|
Pat O'Brien was our institution’s first Director of Athletics & Recreation, having started in the 1970-71 season and retiring after 24 years in 1993-94. In that time, he was coach or manager of many of the sports programs, including men's soccer, men's hockey and any other team needing his leadership. Pat also helped create the Sports Task Force, which has raised significant funds for TRU Athletics, and he continued to play a critical on the Sports Task Force in his retirement.
Pat established the sports programs at Cariboo College, starting with the soccer and hockey programs in 1970. In 1971, he coordinated the admission of Cariboo College hockey into the newly established PIHL, the first organized league in which the school became a member. In 1972, Pat coordinated the transition of Cariboo College from the PIHL into the Totem Conference. The Totem Conference would eventually become the BCCAA and then PACWEST, which included league competition for all of our sports, starting with badminton, basketball, volleyball, cross-country, golf, ice hockey, rugby, soccer and curling.
Having been inducted into the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, Pat becomes the first inductee to enter the TRU Athletics Hall of Fame in the Builder category.
|
|
