Dr. Timothy Winegard is an Assistant Professor of History and Head Coach of the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) hockey team.
Most students would not suspect their light-hearted, Star Wars-obsessed history professor to have served as an Officer in the Canadian Army and earned his Doctorate from the University of Oxford.
Winegard is also a prolific author having published five books. “The Mosquito,” which details the drastic impact the mosquito has played in the formation of history, was a 2019 New York Times Bestseller and was published globally in 15 languages.
Before the proud Detroit Lions fan was raving about his admiration for Alexander the Great in lectures, serving in the Canadian Army and writing best-selling books, Winegard was fostering a love of hockey in his hometown of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
“I grew up just wanting to be a hockey player. I literally learned to walk and skate at the same time. I am Canadian after all! My dad made a backyard rink every year and I just loved hockey. I played junior hockey in Canada and then university hockey. Unfortunately, I hurt my shoulder seriously enough to require surgeries that ended my hockey dream,” Winegard said.
It did not take much introspection or long for the young Winegard to pursue his other passion. Students who have taken one of Dr. Winegard’s classes have probably heard him mention the military service– and wit– of his family. Winegard’s great-great-grandfather, great-grandfather, and grandfather all served in the Canadian Army during the World Wars.
“I loved listening to the stories of my great grandpa and grandpa about fighting for Canada in both World Wars. Sitting with them as a kid and listening to their stories fascinated me. These early childhood experiences left a very deep and lasting imprint on me,” Winegard said.
Winegard was acutely aware of his passions and found a unique and meaningful way to blend them together. Military service for Winegard was an opportunity to experience what he was studying and also a way to honor his family history.
In total, Dr. Winegard spent 12 years working towards his four degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in History, a Bachelor of Arts in Education, a Masters of War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, and a Doctorate (PhD) from the University of Oxford. Winegard was either training or on deployment for over 8 of those years.
“NATO attaches officers to all different countries. So, I served with the British Army while I did my PhD at Oxford in England. I also played hockey for Oxford too! It was a very busy period of my life and trying to manage the chaos was a challenge, but it all worked out. Sometimes I think people forget that all professors are experts in our various fields and disciplines, and, like any other specialized profession, that takes a long time,” Winegard said. “I never wanted to be a career soldier. I am very content and proud that I served in the army for almost a decade, and I would do it all over again. But I figured it was just part of the larger life experiences and master plan of being a military historian, and it was also always something I wanted to do since I was a little kid.”
Ironically, it would be at a 2010 Washington Capitals hockey game when researching for his fourth book in the U.S. Archives in Washington, D.C. where Winegard would meet his future wife, Becky, a Grand Junction native, a CMU grad, and a former editor of the Criterion. “I have to believe that Yoda was pulling some Jedi Force strings behind the scenes,” Winegard jokes. It was love at first sight that prompted him to leave his beloved Canada, move to Grand Junction, and begin his teaching career at Colorado Mesa University in 2012.
“It doesn’t matter if I’ve taught U.S. History 131 57 times, I’m just as excited every time. When I can see the transference and students getting just as excited about [the content] as I am when teaching it, that is what makes the job worthwhile. I love the students and I love what I do in both of my CMU jobs. History and Hockey! What a combination!” Winegard said.
Winegard would reunite with his love of hockey at CMU in 2014 when he became the Head Hockey Coach. Winegard took over the team after a four-year hiatus where the school lacked a hockey rink to play on. In the seven years with Winegard at the helm, the CMU team has made the playoffs four of those years.
“It is a credit to all the players. They have made hockey one of the most popular sports on campus. Our team is a communal effort. It is the dedication of the players and the tireless help I get from my athletic director, Reese Kegans, that makes the program so successful,” Winegard said.
In 2018 the hockey team won the prestigious National Community Service Award from United States Congress recognizing their valuable charity work such as fundraising for the local women and family homeless shelter, disabled veteran’s sled hockey, children’s coat drives and the over $80,000 the team has raised with their Annual Pink the Rink Cancer Charity fundraiser. “Hockey is a way to give back to our community,” said Winegard. “Being a part of something that is bigger than yourself both on and off the ice. That is what it means to be a CMU hockey player.”
