WINNIPEG, MB - The University of Winnipeg today announced that Athletic
Director Bill Wedlake (MBHOF class of '05) will be retiring effective April 1, 2008 after 24 years
of service to the University.



 






“Bill’s efforts over the years have made the University of Winnipeg a leader in athletics and community participation,” said UWinnipeg President & Vice-Chancellor Dr. Lloyd Axworthy. “The University thanks Bill for his achievements and wishes him the best for the future.”




Wedlake joined The University of Winnipeg in 1984 as head coach of the Men’s Basketball Team - a role he held until 2000 when he became Athletic Director. Prior to arriving at UWinnipeg, Wedlake was a teacher and coach for 16 years at St. John’s High School.




“It’s been an absolutely fabulous time. There is no better place to work than The University of Winnipeg,” Bill Wedlake said. “The support of the administration has been unbelievable and the support of the team in the Athletics Department has made my job very easy.”





As Men’s Basketball Coach, Wedlake led his teams to national prominence with six appearances at the CIAU / CIS National Championships, a No. 1 National ranking on several occasions and a consistent place in Canada’s Top-10 basketball rankings. Many of his players became either All-Canadians, professional basketball players overseas or members of Canada’s National Basketball Team. Most importantly, close to 90% of his student-athletes graduated with degrees with many of those individuals being honored as Academic All-Canadians along the way.



 



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PHOTO CREDIT: WAYNE GLOWACKI/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS



Basketball legend Bill Wedlake will leave the U of W court on March 31.




As Athletic Director, Wedlake led a period of significant growth for Wesmen Athletics and community involvement. The Wesmen Classic evolved from a 16-team event to Canada’s largest basketball tournament, featuring 107 teams this season. The University rescued the Winnipeg Men’s Basketball League and turned it into a flourishing 96-team program. The Duckworth Centre itself has become a mini-convention centre with its constant facility use by community members.



The University of Winnipeg leads the Canada West Conference in game attendance every year, thanks in large part to Wedlake’s leadership. The facility thrives with the support of 33 corporate partners and the four Wesmen teams that play in the facility boast 20 National Championships - the highest total in the country. These teams average a total of 50% of its athletes as Academic All-Canadians - one of the highest rates in Canada.



 


EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - Wedlake stepping down U of W athletic director to retire March 31



 



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The University of Winnipeg is one of Canada’s leading post-secondary institutions. Consistently ranked in the Top-10 in the country on an annual basis by both Maclean’s Magazine and The Globe & Mail newspaper, the University of Winnipeg is a leader in academic excellence, Aboriginal education, environmental studies & sustainability, and theatre & the arts. The University of Winnipeg is committed to improving access to post-secondary education for all individuals, especially those people from non-traditional communities.



Find out more by visiting www.uwinnipeg.ca .




FOR MORE INFORMATION


Shawn Coates, Director of Marketing & Communications, University of Winnipeg

P: 204.988.7126, E: s.coates@uwinnipeg.ca


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