JIM KNIGHT NAMED ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

GOLDEN KNIGHT – JIM KNIGHT NAMED ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

VERMILION – The 2025-26 ACAC season may be over, but the awards keep pouring in for the Portage College Voyageurs. On the heels of the College's most successful athletic season ever – including unprecedented team success and all-conference recognition for athletes and coaches – Jim Knight put a cherry on top of the sundae earlier this month. During a ceremony at the ACAC spring meetings in Vermilion on May 11, Portage's Manager of Athletics and Recreation was named the 2025-26 Athletic Director of the Year. In a year of firsts for Voyageur Athletics, this was the first such honour in the history of the College.

Even though he knew something was up (since he hadn't been included as part of the committee to pick the winner of the award), the head of Voyageurs Athletics was still caught off guard when his name was announced. He laughingly recounted how he was chatting with a colleague as ACAC CEO Mark Kozak was at the podium when he suddenly realized that the spotlight was shining on him.

"So we're chatting and then Mark started talking about the ACAC AD of the Year and I wasn't really paying attention," said Knight, who was selected from a pool of four nominees. "I was kind of listening in one ear and chatting in the other…and then all of a sudden, I hear this 'hosted curling' and I went, that's me! I'd better pay attention."

Nominated by Athletics and Recreation Assistant Brian Cook, Knight was lauded for his dedication to not only athletics, but also academics, student success, and community involvement. Indeed, while Portage teams and athletes reached new heights in 2025-26 – including the men's hockey team making the second round of the playoffs for the first time ever, the women's curling team just missing a bronze medal at the Lac La Biche-hosted curling provincials and the College having six All Conference award winners in hockey, soccer and futsal –  Cook noted in his submission that there were many other reasons to laud the work that Knight does on a daily basis. Voyageur athletes volunteered more than 2,200 hours in the community, and a majority of them maintained at least a 3.0 grades point average (on a four-point scale).

As Cook cited, Knight leads by example, volunteering countless hours on community boards such as Kids Sport and the Lac La Biche Sports Tourism Working Group, helping out on game days running the clock or managing game sheets when needed, bringing regional and provincial tournaments to Lac La Biche and other-area communities, and working closely with faculty and staff to ensure student-athletes are supported and getting good grades. Chief small "c" cook and bottle washer, in a nutshell.

"I think he deserves this award…I think the multiple roles that he has within the Athletic Department and outside of Athletics as well as in the community really stands out for me," said Cook, who himself puts in many hours volunteering as assistant soccer and futsal coach as well as working with Lac La Biche Minor Soccer.

The award wasn't the only one Knight received during the evening. He also proudly accepted the Al Bohonus Recognition Award for outstanding service to the ACAC, having served a decade on the executive, including the past six years as president.

Portage staff member David Paul, who has volunteered for more than a decade with Voyageur Athletics, was thrilled to see Knight recognized by his peers for his endless dedication to Portage College and the ACAC.

"Ever since he first started at the College in October 2011, it's been clear to me that Jim has Portage tattooed on his heart," said Paul. "He is always trying to find ways to host athletic events, improve game day experiences, and most importantly support our student-athletes and coaches. He puts in countless hours and always puts others first. Case in point, he helped establish the Voyageurs Humanitarian Award after he left for Keyano College in 2019! The best thing that happened to Voyageurs Athletics is when he returned to Portage in September 2022."

Despite the accolades, Knight remained humble and quick to spread the credit when talking about the prestigious award.

"There's 18 schools in the ACAC and lots of schools had good years and did great jobs hosting (championships)…It's kind of nice to get the recognition, to be recognized within your peers for all the work you do…(Hockey Head Coach) Kevin (McClelland) made a good point when he got the Coach of the Year Award. It's a team thing. It's all of us," said Knight, calling it the Team Portage Award. "And I think it's the same way. I can't do it without my volunteers; I can't do it without my staff; I can't do it without the support from our executive and our senior leaders. I'm pretty blessed with what I have here.'"