This year, our school welcomed a new athletic director, and he’s bringing a ton of experience and energy with him. Sports have always been a huge part of his life. In high school, he played both football and baseball, and he went on to play baseball at West Virginia University for four years. After college, he even got the chance to play professionally in the Orioles organization for two years.
After deciding to step away from professional baseball, he started teaching in southern West Virginia before moving back home to Frederick County, where he graduated from Frederick High. He taught health and PE and also coached baseball at TJ for nine years. In 2018, he and his team even won the state championship. Now, he’s here with us, ready to lead and support all of our sports programs.
When asked how he would describe the athletic culture at our school, he said it’s “highly competitive” and full of spirit. He wants students to show up for all teams, not just the big ones. “I want us to support everybody,” he explained.
Starting in July wasn’t easy—he had to jump right in, get schedules sorted out, and deal with unexpected changes. He admitted it felt overwhelming at first, like “drinking out of a firehose.” Still, he’s been thankful for how supportive and patient the coaches have been while he gets adjusted.
But to him, sports are about more than just winning games. He believes athletics teach important life lessons, like dealing with setbacks, learning to work as a team, and handling competition in a healthy way. “Don’t be afraid to fail,” he advised students. “You’re going to fail in athletics, but take on that challenge. Don’t take the easy road.”
Looking ahead, he wants to improve our athletic program’s social media presence to highlight student-athletes and keep the community engaged. He also hopes to keep the facilities in great shape so they reflect the pride and talent of our school.
Most importantly, he wants people to remember that student-athletes are students first. “These are young men and women who are still learning and growing,” he said. “At the end of the day, they started playing their sport to have fun. We need to respect the pressure they face along the way.”
With his background, passion, and goals for the future, it’s clear that our new athletic director is ready to make a big impact here at our school.
