LONDON, Ont. - A Western alumna and proven leader in university sports and recreation has returned home to serve as Director of Sports and Recreation Services at The University of Western Ontario.
Thérèse Quigley was a standout student-athlete and an all-Canadian volleyball player with the Mustangs. She was the winner of the FWP Jones Trophy in 1975 as Western’s top female athlete. She has continued that success with an impressive career as a coach, administrator and accomplished leader in university athletics.
“I look forward to returning to my alma mater and the opportunity to give back to the community that gave me my start as an athlete, a coach and laid the foundation for a very exciting career,” said Quigley.
Quigley enjoyed an impressive, 18-year career at McMaster where she attained a national reputation as a leader in interuniversity sport and recreation programming, fund-raising, facility development and student leadership.
Chuck Mathies served as acting director of Sports and Recreation Services for almost two years until Quigley's arrival. He returns to his role as Manager of Intercollegiate Athletics.
A three-time Ontario coach of the year in university volleyball, Quigley is the president of Canada Basketball and has served on numerous committees and boards in athletics in local, provincial, national and international capacities.
She won national gold and silver medals with the Mustangs volleyball teams from 1972-74, and represented Canada in volleyball at the 1973 FISU student games in Moscow.
In 2003, Quigley was awarded the prestigious International Athletic Director of the Year Award by NACDA (National Association of College Directors of Athletics).
Quigley is a former teacher in London with Saunders Secondary School and has coached the Saunders volleyball programs along with the University of Alberta and McMaster volleyball squads. She has a CIS leadership award named for her, presented annually to a CIS women's volleyball player for leadership/citizenship, scholarship.
About Thérèse Quigley
In her many years as an elite athlete and now in an administrative capacity, Thérèse Quigley has provided unwavering dedication to sport and recreation at the university level.
The winner of the Western Women's Athletic Alumnae Award in 1993, Quigley first arrived at McMaster in 1984 as head coach of the women's varsity volleyball team and lecturer in the School of Physical Education and Athletics.
She became the first female Director of Athletics and Recreation in Ontario when she took over the McMaster post in 1990. Quigley was also named Hamilton's Woman of the Year in Sport, Health and Fitness in 1994 and helped to found the not-for-profit Greater Hamilton Sport Corporation.
With a Masters of Arts (1984) from the University of Alberta in Sport Management, a Bachelor of Education (1977) from Western and an honours degree in Physical Education (1971-75) from Western, Quigley has served as McMaster's director of athletics and recreation since 1990.
She has guided a team of staff to hosting major events including the 1993 women's soccer championships for the World University Games, and she is also a founding member of Athletes Helping Athletes, a student-athlete mentoring program.
In November, 2008, Quigley was chosen as the successful candidate after an extensive national search
