Not everyone can say they’ve had their dream job, but Basil Hughton believes that for the last nine years, he has. That made the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) Huskies athletic director’s decision to retire a lot tougher.
“My entire professional life has been working with young people, through the education system and now here with Huskie Athletics, and none of us would be here, we wouldn’t have jobs if it wasn’t for student athletes. They’re the heart and soul of what we do, and for me that’s what makes it difficult,” Hughton said after announcing Monday that he would retire at the end of the current academic year.
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Hughton took the job in 2008 after three decades of working in the Saskatoon public school system, first as a teacher then later as a vice principal and eventually, a principal. Since taking on the athletic director’s role he’s helped change perceptions of the role sports play at the U of S.
“Together as a group we have been able to help the university understand the value of a strong, functional athletic program to the culture of a Canadian university,” he said.
During Hughton’s tenure, the Huskies won their first-ever national titles in men’s and women’s basketball (in 2010 and 2016, respectively) along with 15 conference banners. However, the Dogs’ off-field successes are perhaps an even greater source of pride for the man who first wore Saskatchewan colours as a member of the football team in the 1970s.
“We’ve been able to bring home some championships on the court but we’ve also been able to graduate a large number of student athletes who contribute to the communities in which they live, who are leaders in those communities,” he said.
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That includes nearly 1,300 Huskies named to all-academic teams since Hughton came on board.
“To recognize – this year – 183 student athletes who were all-academic, to me that’s why we’re here,” he said.
With the newly-formed Huskies Athletics board of trustees now in place to help advise and guide the department, Hughton feels the time is right to move on and allow someone else to take the reins. He will officially retire on June 30, 2017, while a search for his successor will begin in earnest after the Christmas break.
“I will miss it a great deal. No question about it. It’s a great place to live and work.”
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