For as long as I can remember, sports and athletics have been a major part of my life.  I fell in love with basketball and the New York Knicks in second grade and my life was changed forever.  I might have been the only 7-year-old girl in recorded history who could rattle off NBA stats from the 80s and 90s like I was reciting the alphabet.

I can remember my senior year of high school like it was yesterday.  Walking through the halls of Sachem North, I was excited and fortunate that I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up; play in the NBA.  And then maybe if that didn’t work out, a high school athletic director.

Since I had a gut feeling that I may never get that call from the Knicks or James Dolan, I decided that I should probably pay a bit more attention to my second choice.  Luckily, my friend and mentor Mr. Dave Falco was always there to remind me, “Dan… you are going to Cortland to be a P.E. teacher. Stay the course.”

Admittedly, I was more the typical jock in college than I would like to remember.  In fact, I didn’t truly understand that being a physical education major meant that I was preparing to be a physical education teacher until I started my core teaching blocks.  Whoops!

A two-sport athlete in college, all I knew was that I wanted to play sports, have a career in sports, and somehow give back to the world of education, a place that had done so much for me in my first 18 years of life.  I picked up a sports management minor for the heck of it, played my sports and graduated in 2006.

Fast forward to today; I can say with certainty that I have hit the jackpot as a rookie athletic director in the Port Jefferson School District.

My journey into this position has led me through the halls of Sachem East, Elwood/John H. Glenn, Patchogue-Medford, Longwood, Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Miller Place, and, finally, to my new home in Port Jefferson.

Each of these places has allowed me to discover a little more about myself, and each have brought very special people, experiences and relationships along the way.  I’ve had the opportunity to teach at several levels, and have also dabbled in building level leadership as an assistant principal. However, with each new setting, my end goal has been the same and to say that I am honored, humbled, and fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work as an athletic administrator is a tremendous understatement.

Even though most days I have to pinch myself to be sure that I have actually made it to this point, there are plenty of others where I lean on my administrative assistant, staff, colleagues, and fellow athletic directors to guide me through the daily challenges that can present themselves in my new position.

As athletes, we pride ourselves in toughing out the difficult days, pushing ourselves to new limits, and finding that inner strength to be better than we were the day before.  These are all great qualities; but in my short time in this position I have learned that it’s ok to swallow your pride and ask for help.  As a newbie, I have found that Section XI is filled with some of the greatest, most knowledgeable professionals in our field and I have deferred to their expertise on many, many occasions (hi Deb!).

Likewise, I was fortunate to find a home here in Port Jefferson where my colleagues have helped me get started on the right foot.  As John Covey once said, “seek first to understand, and then to be understood.”  For me, I have always found that starting out in a new place meant new cultures to adapt to, new people to work with, and most importantly, an opportunity for a fresh start.   Learn as much as you can when starting in a new environment; listen to those who have experience, respect past contributions, and immerse yourself in the culture.  Live in the house a year before you start knocking walls down.  You will earn the respect of your colleagues, your staff and the community.

Although I would imagine it’s a far cry from the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, the people I’ve met and the students I’ve worked with throughout my journey are things I wouldn’t trade for the world.  I once read an article entitled “The Game Knows,” where a college athlete talks about her career as a college softball player, the hard work she put in over many years, and the unfortunate reality that emerged as she was awarded very little playing time in her college years.  She describes how after all of her hard work and dedication, one would look at her career as a college softball player and feel that it was all for naught.

But, in her years post-college, the drive and determination that led her to play division I softball was the same drive and determination that landed her a dream job upon graduation.  It was in this way that she claimed “the game knows.”  The game knows how hard you work, the kind of person you are, and ultimately what will be best for you in the long run.

This same concept can be applied to our profession.  We are all faced with challenges and difficult decisions as we go through life, but it is how we respond to these challenges that truly define our character.  Although I have plenty of years ahead of me, the lessons I’ve learned along the way and the path I have taken have truly made me appreciate how fortunate I am.

