In a stunning move on Wednesday, the University of Denver announced via the following release that Vice Chancellor of Athletics & Recreation Karlton Creech will be stepping down later this year.
DU’s statement reads:
After four years of service with the University, Karlton Creech, vice chancellor of athletics, recreation and Ritchie Center operations, has announced he will be stepping down upon the hiring of a successor later this year.
Under his leadership, the cumulative student-athlete grade point average was 3.48 and DU maintained its standing in NCAA Division I, including receiving the I-AAA Learfield Director’s Cup recognition in 2018, 2019, and 2021 (no awards were issued in 2020).
“I am forever grateful to the University of Denver, Chancellor Emerita Rebecca Chopp, Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and Trustee John Miller for entrusting me with the leadership of the best NCAA DI non-football athletic program in the country. I am grateful to the coaches, staff and student-athletes whose tireless efforts continue to produce excellence across our division. While I am looking forward to the future with great enthusiasm, a part of my heart will always be with the Pioneers.”
Creech has held this leadership position while DU’s teams boasted myriad achievements and victories, including during the past two years as COVID-19 asked much of our community and our student-athletes. Highlights include 19 regular season conference championships, 23 conference tournament titles and numerous individual student-athlete and head coach honors.
Creech has had a tremendous impact on DU’s athletics and recreation programs and had a hand in hiring 12 of the current 18 head coaches—the leaders and mentors who work closely to guide our student-athletes in their sports and throughout their DU 4D Experience.
A national search will immediately begin the search for Creech’s successor.
This is a developing story and we will update it as we learn more.
Photo of Creech courtesy of Denver Athletics
WOW!! Totally unexpected. What happened?
He was rumored several month ago as one of the candidates for the open Louisville job. He may have been interviewing at other places as well.
Wow. Only speculation here, but the DU release said he is “looking forward to the future with great enthusiasm,” which is is likely admin-speak for “I have another new AD job on a handshake that is likely a step up from Denver, but I can’t tell you all what it is because it’s not ready to be announced yet, but we need some time to start looking for my DU replacement.”
Looking at the Creech era, the two most important hires he made were David Carle and Jeff Welbrun. Carle was obviously a home run of epic proportions, winning at NCAA title at age 32. Let’s hope Creech can lock-up a nice raise and extension for Carle before Creech leaves Denver. Welbrun, so far, has been excellent, with 5 times the wins of his predecessors’ final season in Welbrun’s first year, and he did it with an almost entirely new roster cobbled together late in recruiting season.
My only concern, is how will this affect his wife’s love for golf? I cant say that I care much about this, aside from the pain to the university to have to hire again. Never felt anything about the guy. Some aspects of DU athletics are worse, and some are about the same. And he seemed pretty bland. Peg was awesome, hope DU can find someone on her level.
DU won a hockey Natty under Creech, for that alone we’ll be forever grateful. Difficult times ahead coming out of Covid & DU seems to be behind the eight ball in NIL. DU would appear to have some excellent candidates in-house & with ties to the program. We shall see.
DU won a hockey Natty under Creech, for that alone we’ll be forever grateful. Difficult times ahead coming out of Covid & DU seems to be behind the eight ball in NIL. DU would appear to have some excellent candidates in-house & with ties to the program. We shall see.
Creech may not yet have another position lock up since it appears he agreed to stay as long as the end of the year… Though that could be the school year, not the calendar year!?
Creech and several other higher-ups within the administration are not well-liked by the coaches. His track record of long-time coaches leaving under his watch was a direct reflection of his administration wanting their own people in there. He pushed several successful coaches out and refused to sign/renew contracts.
USCHO.com calls Carle coach of the year.
https://www.uscho.com/2022/04/14/carle-guides-denver-to-2022-national-crown-garners-uscho-com-coach-of-the-year-accolades/?fbclid=IwAR367iS5-rCeSaGFE2FSpJUk3DPwXad64hRUAJp5ZPGt52EaSSmLSurhJwQ
The timing of this is definitely odd, but I hope this next chapter for Creech is fruitful. He has to feel good about leaving in 2022 on the heels of a national championship in the school’s flagship sport.
Ultimately, though, I can’t help but think his legacy here, if you can call it that, as 4 years isn’t a very long time, will be defined by what happens with the men’s basketball program. If Wulbrun can continue taking this team to new heights and make this team truly relevant and someday earn a spot in the tournament, DU might need to erect a statue of both Creech and Wulbrun.