GOSHEN, Ind. – Tim Demant, an athletic administrator, coach, and physical education instructor from Abbotsford, British Columbia has been named as the athletic director for Goshen College athletics, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Student Bill Born announced Friday.  

“I am very excited for his leadership given his 10 years of experience in intercollegiate athletic administration,” Born said about Demant, who will begin his duties at Goshen at the beginning of July.  “He was proven to be very visionary and creative in developing programs while remaining focused on quality and excellence in college athletics.”

“Tim brings a dedication to the advancement and development of our students and the athletic department that will take our program to the next level,” said Interim Athletic Director Doug Yoder.  “He has an understanding of our core values and how they are implemented in all that we do.  He is committed and expects excellence in all our athletic programs.”

For the past 10 years, Demant has served as the Director of Athletics and Recreation at Columbia Bible College (Abbotsford, British Columbia).  When Demant took over at Columbia, the athletic program was struggling, had no facilities, and no women’s intercollegiate sports.  Through Demant’s leadership and strategic planning, Columbia Bible has completed a state-of-the-art Athletic Center, increased sponsorship revenue eight-fold, and has added three women’s athletic programs.

“He has essentially built the athletic program from the ground up,” said Born.  “Tim has also displayed a great deal of leadership skills, both at Columbia and at the conference level which he will bring here to Goshen.”

Born and raised in Canada, Demant received Bachelor of Arts degrees in physical education and history at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C.  While at Trinity Western, Demant was a standout on the men’s volleyball team, earning Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian honors twice and was selected as All British Columbia Colleges’ Athletic Association (BCCAA) all four years.

After graduation, Demant spent time as an intern in the athletic and physical education departments, a volleyball coach, and as an instructor at Trinity Western while working on his master’s degree.  In 1998, Demant completed his Master of Human Kinetics degree with an emphasis in bioenergetics from the University of British Columbia before being hired to head Columbia’s athletic department.  While at Columbia, Demant also took on leadership roles within the BCCAA conference, including serving as the conference president since 2005.

“I am very excited about this great opportunity to be a part of the athletic department at Goshen, while continuing to use and develop my skills as a leader,” said Demant.  “I was very pleased with the coaches and staff in the interview process and am excited to begin working on building on their past successes.”

Demant will head up Goshen College’s 14 intercollegiate athletic programs that compete as a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Mid-Central College Conference.  Demant will take over for Ken Pletcher, who resigned last fall to take a position as Major Gifts Officer at Goshen College after seven years as the head of Maple Leaf athletics.  Yoder, also the Director of the Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center and head cross country Coach, has been filling the position in an interim role since October.

“I belief he brings a base knowledge of what it takes to run a college athletic program,’ said Assistant Director of Athletics Val Herschberger. “He brings energy and new ideas to our program and I am excited to begin working with him for the year ahead.”

“Goshen has had success, but there is room to grow,” said Demant.  “In my 10 years at Columbia, we built an athletic departments and I am proud of what we accomplished.  Now, I am excited to bring that experience to Goshen.”

Questions & Answers with Tim Demant

Q: What’s your reaction to being offered the position of athletic director of Goshen College athletics?
A:  I am very excited.  It is a great opportunity to be a part of a growing department and continue to grow in my leadership skills.

Q: What is it about Goshen and Maple Leaf athletics that impressed you?
A: I was impressed with the coaches and the staff and their passion to succeed.  I think there is a lot of room for growth and they are ready to build on the successes they have already had.

Q: What are your initial goals as athletic director?
A: The first thing I need to do is get an understanding of the history and culture of the school and the athletic department.  I really want to get connected with the student-athletes and find out what motivates them.  Then, I want to see how we can get involved and get our athletes involved in the community and in turn get the community involved in what we are doing here.

Q: What about Goshen College’s core values resonates with you?  How does that play into your philosophy of athletics? 
A: Goshen College is able to combine academic, athletic, and spiritual components.  Those are all things that I value and are instrumental in who I am.  The concept of integrating academics and athletics and using athletics as a tool to help in the classroom is something I strongly believe in.  The value of servant leadership also is part of who I am.  I want to be out in the community and see our athletes giving their time back to the community.

Q: Outside of talking about your experiences, what should people know about you as a person and as a leader?
A: I obviously have a passion for athletics.  I am quite easy-going, laid back, and trusting.  I am a team player and would rather not take the credit.