Gary Strickler, who has served as Boston University’s Director of Athletics since 1989, has announced his retirement effective July 1, 2004. He will remain at BU for one year beyond that to serve as a consultant for the school’s new athletic director. It was not announced when Strickler’s successor will be named.
“I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity I have had to work with outstanding people during 16 years in the athletics department,” said Strickler. “I am similarly grateful to the administration of Boston University for supporting me through my entire 35-year career.”
In recent years, Strickler has overseen a wide-ranging upgrade in the school’s athletic facilities. This will culminate in the completion of the 6,200-seat Harry Agganis Arena for hockey, which is expected to be completed in January 2005.
Boston University has won the Commissioner’s Cup of America East — the conference in which BU competes in most sports — the past two years. The Cup is awarded to the program whose teams compile the strongest record during the year in all conference championships. During the 2002-03 season, five Terrier teams won America East postseason tournament titles — women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s lacrosse, softball, and women’s tennis.
This season, the men’s basketball team just wrapped up the America East regular-season title and will enter this weekend’s conference tournament as the No. 1 seed. Last fall, the women’s soccer team won both the conference regular-season and postseason titles and advanced to the NCAAs.
“This is an institution of incredible quality, and ours is a department with a remarkable record of success,” said Strickler. “I thank the University for giving us the resources needed to accomplish our goals.”
Strickler’s involvement with Boston University began in July 1969, as an academic counselor in the School of Management. During the next 19 years, he held two other positions in the School of Management. He was the Assistant Dean of the Undergraduate Program, and was later the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs.
Then, in 1988, he moved to the athletic department to serve as an Assistant Athletic Director, a position he held for a year before being named the Athletic Director.
A native of Stephens City, VA, Strickler received his Bachelors degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in 1963 and two Masters’ degrees from Boston University. In 1967, he earned his Masters of Sacred Theology, while he received his Masters in Education in 1971.
