Award recognises Brian’s sporting contribution

Brian retires on Friday 12 July after 25 years as Director of the University’s Institute of Sport and Exercise (ISE), the day after the award winner is announced. The accolade is awarded by British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) in celebration of a remarkable long-serving individual who been instrumental in supporting, growing and developing university sport and physical activity.

Since joining Dundee in 1994, Brian has overseen the development of outstanding facilities on campus and helped embed health and wellbeing within the University’s ethos. He has created academic and educational programmes of high quality and impact and positioned ISE as a major contributor to the University’s internationally renowned student experience.

Prior to joining the University, Brian worked at the University of Strathclyde and Moray House College of Education. During this period, Brian began carrying out consultancy work for the Scottish Football Association, a relationship that has endured throughout his career. He has also consulted for UEFA and has worked with several individual clubs, helping to introduce Scottish football to the then-little-known world of sports science.

Brian has also held national roles at the very highest level, including as Chair of Scottish Student Sport.

“This award has come out of the blue and when I heard I was going to receive it I honestly thought there must be some mistake,” said Brian. “I am really honoured and proud that my peers thought me worthy of being recognised in this way. We all want to make a contribution, so the fact the award recognises this aspect makes it very special to me, especially as my career is drawing to an end.  

“I have been lucky to work with some outstanding people over the years who have advised and counselled me so this prize is as much for them as it is for me. I am proud to have represented my country through my work with the Scottish FA and to see how sports science has moved on to another level in football and is now an integral part of coach’s education. I feel very lucky to have had the career I have had.”

The A.D. Munrow Award winner was announced at BUCS’s annual awards dinner at the University of West England on Thursday 11 July. The dinner marks the achievements of student-athletes, teams and coaches who have excelled at the very highest level of university sport throughout the BUCS season.

BUCS CEO, Vince Mayne said, “It is a pleasure to award the A.D. Munrow outstanding contribution to higher education sport award to Brian. Having witnessed Brian’s dedication and passion for higher education sport, it seemed only right to mark the end of his career with this award. On behalf of BUCS, I would like to thank and congratulate Brian for his tremendous efforts over the past 25 years.”