One of the most prominent figures in Canadian University Sport,
Darwin Semotiuk ('65 BPE, '67 MA), left a lasting mark both at the University of Alberta and Western University, where he spent nearly 50 years as a student-athlete, coach, and athletic director.
Semotiuk, who spent five seasons competing for both the Golden Bears football and basketball programs (1962-67), and was inducted into the
University of Alberta Sports Wall of Fame in 2002, passed away on January 4th, 2022.
A five-year standout for the football and basketball teams at the University of Alberta, for which he was captain of both squads, Semotuik finished his athletic career winning the Wilson Challenge Trophy in 1967 as the UofA's Top Male Athlete.
He also played for Canada's National Basketball Team in 1965/66, and was a draft pick of the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL. He also spent one season coaching basketball at the University of Manitoba (1967/68), guiding the Bisons to a 17-6 record.
A full time Faculty member at the University of Manitoba, The Ohio State University and the University of Western Ontario (UWO), Dr. Semotiuk left his most indelible mark at
Western.
First appointed in 1971, he was promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure in 1974 and to Full Professor in 1987. He instructed in the undergraduate and graduate programs, conducted research, and coached in the intercollegiate athletic program. Dr. Semotiuk was Head Football Coach of the Western Mustangs from 1975-83, helping the Mustangs capture two Vanier Cups and six OUA Crowns. In the midst of his team's successes, he was recognized by both the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Association (CIAU) as Coach of the Year. He served as Chair of the Intercollegiate Program at Western from 1982 to 2001.
Under Dr. Semotiuk's administrative leadership, the Mustangs won 159 OUA Championships, 14 National Championships, and a record 162 Western athletes earned CIAU All-Canadian Honours. Even more significant is Western's record of academic success. 447 Mustang student-athletes have earned the CIAU's accolade of Academic All-Canadian since the program's inception in 1990. In 1999-00 alone, 101 UWO athletes were so honored.
Dr. Semotiuk was also an academic leader, serving as a thesis supervisor, examining board member, chairman for over 50 M.A. candidates, and as external examiner for numerous M.A. thesis and PhD dissertations. He was a Visiting Professor in Australia, England, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, and the former USSR and East Germany. He received numerous research grants, and published and presented extensively in: comparative and international sport and physical education; sport and politics; Canadian public sports policy; sport coaching; and Canadian interuniversity sport.
Dr. Semotiuk's sport involvement always extended beyond his own university. He served on every OUA committee, successfully convened two high-profile OUA sports (basketball and football), and chaired the league's Marketing and Television Committee. On a national level, Dr. Semotiuk completed six years on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee with the CIAU, and was the Chair of the CIAU International Committee for 12 years. He served on the Executive Committee of the London Alliance, which won the hosting bid for the 2001 Canada Summer Games. Internationally, he was involved with the Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU), and served as a member of the Sports Regulation Commission for FISU. He was Canada's Chef de Mission in 1989 and 1991.
If desired, remembrances may be made to:
Western Football - providing financial assistance to student athletes
Donations to the Darwin M. Semotiuk Football Award at Western University attention Kendra Lealess, Western University, Westminster Hall, Suite 110, 1151 Richmond St. London, ON N6A 3K7 (cheques payable to Western University) 519-661-4200
Online donations:
www.westernconnect.ca/semotiuk
London Community Foundation
Donations to London Community Foundation c/o Semotiuk Family Fund
London Community Foundation, Covent Garden Market, 130 King St. London ON N6A 1C5
519-667-1600 Ext. 207
Online donations:
https://www.lcf.on.ca/donate
