After a careful review of a number of qualified applicants, Crandall University is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. James (Jim) Druart as the new Director of Athletics and Recreation.
Jim comes to Crandall as a former high-performance athlete as well as a coach and sports club director. He has experience both as a coach and as an administrator, having previously volunteered with the Moncton Roofers and Fuzion Volleyball clubs, working to bring them from 48 athletes and 4 teams, who operated independently, to over 175 athletes and 18 teams working together under one banner towards a common goal.
"My goal is to bring long-term stability to Chargers Athletics as we continue to strive for excellence in our program," says Jim. "As a former high performance athlete, coach and administrator, I understand the challenges and expectations our athletes and coaches face. My job is to put the foundation in place so that they can reach, and exceed, their goals. I am excited about the possibilities that are in front of us and believe we have a great coaching staff in place to continue our growth and take us to the next level."
Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jim graduated from Eastern Nazarene College in 1993, is married to Crandall (ABC) alum Loralee Landers (class of '88), and they have three children: Annie, Eliza, and Ethan. For the last 18 years he has worked in the IT field as a web developer and technical writer, and has coached volleyball for the last 10 years.
In the 2018-2019 academic year, Crandall launched the Seth Crowell Invitational Basketball tournament, hosted the ACAA Basketball Championships, sent our Boxing team to compete at West Point, and announced our intention to add Women's Volleyball to our athletic programs. Even as the season has wound down, work begins in preparation for the fall.
"I believe in the power of sport to build community and enhance school pride," says Jim. "I will work to create an atmosphere where athletes and coaches are fully engaged in the pursuit of spiritual, academic and athletic excellence."
Welcome to Crandall, Jim!
