Lorne Adams, one of Brock’s best known and longest-serving educators, is stepping down from his position as director of Athletics so that he can return to teaching full time.

Having been director since 2001, Adams will leave the office July 1 and return to his teaching position in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. Assistant athletics director and long-time Brock coach Chris Critelli will become acting director of Athletics while a national search is conducted for Adams’ successor.

Lorne Adams

Adams said that while he will miss the fellowship and rewards that come with being Athletics director, he looks forward to being in front of students as a full-time teacher.

“I have enjoyed my 10 years with the department,” he said, “and am very proud of what we have accomplished. But I am also excited about returning to teaching and look forward to the challenges which that brings.”

Adams has made a huge contribution to Brock as Athletics director, having overseen 50 championships in various sports, including 38 provincial and 12 national titles, said Steven Pillar, Vice-President of Finance and Administration.

“I have really enjoyed working with Lorne as our director,” Pillar said. “Lorne’s passion for sport, coupled with his commitment to education, has encouraged students to exceed their goals in the game and in the classroom, and helped redefine the term ‘student-athlete’.

“While we’re sad to see Lorne leave the Athletics department,” he said, “he does so with a long list of accomplishments and has positioned the department well to continue in his absence.”

Adams has served as faculty member, administrator, coach and Athletics director in his 35 years at Brock. Some of his more memorable moments in athletics came when Brock won the men’s soccer national title in 2002, the men’s national basketball crown in 2007-08, and a remarkable eight straight years of men’s wrestling championships.

He has also made his mark as an academic, winning several significant awards including the prestigious 3M Canada Teaching Fellowship Award in 2004. Adams also received the Alumni Association Teaching Award (1993), the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations award for Outstanding Contribution to University Teaching (1994), and the Faculty Award for Excellence in teaching (1993).