U of S Huskie Athletics Board of Trustees announces first-ever chief athletics officer
SASKATOON – Shawn Burt is the new chief athletics officer for Huskie Athletics at the University of Saskatchewan, the first person to hold the role.
The Huskie Athletics Board of Trustees enthusiastically approved the unanimous recommendation from the hiring committee, a decision that was made following a national search. Burt will start in the role September 1, 2017.
“Our intent is to offer the best athletics program in the country,” said David Dubé, chair of the Huskie Athletics Board of Trustees. “We have a proud history of success. Our job now, and Shawn’s mandate, is to elevate our program.”
“I am absolutely thrilled to join the Huskie Athletics team at a time when the commitment to success is so evident, from the new governance model to the clear vision being laid out by the board to be the best post-secondary program in Canada,” Burt said. “It’s a strong academic institution with a well-known legacy in sport—that combination is rare, and it is the perfect setting for us to take things to the next level, a change I’m excited to be part of.
“My family and I are very eager to immerse ourselves into the community and the university. I think it will be great on all levels.”
Burt comes to Huskie Athletics most recently from The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation in Toronto, ON, where he was the chief hockey officer. While there, he built from the ground up Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer, an initiative that raised $16 million over six years and set two official Guinness World Records. He has also worked with Ryerson University, IMG Canada Ltd. and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., and earned his Bachelor of Arts at Dartmouth College while playing four years of varsity hockey at the Ivy League school.
“Shawn’s extensive experience and success across athlete promotion, sponsorship, fundraising, ticket sales, marketing, and brand building platforms were key assets the board was looking for,” said Dubé. “He knows what student-athletes need to be successful, he has a proven ability to create community connections, and he has worked with some of the most successful sports marketing organizations in Canada.”
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For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Thoma
Media Relations Specialist
University Relations
306-966-1851
Email: jennifer.thoma@usask.ca
Nicole Betker
Sports Information Director
Huskie Athletics
306-966-1024
Email: nicole.betker@usask.ca