Gord Cutler has given me this opportunity. It will be great
exposure for our program, our university and our City to
be represented on CTV during the Olympic Games. I am
looking forward to this new challenge and to experience the
Olympics in a different capacity than solely a viewer and fan.”
LANCER
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By Elisa Mitton BComm ’05
Gord Grace
