September/October 2020 - 53

and aid the students.
I decided to be present at every
game. Yes, I attended everything.
Tennis and volleyball matches,
Friday night football, freshman boys
basketball. I went to everything.
I also worked the games. I setup
pylons in the end zones. I put
sandbags on the soccer goals. I got
up on a ladder to change ripped
basketball nets mid-game. I dragged
the softball fields prior to a game
starting. I did everything.
I believe this sent a message to the
coaches to say, " I'm not going to just
sit in my office; I'm here to help you
be successful. "
I also coached games. When my
freshman boys basketball coach had
a personal issue and we didn't have a
coach available, we didn't cancel. I took
over. When my bowling coach had to
close on his house and couldn't make
a match, we didn't cancel, I traveled
with the team to help out. When my
middle school soccer coach had to take
his son to a doctor's appointment that
he couldn't afford to miss, I stepped
in. (Side note: I currently have an 0-4
career record as an Irvington coach, but
that's not the point I'm making here.)
Pretty soon, I believe I had buy-in
from coaches, and they knew I would
go above and beyond to help them and
their athletes.
I shifted my attention to the
athletes next.
I wanted to find out how I could
make their experiences as a studentathlete
better. After all, you only
get four years in your entire life
to compete in high school. The
overwhelming response was to
increase the number of sports being
offered. Prior to my appointment,
girls volleyball only had varsity and JV
teams, meaning we had to cut a lot of
players who tried out. With support
from our school board, we started a
freshman team, added another coach,
and now we can keep everyone. Boys
soccer only had varsity and JV teams,
yet we had 71 players who tried out.
Once again with the support from
the school board, we added two more
coaches and a freshman team.
We always had a co-ed bowling team,
but under state rules, all co-ed teams
must compete as male teams. With
school board support, we now offer
separate boys and girls bowling teams,
and in 2020, our girls' team earned
second place at the county tournament
during its first year of existence.
Based on student interest, we have
also started programs in competitive
cheerleading, varsity and JV boys
volleyball, girls wrestling, boys
and girls golf, and in spring 2021,
Irvington will start girls lacrosse.
I believe by acting on student
interests, I have earned buy-in from
the Irvington student body, and they
know I will work on their behalf to
meet their various wants and needs.
I am now beginning my fourth year
as the Irvington Athletic Director, and
I don't think anyone is asking how
long how I will stick around. Instead,
I believe they are asking, " What is he
going to do next? "
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COACHAD.COM 53

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September/October 2020

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