People news: St. Lawrence University promotes Durocher to athletic director

CANTON, N.Y. — St. Lawrence University announced Friday that it has named Bob Durocher as its next director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation.

Durocher has been the St. Lawrence men’s soccer head coach since 1990 and assistant director of athletics since 2000. He will begin his new duties April 1.

“Our national search led us to the candidate with the best credentials, the strongest experience, and the highest level of esteem that a coach can earn. Bob Durocher understands the role of athletics in a liberal arts college, he is a superb mentor of student-athletes, he has well-honed financial and organizational skills, and he is proud of his abiding loyalty to St. Lawrence.” William L. Fox, president of St. Lawrence University, said in a news release.

Durocher will replace Margie F. Strait, who served as St. Lawrence athletic director from 1997 to January 2015.

In 2010, Fox elevated this position to be a senior staff adviser reporting directly to the president. Durocher will oversee strategic leadership of all sports programs, staff, and facilities at the St. Lawrence athletics department, which includes 83 employees. Additionally, he will chair the university’s sports studies and exercise science minor, the news release stated.

Durocher joined St. Lawrence in 1990 as an instructor for exercise physiology and head coach for men’s soccer. He led the 1999 team on its undefeated run to win the NCAA Division III national championship. Over the last 25 years, he has steered the soccer team to 17 conference championships, 17 NCAA championship appearances and an overall record of 323 wins, 101 losses and 45 ties, according to the release.

From 1993 to 2000, Durocher also served as director of the Stafford Fitness Center at St. Lawrence. In 2000, the university promoted him to assistant director of athletics. In this role, he oversaw the administration and management of the Augsbury Physical Education Center and Newell Field House complex, according to the release.

St. Lawrence University offers 32 intercollegiate athletic teams with about 800 men and women, or 31 percent of all undergraduates, participating in varsity athletics. Most teams compete at the NCAA Division III level, except for men’s and women’s ice hockey, which are NCAA Division I teams.

 

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 Photo credit: St. Lawrence University /Tara Freeman