Love tapped for top Athletics job

By Earl Zukerman | After a two-year courtship, 54-year-old Ottawa native Drew Love has been enticed away from Carleton University to be McGill’s Director of Athletics.

Love replaces professor emeritus Derek Drummond, who has served in an interim capacity since the retirement of Bob Dubeau in 2005.

Drummond will officially step down on May 31 and Love will take over the reins on June 1.

“I am thrilled to take on this new challenge,” said Love. “McGill has a tremendously rich history in the origins of a number of sports,” he said. “It has a world-wide academic reputation that is complemented by a diverse athletics program with outstanding facilities.”

Love spent 26 years at Carleton, including the past 11 years as director of recreation and athletics. He brings an extensive background in sports administration. A past-president of both Ontario University Athletics (2001-02) and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (2003-05), Love served as chef de mission for the Canadian delegation at the 2003 World University Games in Tarvisio, Italy.

At Carleton, which recently captured its fifth consecutive national championship in men’s basketball, he oversaw the recent $32 million improvement to athletics facilities, including an arena for a new varsity men’s hockey program.

He also implemented fundraising initiatives, took an active role in promoting gender equity in athletics and restructured the department of physical recreation and athletics to improve service and productivity in all program areas.

A former varsity basketball player at Carleton, Love earned a Bachelor of Arts (1978) and Master of Arts in Public Administration (1984) from Carleton, before completing an MBA from the University of Ottawa in 1986.