Being an athletic administrator has allowed me to combine the best of two awesome worlds; athletics and education. Having the ability to come to work every day knowing that I get to make decisions that will ultimately impact the lives of students and student-athletes is the single-most rewarding job in the world.  So, James Dolan, don’t bother calling … I already have my dream job.

To run a successful athletic department, it takes a team of people who are committed to providing the best experience for our students.  The athletic departments in many schools and communities are the most visible as evidenced by the fact our teams can be found daily in Newsday or weekly in local papers, on MSG Varsity or News 12, as well as social media and online with the results and standings on the Section XI website.

Because of the high visibility of high school athletics, very often school and community pride are often tied to the success of the athletic teams.

As a former coach I truly believe that great players make great coaches and that we should lead by example.   As an athletic director I believe a great supporting staff makes a great athletic department and that collectively we must all lead by example in everything we do and model behavior for our student-athletes.  I want my staff to understand we are all part of a team and a common goal, which is to provide the best experience for our student-athletes.

One of the most important aspects of our job if not the most is to hire the best staff possible.  I am fortunate in that I am surrounded by many outstanding coaches, administrative assistant, athletic trainer, nurse, school physician, transportation staff and grounds and custodial crew who all play a role everyday in success of the athletic department.  Collectively we strive to create the best athletic experience first and foremost for our student-athletes, their parents and the Southampton community.   When hiring coaches, it is imperative that the coach understands my philosophy as well as the district philosophy at each level of the interscholastic athletic program.  This philosophy provides the guiding document that coaches adhere to when running their programs.

One of many roles as athletic director is to mentor and provide guidance for new coaches and help them to develop to be the best he/she can be and make sure our student-athletes have a positive experience.  Aside from being knowledgeable about the sport, one of the critical characteristics I look for is for the coach to be athlete centered and an ability to connect with kids.  I want coaches who are reflective in their jobs and are looking for ways to become better professionally and to keep the finding ways to make their program better.

For me without a doubt, my team MVP is my administrative assistant who handles all the day to day operations.  It is impossible to list everything she does every day and to put into words just how valuable she is to me.  She is a true team player and does whatever it takes to get the job done.  Having a go to person you can count on to get things done and who always has your back is invaluable to an Athletic Director.

In addition to the coaches, the athletic trainer, school nurse and school physician are an integral part of the athletic program.  They all play a vital role in getting our athletes safely back on field while managing the daily communication with parents, doctors, and the coaches.   I along with my coaches value what our medical team does every day and how they put the health and safety our student-athletes first which is way more important than the outcome of any game.

Our games and contests could not be played each day without our grounds crew and custodians making sure the fields and facilities are ready for play and all set up.  Our daily communication ensures we are all on the same page with the home games and we all know who is playing on what field.  Our transportation department and bus drivers do a fantastic job everyday making sure our teams get to where they need to be on time.

In addition having a supportive principal and assistant principal, along with superintendent and board of education, who all value the athletic department and the experiences we provide for our student-athletes makes for a success athletic team.

During my 16 years at Southampton I feel we have cultivated a great staff who collectively all contribute every day to making sure our student-athletes have a positive experience in their participation in the athletic program at Southampton.  It is impossible to do this job successfully without being surrounded by a great team and I am thankful to have such a fantastic group of people that I get to work with everyday who put our kids first.

Darren Phillips is the Director of Athletics of the Southampton Union Free School District.

I was only two-years-old the first time I stepped onto a basketball court. I left my perch in the bleachers and strode across the sideline in a determined pursuit for the ball. Unfortunately, it was the middle of a Stony Brook School basketball game. Chaos ensued as the referees stopped the game and corralled me before I was trampled. I’d like to say I learned my lesson that day, but a severe overestimation of my own speed led to the interruption of a Stony Brook track meet two years later.

For as long as I can remember I have had a love affair with Stony Brook athletics. My dad began teaching science and coaching basketball at the school in 1986 when I was less than a year old. As a result, the Bears loom large in my childhood memories. I rode the bus with my dad’s basketball team and lived and died with their results. I was a water boy for the boys’ lacrosse team and still haven’t gotten over our sudden death overtime loss in the 1995 Long Island Championship. I chased foul balls for the softball team and errant passes for the soccer team. While most kids my age pretended to be Michael Jordan while shooting baskets in their driveway, I envisioned being my favorite Stony Brook players, drilling big shots in the state championship.

