Following a search that considered several quality candidates, Hardy was unanimously recommended as the next leader of Huskie Athletics.
“Huskie Athletics is very important to me and thousands of others and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with coaches, staff, faculty, alumni, and community leaders to ensure Huskie Athletics is number one in Canadian university sport,” said Hardy, who is a former student-athlete at the university and understands passion for sport and Huskie Athletics in the community and with alumni around the world. “My priority is to improve student-athlete experience and supports, enhance the high-performance culture, and strengthen student and community engagement, pride and profile.”
Hardy joins Huskie Athletics with extensive senior-level leadership experience. As former president of Vancouver College he led that institution to new heights in areas of academic and athletic excellence, and facilitated an athletic facility capital fundraising campaign that exceeded $20 million.
Hardy brings significant experience as a high-performance coach, having served as head coach of the Saskatoon Hilltops for a decade and was subsequently recognized as a member of both the Saskatoon and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in the Team Category.
“The table is set for the Huskies to be successful for a long time,” said Hardy, former superintendent in the Saskatoon Catholic School Board. “We have the coaches, governance structure, facilities and supports to ensure our student-athletes are successful on the court, field and ice, as well as in the classroom. There is no better place to be than with USask Huskies right now.”
“Dave’s strong and inspiring leadership is exactly what Huskie Athletics needs right now,” said Chad London, vice-chair of the Huskie Athletics Board of Trustees and dean of the College of Kinesiology. “He brings the experience and passion that is needed to implement our strategic plan, with a clear commitment to the success of our programs and student athletes.”
“I have strong connections to Huskie Athletics and am very honoured to be able to contribute to the program that meant so much to me as a student-athlete,” said Hardy, who is an alumnus of the Huskie men’s basketball team. “I understand the thrill of competing and the challenge of balancing school and sport as a student-athlete. My background as a coach, academic administrator, and fundraiser will serve the University of Saskatchewan well in the years ahead.”
Hardy replaces former CAO Shawn Burt who recently stepped down to move closer to his family in Ontario.