Dalhousie Assistant Athletic Director Pat Nearing Set To Retire From Near 30-year Career In University Athletics
Original story courtesy of Dalhousie Athletics Communications January 21, 2021
(HALIFAX, N.S.) After nearly 30 years in university athletics, Dalhousie’s assistant director of athletics Pat Nearing will be retiring in May 2021.
Nearing first began his administrative career in 1993 as the athletic director of the Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS) after 12 years as a physical education teacher. He retired from coaching after the Tigers 2019 campaign after leading both TUNS (17) and Dalhousie’s (21) men’s soccer teams for a combined 38 years. A two-time AUS coach of the year, he received the U SPORTS coach of the year honour in 2008.
“I have been very lucky to have spent my whole career involved with sports as both a coach and administrator,” says Nearing. “Being able to represent Dalhousie in these endeavors is a real pleasure and privilege. The people I have worked with along the way and the relationships and friendships I have built have been the greatest aspects of the job.”
When TUNS amalgamated with Dalhousie University in 1997, he continued his tenure as director of the newly named Sexton Campus’s athletic program, eventually becoming Dalhousie’s assistant director of athletics and recreation in 2012.
In addition to supporting campus recreation, varsity and club programs at Dalhousie, Nearing has served on a number of different national and regional committees including the U SPORTS national eligibility and athletic financial assistance committees and is the Atlantic University Sport eligibility representative.
A Dalhousie University grad (BPE ’79), he also served as both the president and chair of the national men’s soccer technical committee for 15 years and was recently honoured with the U SPORTS Austin-Matthews Award for his outstanding contributions.
“While I’m thrilled for Pat to enjoy his well-deserved retirement, his departure will leave a void for our department and for me personally,” says Dalhousie’s Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation, Tim Maloney. “I have the great privilege to be able to call Pat a friend, colleague, coach and mentor which I am grateful for. On behalf of our entire athletic department, I want to congratulate Pat and wish him the very best in his retirement.”
“I will miss it dearly, but it is time for me to move on to the next phase of my life; to take on new challenges and develop new relationships and friendships,” adds Nearing. “I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the other coaches, administrators and colleagues who have all supported and guided me along the way, their contributions are much appreciated.”