New Wesmen men’s basketball coach Mike Raimbault meets the media. Photo by Kelly Morton / uwinnipeg.ca
WINNIPEG, MB – The University of Winnipeg today made several major announcements about the future of its athletic and academic programming, including the addition of key staffing positions and the desire to expand its athletic, academic and community programs.
Among the important items today, the University announced that:
- Grant Richter has been named Director of Athletic Program Development & Community Liaison
- Mike Raimbault has been named Men’s Basketball Coach
- It is looking to expand its CIS programs to potentially include soccer, wrestling, track-and-field and cross-country teams
- It is pursuing the possibility integrating the Kinesiology & Athletics departments into a single unit.
Today’s announcements demonstrate the University’s strong commitment to broadening and deepening its athletic, academic and community programs, and that it is actively working to become a centre of opportunity and development.
“These positions reflect the significant changes in our programs that were recommended by the Task Force on Athletics and Academics,” said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President & Vice-Chancellor of The University of Winnipeg. “Our initiatives are outcomes of a wider athletics strategy identified by the Task Force. These actions stress the University’s role as a leader in developing community, inner-city and competitive athletics.”
Director of Athletic Program Development & Community Liaison
Richter moves into the newly-created role of Director of Athletic Program Development & Community Liaison after most recently serving as interim head coach of the Wesmen men’s basketball team. He previously served as assistant coach of the team from 1992-98, and also coached the Winnipeg Cyclone professional basketball team and the Murdoch MacKay Collegiate team. More recently, he has worked with UWinnipeg’s Collegiate Model School to develop athletics programs that support talented, at-risk youth.
Richter will report to Dean of Arts and Task Force Chair Dr. David Fitzpatrick, and in collaboration with Athletics Director Doran Reid, to develop initiatives and programs that promote health and wellness, athletics, intramural sports and community physical activity programs. He will serve as the University’s liaison with local school divisions and community groups to ensure increased access to the Duckworth Centre, and will be involved with recruiting athletes for the University and its Collegiate sports teams. Richter will also advise the University’s administration on developing plans to expand athletic facilities on campus.
“Grant’s experience as a coach at the university and high-school levels, combined with his work in the Winnipeg community, makes him well-suited for this important role,“ said Axworthy. “As the University moves forward with a renewed purpose to its athletic programs, facilities and relationships with the community, he will play a critical role in helping us to achieve this mission.”
Men’s Basketball Coach
The 28-year-old Raimbault comes to UWinnipeg after most recently guiding the Northern British Columbia Timberwolves to the Canadian College National Championship in March following a 17-1 win-loss mark in regular-season play. For his accomplishments the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association named Raimbault its Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year.
“Mike is a passionate, energetic and knowledgeable basketball coach who is a proven winner in his young career,” said Reid. “He is a great teacher and leader who has been active and connected with the communities he has been part of and will be the ideal person to lead our program, on the court and in the community.”
The Brandon native has significant head coaching experience for someone so young. He was also the interim head coach for the Brandon University Bobcats in 2007-08, steering the team to a 20-2 win-loss record in Canada West play.
Raimbault is a graduate of Brandon University with degrees in Education and General Studies.
Expansion of CIS programs
Reid indicated today that the University is looking to expand its participation in Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) programs. The University is actively pursuing the possibility of adding Wesmen teams in the sports of cross-country, soccer, track-and-field and wrestling. If viable, these teams could begin competing as early as the Fall of 2011.
“The development of competitive teams is important to the future of the Wesmen program,” said Reid. “For many years we have been seen as a successful, but small, athletic school. The addition of more teams to the Wesmen Family will more accurately represent where we stand in the CIS.”
Integrated Kinesiology & Athletics Unit
The University of Winnipeg has always placed a strong emphasis on the concept of the “student-athlete.” With that emphasis and the University’s commitment to community learning in mind, the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Health and the Department of Athletics are exploring synergies that a closer relationship as one unit would provide. Plans are currently in the works for a presentation to the University Senate.
The two departments work together often on projects and events, such as the Get Active-Get Academic school program. Students in the Athletic Therapy program regularly work with Wesmen teams as part of their practicum. Conversely, many of the University’s student-athletes serve as ambassadors for the Department of Kinesiology and the Wesmen coaches work with the Department of Kinesiology to promote Task Force initiatives.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Shawn Coates, Director of Marketing & Communications, University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7126, C: 204.230.0202, E: s.coates@uwinnipeg.ca
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