I can truly say that being the athletic director at the Stony Brook School is a dream job for me and I love so much of what I get to do each day. I love seeing my student-athletes compete and am in awe of what they are able to accomplish. Most days I’m still a fan enamored with high school athletics. I love watching a reticent athlete grow through their season or their career and witnessing their confidence ignite. I love watching my athletes celebrate a big win, but I am equally as proud of them when they show grace in defeat. I love watching a team persevere through a trial together and witnessing the camaraderie that is forged. But what I love most about my job goes far beyond the realm of athletics.

As important as sports are, they pale in comparison to what we value most in our lives. For that reason I tell my athletes and coaches that winning is important, but only in the context of striving for a unified goal and using their gifts and talents to the utmost.

The true beauty of athletics is its ability to cultivate virtue and to challenge and stretch individuals as they strive toward their potential. Awards and trophies are tangible evidence of the hard work and dedication they have invested and they are important, but I care more about the people they are becoming through athletics.

One day each of my athletes will put down the ball or hang up the spikes. One day the cheers will only be heard in their memories. What matters most is who they have become through their pursuit of athletic excellence.

If athletics does not make them a better mother, father, spouse, leader, employee, and friend then something was missing from their experience on the field. What I love most about my job is helping my student-athletes strive to be the best they can be and in doing so, whether they know it or not, helping them cultivate the character traits that will help them be successful long after they stop playing the game.

Dan Hickey is the Director of Athletics of The Stony Brook School

It has been said that if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.  To some extent that is certainly true when you talk about being an athletic director.

Unfortunately, life is meant to supply us with balance, and no one gets away with total happiness.  Our business is a serious one that requires constant vigilance when dealing with the health and safety of children.  Not a day goes by that we find ourselves walking a field or gym, taking note of conditions that may lead to an unsafe condition.

Additionally, we host 100-plus contests a year and are required to staff and secure the areas for the protection of players, coaches, officials, and especially the spectators that either live in the district or travel to see their children play a game.  We are our own division of Homeland Security.

We have to anticipate receiving a crowd of over 1,000 and properly staff it, know how close a lightning storm is, check the THI, ensure that each team has secured and checked their AEDs, check the operation of clocks and scoreboards, outfit student-athletes with the best equipment to keep them free of injury, and making it a point to have coaches keep their individual emergency plans up to date.

Truth be told, we never really WATCH a game.  We observe, head on a swivel, eyes wide open, hand on the walkie-talkie, hoping that this game goes off without a hitch.

Of course, when the game has ended and the gym is empty we can share an anecdote with the custodians as they clean up the mess left by everyone.  We sit in a side office for some time reflecting on what we just observed and ponder the subsequent email that gets sent out either congratulating or consoling your coach.  If we are lucky, no one else receives notice. If an incident occurred, no matter how minor, we must share it and before the next game begins, we adjust, adapt, and reassess our strategy, like any good soldier.

The best compliment we can expect to receive is that everyone had a good time, win, lose or draw.  Yet we relish the opportunity to do these things.  We want our schools to be in the spotlight.  We want to show off what we have built.  So many of us step up to help when help is needed to the point of never having to worry because that is what we in Section XI are programmed to do, not because we have to, but because we have all been there and will continue to be there.

Yes, this may seem a bit dramatic, but if we follow the philosophy of putting KIDS FIRST, this makes you love your job and therefore WORK is removed from your vocabulary as long as you carry the title of AD.

Jim Wright, Ed.D., CMAA, Supervisor of Physical Education, Health, Athletics and Recreation, Huntington UFSD

Being the athletic director of a one the largest school districts in the state is truly an honor. Working with over 125 staff members from physical education, health, nurses and athletics there is never a day that goes by where nothing is going on.

I would have never thought that working Monday through Saturday and putting in over 60-hour work weeks would be something I looked forward to every single morning.

