Benjamin Matchett

Biography

Ben Matchett was appointed as the eighth athletic director in Dinos history on July 19, 2021.

Over more than two decades, Matchett has become synonymous with Dinos Athletics on the UCalgary campus. At first, he supported a variety of areas within events, marketing and communications, before expanding his role to contribute to enhanced academic success, forming long-lasting and impactful partnerships, and increased services for student-athletes.

Matchett began his career at UCalgary as a student and volunteer for Dinos Athletics in 2000. After several years supporting game-day operations, he went on to complete a full-time internship with the Dinos before being hired as marketing and communications coordinator in 2006. A year later, he became sports information director and was elevated to assistant athletic director, operations and communications in 2011, a position he held until his promotion to director.

As assistant athletic director, Matchett oversaw the development and execution of the Crowchild Classic series against Mount Royal University, the successful rebrand of the Dinos identity, the hosting of multiple U SPORTS national championship events, and the implementation of communications and marketing strategies that have made the Dinos one of the most recognizable brands in Canadian university sport.

As Director, he has worked to enhance funding for the athletic department and deepened ties with the rest of campus, positioning Athletics as a key contributor to university life and campus spirit. He oversees a department consisting of 23 varsity and eight competitive club programs, with nearly 700 student-athletes representing UCalgary annually in interuniversity competition.

Away from campus, Matchett has been an ambassador for Dinos Athletics, serving in several roles with Canada West and U SPORTS, while forging relationships across Canada’s sports landscape. Internationally, Matchett has also represented the Dinos and Canada at several World University Games. He served as Chef de Mission for Team Canada at the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, New York and will take on the same role at the Summer World University Games in ChungCheong, South Korea in 2027.

Matchett has served as the President of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association since 2024.

A born-and-raised Calgarian, Matchett completed both his Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) degrees from the University of Calgary in 2006 and graduated from the Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership Master of Education program at the University of Washington in 2014.