Important Announcement About VC Karlton Creech

Dear DU community members,

As we happily continue to celebrate a terrific new national hockey championship, it is with sadness that I must also share this news. After four years of exemplary service with the University of Denver, 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.

We are deeply grateful to Karlton for his leadership and for so ably guiding our athletic and recreation programs. Under his leadership, DU has maintained its excellent standing in NCAA Division I with many championships and other awards, including receiving the Learfield Director’s Cup recognition in 2018, 2019, and 2021 (no awards were issued in 2020).

During his tenure, Karlton has proven an enthusiastic supporter of DU’s student-athlete culture where academic excellence is a priority for all our incredible athletes. During his four years leading the division, the cumulative student-athlete grade point average was 3.48.

“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.”

Karlton has held this leadership position while our teams boasted myriad achievements and victories. These feats are all the more inspiring during the past two years as COVID-19 asked much of our community, and in very particular ways, our athletes. Highlights include 18 regular season conference championships, 23 conference tournament titles and numerous individual student-athlete and head coach honors during Karlton’s tenure. Needless to say, this past weekend’s National Championship win in men’s ice hockey will stand among the highlights during Karlton’s time at DU.

Karlton has had a tremendous impact on DU’s athletics and recreation programs. Most notably, he 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.

Karlton will miss DU, but he will leave ready for the next leg of his journey. He has indicated he wants to take some time after stepping away from his post to consider new career paths and explore other industries and positions, and we wish him the very best. We know he will succeed in any career choice he makes.

Parker Executive Search will immediately begin the search for Karlton’s successor, and more details about the forthcoming search will be shared in a future announcement

Please join me again with a warm, enthusiastic THANK YOU to Karlton for his four years of service to DU’s athletics and recreation programs.

Sincerely, 

Jeremy Haefner

Chancellor