Legendary men’s hockey coach Dave Adolph of Saskatchewan, former UVic and UNB athletic director Clint Hamilton and former broadcast journalist Quinn Phillips were named the winners of the 2024 U SPORTS Honours Awards for their contributions to university sport in Canada. U SPORTS made the announcement at a luncheon in Calgary, Wednesday, in conjunction with the organization’s Conference and Annual General Meeting.
Adolph took home the Jean-Marie de Koninck Coaching Excellence Award, while Hamilton was recognized with the Austin-Matthews Award and Phillips earned the Fred Sgambati Media Award.
Jean-Marie de Koninck Coaching Excellence Award: Dave Adolph, Saskatchewan
Dave Adolph spent 31 seasons as a men’s hockey coach, starting in 1989 with the Lethbridge Pronghorns. After four seasons in southern Alberta, he returned to his alma mater, Saskatchewan, in 1993 and patrolled the Huskies bench until his retirement in 2020.
Adolph posted 488 regular season wins during his career and added another 80 combined between Canada West playoffs and the University Cup. He guided the Huskies to 25 consecutive playoff berths and led the Huskies to seven Canada West championships. He took his team to the University Cup 16 times, winning two silver and one bronze medal. He was named the U SPORTS men’s hockey coach of the year in 2017 and won the honour at the conference level in 1998, 2000, 2017 and 2019.
On the international stage, Adolph led Canada to bronze medals at the 2003 and 2015 Universiades and led a Canadian squad at the 1996 Nagano Cup in Japan, where they won silver.
Altogether, Adolph produced 90 conference all-stars, 30 all-Canadians, 60 conference award winners and 18 national award winners.
Austin-Matthews Award (Outstanding Contribution): Clint Hamilton, Victoria and UNB
Clint Hamilton’s nearly 40 years in university sport started in 1983 when he joined the UVic men’s basketball team, winning a national title in his rookie year. After winning championships at both McGill and Victoria, he was named head men’s basketball coach at UNB in 1992, where he led the program into the national Top 10.
In 1999, Hamilton was promoted to athletic director, and while leading the Varsity Reds he was the convenor for two CIS men’s hockey championships at the Aitken University Centre and provided foundational work on the new athletic and recreational facilities at UNB.
In 2005, he went back across the country to become UVic athletic director. During his 17 years at the helm, the Vikes won 16 national championships and hosted numerous national events. He led the completion of the $77-million Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA), the largest infrastructure project at UVic and launched the Vikes Championship breakfast, which surpassed $5 million in support of athletic scholarships.
In 2022, he was named the Vice-President, Advancement on UNB, calling time on his career in sport but continuing his leadership in the university system.
Fred Sgambati Award (Contribution by a media member): Quinn Phillips, Global Edmonton
In Quinn Phillips’ seven years with Global Edmonton from 2014-21, she was a constant supporter of university sport in Edmonton, covering both Alberta and MacEwan athletics, helping to bringing Bears & Pandas and Griffins stories to a wider audience. Even during the cancelled 2020-21 season, she continued to make an effort to cover university sport in Edmonton, efforts which earned her the Fred “Gus” Collins Award from Canada West.
Phillips now works in media relations and communications for Explore Edmonton, the city’s tourism agency. She is still highly involved in the sports community volunteering with many organizations, as well she makes regular appearances on Edmonton Sports Talk online sports station.
About U SPORTS
U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 15,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. U SPORTS also provides high performance international opportunities at FISU Winter and Summer World University Games, World University Championships, University World Cups and various educational initiatives.
U SPORTS works in collaboration with 57 members and four conferences as well as the Canadian sport system and Corporate Canada on the growth and delivery of university sport to student-athletes across the country.
Media Contacts:
John Bower
Director, Marketing and Communications
Email: jbower@usports.ca
Phone: 780-667-5646