varsity news
Durham Lords Media Release
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
DURHAM COLLEGE BASEBALL COACH PROMOTING THE GAME GLOBALLY
OSHAWA – Durham College men’s baseball head coach Sam Dempster is on the road trip of his life as he is on tour throughout Europe this summer promoting baseball in conjunction with Major League Baseball (MLB). The long serving Lords bench boss is once again taking his expertise across the pond to help grow the game as part of MLB’s International Envoy Program.
Dempster will be overseas from June through August as part of the program. He will visit England, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Hungary and Turkey on his tour and will oversee teams from Holland, Great Britain and Ireland. As he was recently promoted to be a regional lead envoy, Dempster works with kids aged 13 to 19 at High Schools and local Baseball clubs. He also acts as an assistant coach to the teams he is involved with, lending his knowledge to the team’s current head coach.
“It’s a different position than I’m used to,” said Dempster when asked about his role as assistant coach in Europe. “It’s a great learning experience for me, along with the players and coaches I get a chance to work with.”
The MLB International Envoy Program has sent coaches on more than 700 assignments to more than 60 countries since its inception in 1991. Last summer, Dempster was assigned to work in the United Kingdom and parts of Africa as part of his duties.
Sam Dempster has been involved with the Durham Lords baseball program since 1992. Last season he guided the team to it’s third straight Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association (CIBA) Ontario Conference Championship. It was the third consecutive year and fifth time in school history that Durham had advanced to the National Championship.
Dempster’s role with MLB earned him international recognition in January 2007, when he was awarded the Julio Puente Envoy International Coach Award by Major League Baseball. The prestigious award is presented by MLB for unselfish, dedicated and passionate work in growing the game of baseball worldwide. He also acts as a scout for the Milwaukee Brewers.
”Durham College is proud to have Coach Dempster as one of our own, and we wish him all the best as he promotes baseball around the world this summer,” noted Ken Babcock, Durham College athletic director. “It is great to see Coach Dempster take his experience, expertise and passion for teaching the game to different parts of the world.”
The Lords will open their 2008 CIBA schedule on September 6th on the road at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. The Lords home opener will take place on September 13th against the St. Clair Saints where a pre-game ceremony will take place to honour the Lords third straight Ontario Conference Championship.
- 30 -
FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS WITH SAM DEMPSTER IN EUROPE:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca
