UBC Athletics announced Gilles Lepine will take the helm as the Senior Athletics Director for the UBC Thunderbirds. Lepine, the former Director of Excellence for Laval University’s Department of Athletics, will lead the Thunderbirds Athletics program and build upon its position as the most successful university sports program in Canada.
“It’s a very exciting opportunity for me and my family,” says Lepine. “The Thunderbirds program is a great program. I was at UBC for the CIS National Women’s Soccer Championship last year and I realized they had great people and had great staff around.”
“The experience, passion, skill and energy Gilles brings to UBC’s Athletics Department is second to none,” says UBC’s Vice President, Students Louise Cowin. Β “Gilles is the real deal β he’s been a student athlete, coach, administrator, and builder of championship Varsity programs. Β The Thunderbirds are a powerhouse in Canada and that powerhouse status is the result of a team effort, which includes alumni, donors, coaches, students and community.Β Gilles is the right person to lead the Thunderbirds to further excellence.”
Lepine has spent the last 12 years as the Director of Excellence for the Laval Rouge et Or. In that time Laval saw considerable growth in alumni support, fan interest, and the corresponding ability to recruit top tier student-athletes. The Rouge et Or were perennial national championship contenders in a multitude of Varsity sports.
“The culture is great. I love what I see in UBC. The attitude, the campus and the athletics program,” adds Lepine. “We have to work in a triangle with the Athletics staff, the alumni, and the coaches. So all together we are going to bring something great to the student-athletes.”
Lepine played and coached volleyball for the Rouge et Or and has played multiple sports competitively over his lifetime. He has also dedicated countless hours to introducing sports to athletes of all ages through charities and volunteer work.
Gilles Lepine will join UBC Athletics on July 11th, Β 2016.
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