Accidentally becoming Athletic Director

I added “Athletic Director” to my New Covenant Christian Academy email signature, so that makes it official, right? I didn’t apply for this job. Or even think about whether I wanted to do it. It just happened. Accidentally. That picture is me with two of my best friends who also happen to be the cheerleading coaches. Even private school sports take a village, y’all.

And on paper I’m not qualified at all: I played basketball and was a cheerleader one year in elementary school. I swam in high school, both for my school and in a country club league. I have a print journalism degree. I am a fan of sports – especially basketball. And I’m a mom – and my kids need someone to ensure activities happen for them. 

But I know how to communicate, use calendars and spreadsheets, and organize information. 

In the past seasons of basketball, I’ve helped schedule games as a board member and a friend of the guy who coached all the teams. We decided to have our teams join Christian school conferences this year. Well then, said friend/coach moved to Nebraska, so I helped hire basketball coaches, join conferences, and schedule games. While joining the conferences, we had to list an athletic director – even a volunteer one like me. So I listed myself – and added it to my email signature. Conferences involve different travel, an early season tournament for the girls, a state tournament for the boys, and regionals then state for the girls. Travel means coordinating bus details, food details, and even booking hotels. 

I also recruited my husband to handle the scoreboard and announcing, which he’s done for almost every game we’ve hosted! Of course, he’s much more qualified than me. He grew up playing sports, went to a small Christian school, and has a degree in radio/TV. In addition to Greg, I had other great help: Efride helped me schedule and coordinate games. Jen handled organizing concessions orders and volunteers. So many moms and dads helped set up and clean up, volunteered to work admissions or concessions, and filled in when Greg and I couldn’t be there. Plus the coaches coached, which was the whole point.

My job description was anything but defined. I helped new coaches with player signups, continued to schedule games for EIGHT teams from second grade through high school, and communicated with teams and parents. 

There were 8 teams – 2/3rd girls, 2/3rd boys, 4/5th girls, 4/5th boys, middle school girls, middle school boys, varsity girls, and varsity boys – with 10 coaches and 66 players (32 elementary students and 34 middle & high schoolers). We hosted 50 home games at all levels in our school gym and the church down the road and traveled to 54 regular-season away games plus three girls’ tournaments and a boys’ tournament.

Our school gym is nowhere near regulation size, so our middle school and varsity teams practiced and played home games at nearby Northside Baptist Church. Having this space for practices and games was such a gift to our teams – and it involved additional communication and organization. It also involves setting up and cleaning up before and after each game; hauling out sound equipment and money bags; dropping off concessions orders I’ve picked up from Walmart; and making sure teams know when what gym is available. 

Before this all happened, I was already “Business Manager” at NCCA, so it only made sense that I helped purchase concessions, have cash for admissions and concessions, pay refs, and make deposits following games. Then I had the idea to sell ad space on the electronic scoreboard. 

I’m so thankful to be a part of these growing programs – and not just basketball. We also have cross country, track and field, and volleyball. I love my kids and their friends getting these opportunities. I love seeing all the Lions T-shirts and sweatshirts and am reminded how being part of a team is valuable off the court too. 

I certainly didn’t have “Athletic Director” on my life Bingo card, but here I am, happily. Go Lions!