 | Position:
Director of Athletics
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| Alma Mater:
Denver
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08/23/2017
2017 Athletics Divisional Address
Denver alum Ron Grahame was named the University of Denver Athletic Director of August 23 at Vice Chancellor Peg Bradley-Doppes' 14th Annual Divisional Address.
Grahame manages all student-athletes and coaches both on and off the playing fields while upholding the mission and goals of the Athletic Department. He credits the student-athletes and coaches for their dedication and leadership demonstrated in the classroom and in competition. In 2013, Grahame was the recipient of Denver's Distinguished Service Award, which is given to those who have demonstrated outstanding and lengthy dedication and service to the University by serving as a faculty or staff member, trustee, volunteer or friend. In 2015, Grahame received the division's Unsung Hero Award for all of his contributions behind the scenes to DU Athletics.
A longtime resident of Denver, Grahame has over 30 years of combined athletic experience at DU. Promoted to Assistant Vice Chancellor/Senior Associate Athletics Director in 2005 and to his current role eight years later, the 67-year-old previously served as the Associate Athletics Director for Intercollegiate Sport Programs as well as Assistant Athletic Director for Operations and Compliance in 1993. Grahame also was a member of the Athletic Department staff that participated and implemented the transition of the University of Denver to NCAA Division I and the Sun Belt Conference in 1998. From 1982-90, Grahame served as the Associate Hockey Coach at DU, his alma mater. He played his collegiate hockey as a scholarship student-athlete for the Crimson & Gold from 1969-73 and was a member of the 1973 WCHA Championship Team. During his time tending goal for the Pios, Grahame earned All-American honors, was named the WCHA's Player of the Year and captured Denver Student-Athlete of the Year honors for his standout senior campaign. After receiving his BA from DU in 1973, Ron played professional hockey for eight seasons in the World Hockey Association (Houston), American Hockey League (Binghampton) and National Hockey League (Boston, L.A. and Quebec). In 1997, Grahame was selected by The Hockey News to the 50th Anniversary All-WHA Team and was also inducted into the University of Denver Athletic Department Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was honored as a member of the 50th Anniversary All-WCHA Team.
A native of Victoria, British Columbia, Grahame served on the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee from 2000-04 and was the Committee Chair in 2004. He also served on the Local Organizing Committee for the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey West Regional in 2007 and the 2008 Frozen Four held at the Pepsi Center. He was the Tournament Director for Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Championship in 2001 & 2007 as well as the Sun Belt Conference Swimming Championship in 2002. In 2004, Grahame was the Tournament Director for the first-ever Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Women's Lacrosse Championship.
Ron and his wife Charlotte have two sons, John, a former NHL goaltender who won the Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Jason, who was a student-athlete (men's ice hockey) for the University of Denver until he graduated in 2003. Jason currently lives in Denver while working for the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation. Ron and Jason were the first father and son combo to have played hockey at the University of Denver.
