Concordia University’s athletics department has added a new face on the team, as John Bower will join Concordia University’s athletics department as associate director of student athlete services.
Bower, who held the position of director of university sport with the RSEQ, will officially begin his new role with the university on December 17.
“I’m pleased [Bower] has agreed to take on this important challenge,” said Director of Recreation and Athletics Katie Sheahan in a statement. “His experience in interuniversity sport administration and development, together with his background in communications, will be a tremendous asset to Concordia’s efforts to provide an outstanding student-athlete experience.”
Bower, who also has experience covering university sports as a journalist and broadcaster, is looking forward to the new challenge with the Stingers program.
“I certainly wasn’t looking to leave the RSEQ anytime soon,” said Bower. “I love what I do with the RSEQ, and we’ve had some ups and downs in the last year with eligibility. It was an opportunity that had I not applied for, or accepted once offered, I probably would have ended up regretting not making the leap.”
Bower has a wealth of experience in the university ranks, having held positions at the universities of Windsor and Ottawa, as well as a stint with Ontario University Athletics over the ten years prior to joining the RSEQ in 2010.
Bower now joins a solid Concordia program that will call upon that experience and knowledge to help them get to the next level.
“This position is going to evolve over time, but I’ll be working directly with the coaches and student athletes, so basically providing support and services to both,” said Bower. “I’ll be looking to work with the coaches to provide them with the best possible resources, be it with eligibility, applying rules, helping set up events around their programs.’’
“[I’ll also be] a liaison between the coaches and the Academic Center for Excellence to ensure that our student athletes attain the highest possible standards, because for me personally that’s the greatest part of being involved in university sport, it’s the fact that we see these great young people who are able to juggle academics and athletics at the same time, and at the end of the day when they graduate, that’s the most rewarding part of it.”
Bower views the position as a great opportunity to gain invaluable experience, but ultimately its the impact he leaves on others that means the most.
“Anything I’ve done in university sports has been to give student athletes the best experience possible. For me, it’s to open doors for young people if they want to learn, if they want to get better, if they want to accumulate a certain set of life skills. That’s what I want to leave behind, to give back to young people.”
