Sam Dempster, head coach of the Durham Lords men's baseball team, has been travelling the world as part of the Major League Baseball International Envoy Program. The initiative sends coaches across the world to promote the sport.
Sam Dempster, head coach of the Durham Lords men's baseball team, is spending his summer promoting the game of baseball on an international level.
The 16-year Durham College coach has once again joined the Major League Baseball (MLB) International Envoy Program, helping to grow the game across the world. As a regional lead envoy, Dempster began his travels in June and will continue through August, bringing his baseball expertise to kids aged 13 to 19 from high schools and local baseball clubs.
Dempster is also acting as an assistant coach to the teams he is involved with, as he makes his way through England, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Hungary and Turkey.
"The assistant coach role is a different role than I'm used to," said Dempster. "It's a great learning experience for me, along with the players and coaches that I get a chance to work with."
Conceptualized in 1991, the MLB International Envoy has sent coaches on more than 700 assignments to more than 60 countries. Dempster spent last summer working with children in the United Kingdom and parts of Africa.
Since joining Durham College's men's baseball program in 1992, Dempster has won four Ontario Conference Championship titles in the Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association, including the school's third-straight title last season.
Dempster, who also works as a scout for the National League's Milwaukee Brewers of the MLB, was recognized by MLB last year when he was awarded the Julio Puente International Coach Award, for his unselfish, dedicated and passionate work in growing the game of baseball worldwide.
After finishing up his international excursion, Dempster will return to Durham College where the Lords will open their 2008 season on September 6 at Queen's University in Kingston. The Lords will return to Oshawa for their home opener on September 13, where a pre-game ceremony to honour their third consecutive provincial title will take place prior to their match-up against St. Clair College.