OSHAWA, ON – Ken Babcock, Director of Athletics & Recreation, has announced that he will be retiring this June after 36 years at Durham College.
Since the college's founding in 1967, Babcock is one of only two athletic directors that the school has ever known. Earning the job after Dave Stewart retired in 1995, Babcock continued to establish a reputation of achievement in post secondary varsity, recreational and facility programming. His vision, commitment to excellence, ability to develop great programs and facilities along with work ethic are the foundation of his tremendous success. Babcock voices his appreciation for Stewart after taking a chance on a young DC college graduate and giving him his big break. Babcock began his time at Durham College in 1984 as a Sport Management student and star varsity basketball player, eventually winning the male athlete of the year award at the annual banquet.
Ken was a driving force behind the construction of nearly $40 million in athletic facilities. The Campus Fieldhouse and Vaso's Soccer Field in 2003, the Campus Ice Centre in 2005, the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre in 2007, artificial turf renovation to Vaso's Field in 2018, the artificial turf softball facility addition in 2021 (first of its kind in Canada at a post secondary campus), the new Whitby Campus Fitness Centre in 2021, plus major renovations to existing athletic facility spaces, all of which serve students and staff, but also the wider community. These facilities greatly benefited institutional, recreational and varsity programming and add to the student experience.
"My time at Durham has been so special. Working for and with students is something I loved the most," said Babcock. "I have always strived to provide students with the most amazing athletics and recreation experience possible. That includes world class facilities, a large roster of programs, great coaches and extraordinary staff that positively impact the student experience on a daily basis."
Recognized as a leader in his profession, Ken held convenor roles in a number of OCAA sports and chaired several committees over the years. He served on the OCAA executive board for an extended period as well as OCAA President on two occasions. He also served as Ontario's representative to the CCAA national board. He was named CCAA National College Athletic Director of the year in 2003 and awarded DC Alumnus of Distinction in 2005.
He and his incredibly talented team have led the charge in Durham College attracting and hosting numerous CCAA National Championship events and OCAA Provincial Championship events that have raised the bar across the country for hosting varsity competitions. Durham College has proudly held the distinction as having one of the most decorated varsity programs in Ontario. With Ken at the helm, the Lords have achieved an astonishing 116 Championship medals in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA), and an additional 22 National Championship medals in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA).
"Ken had immense pride and dedication to Durham College, our students, our athletes, and our mission," said Durham College President Don Lovisa. "We are all very proud of the legacy of excellence he will leave at DC, the college system, and the communities we serve. We congratulate Ken on his 36 years of success and wish him all the best in his upcoming retirement journey. Thank you, Ken."
In addition to all of his success and contributions at Durham College, Ken also served as the athletic director for the first eight years of existence at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (now Ontario Tech University) where he was the only athletic director in the country at both a college and a university. This provided a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a competitive university sports program from the ground up, including a process to determine the school's nickname and launching the Ridgebacks into the OUA in the sports of rowing, tennis and hockey.
He has also given back to the Oshawa community beyond the campus, primarily through Baseball Oshawa, where he has coached since 2005 and served as president from 2012-2022. He was also a member of the organizing committee for the 2000 Ontario Summer Games, the 2008 Ontario Special Olympics Spring Games as well as the 2015 Toronto Pan-Am Games. In recognition of an extraordinary career in athletics and community sport involvement, Ken was inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. In that same time span, Ken found time to help start the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Association in 1994, create the Durham College Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, and led the launch of the OCAA Hall of Fame in 2003.
"I would like to express my gratitude to Ken for his dedication to fostering a culture of excellence in athletics and recreation at Durham College," said Tara Koski, Dean, Students. "His unwavering passion and commitment have instilled DC pride in countless athletes, coaches, students and fans alike. Ken's legacy will inspire us for years to come. Congratulations on a remarkable career and enjoy a well-deserved retirement!"
Durham College is very grateful for the work that Babcock has put in over the decades and wish him the best in retirement. Knowing that there are still a few months on the calendar, Ken has not let the announcement slow him down – in fact taking on new projects, planning for the next collegiate year and ensuring that the department is well transitioned following his departure.
"I would like to thank all of my amazing staff over the years for their dedication and hard work, an incredible and tireless coaching staff year after year, and the incredible students, decade by decade who have represented DC with class and made such a terrific impression on this institution both in their academics and athletics," said Babcock. "This place, the people, the reputation and its commitment to excellence are tremendously important to me. I am entirely grateful for receiving such incredible support over the years from colleagues, senior administration and my direct reports. The opportunity to lead this athletics department is one I will always cherish and look back upon with great appreciation."
Ken will be enjoying the next chapter of his life with his family that have sacrificed greatly to allow for him to experience a fulfilling and lengthy career in collegiate athletics.
