Glen Grunwald, a sports and business leader with more than 30 years' experience -- in the National Basketball Association, as president of the Toronto Board of Trade and in amateur sport -- is McMaster's next Director of Athletics and Recreation.
Grunwald was selected after an extensive international search that began this spring.
"Welcoming Glen to McMaster is great news for our students, student athletes and the community," says Sean Van Koughnett, associate vice-president, students and learning, and dean of students. "Glen brings a wealth of experience to McMaster. He shares our commitment to providing the best athletic and recreation opportunities for all McMaster students, while ensuring our teams are ready to compete at the highest levels."
Grunwald joins McMaster from his most recent position as executive vice-president and general manager of the New York Knicks of the NBA, where in his last season he led the team to its first divisional title since 1994. He has served as president and CEO of the Toronto Board of Trade, senior vice-president and general manager of the Toronto Raptors and as a member of the board of governors of George Brown College.
He has been a practicing lawyer, a member of the bar in two states and holds an MBA and Bachelor of Science from Indiana University and a JD from the Northwestern School of Law. At Indiana, Grunwald was a varsity basketball player and a member of the 1981 NCAA championship team.
"It is a privilege to be joining one of the world's best universities, home to one of the country's top athletics programs," Grunwald says. "McMaster has a long tradition of athletic excellence. I am especially eager to join the highly-regarded staff working to enrich the recreational and sports opportunities for our students and to take full advantage of the world-class facilities on campus.
"Whether it is a group of students enjoying a pick-up basketball game, a student playing recreational badminton or a team competing for a Vanier Cup or national championship, sport is an important part of a fully-rounded student experience."
Grunwald holds Canadian citizenship and is in the process of moving his family to the area from New York City. It is expected he will be on campus for the beginning of the academic year in September.