The decision to become an athletic director was one that developed over time for me. When I first graduated from Hofstra University with my degree in physical education all I could think about was becoming a physical education teacher and coaching a football program to a Long Island Championship.

It still amazes me how my goals changed year-to-year. I was lucky to work my entire teaching career in the Baldwin School District as an elementary physical education teacher, coach varsity track and field and junior varsity football. I was lucky to work with a lot of great student-athletes and staff while in Baldwin. The most gratifying achievement was watching alumni come back season after season from college and their new careers and seeing how the program was progressing and keeping in contact with me.

After 11 years of being a teacher and coach I realized that I wanted to make an impact on a much larger scale and the only way to do that was through administration. Currently in my third year at Middle Country and my fifth year as an athletic administrator, it is a privilege to work and try to give as many students and athletes the best possible experience on a daily basis. Some of my favorite moments in Middle Country have been hosting events such as National Signing Day and end-of-season ceremonies. Helping student-athletes achieve their goals on and off the field is a daily driving force.

Being an athletic director and working with so many different people, I have learned that in order to accomplish goals it has to be a true team effort. Thankfully I have two assistants and two coordinators that are absolutely sensational at their jobs. They ensure that the day to day tasks run smoothly and efficiently. In addition, my colleagues in Section XI with all of their experience are never more than a phone call away and eager to assist in any questions I may have.

As I look forward to the years to come I hope that I can have a positive influence on student athletes, parents, coaches and teachers in the Middle Country School District and in Section XI.

Joseph Mercado is Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics of the Middle Country School District.

Being an athletic director within your district has many rewarding experiences and opportunities. From the day-to-day interactions with your coaches and athletes to the struggles and triumphs of a long season.  While athletics are usually measured by the ultimate results, success can be measured in multiple modalities.

While championship expectations may not always be realized, positive experiences can always be reinforced and actualized for a team and its members. Coaches may not realize they may be the lone component of how a student-athlete perceives their experience. Coaches must realize that their actions and guidance will remain with their student athlete long after graduation.  It is important to remember that as an athletic director you are responsible for the oversight of the entire program. While no two coaches are alike, it is also important to realize that not all athletes and teams are alike. With that, it is important to realize that while we strive for excellence there are many ways to reach our student-athletes.

While this daily process is all contained within the boundaries of our towns, Section XI offers athletic director’s a chance to be involved at the county, state and national level. For the past 15 years, while serving as the Islip athletic director, I have enjoyed and relished my roles within the most successful governing body of athletics in New York State, Section XI.  While many of the roles necessary for the operation of a successful sport season and the entire High School athletic process, are done for no money, the big Blue Machine of Section XI would cease to operate without the dedication of the 61 athletic directors in Suffolk County.  Throughout the years I have been a member of the Constitution Committee, Placement Committee and served as the Conference III President. While these committees sometime require time out of district, it is essential that we as athletic administrators, stay involved as the entire process would cease to exist as we know it.

These committees are the backbone of Suffolk County Athletics. My current responsibilities include serving on the Seeding Committee, which seeds every post season event in the Section. As a member of the Safety committee, chaired by Bayport athletic director Tim Mullins, we meet to examine all aspects of safety procedures for all Athletics. I currently sit as a member of the Section XI Athletic Council which approves and disapproves all proposals and current rules and regulations within the operations of Section XI.  Over the past 10 years I have cherished my position as a member of the New York State Wrestling Committee and am proud to be a part of the most dedicated coaches within the Suffolk County Wrestling Coaches Association which has now won 8 Inter Sectional State Championships in a row.  As my term as the President of the Suffolk County Athletic Directors Association comes to a close next March, I am grateful to be a part of such a dedicated group of professional men and women that I am proud to call my colleagues and friends.  The past Executive Leadership of W. Homer Ball, Joseph Barlin, Cathy Gallagher and Ed Cinelli have laid a blue print for the continued success of Section XI and our current Executive Director, Don Webster, continues to lead us not only throughout the state but also at the national level.

The athletic directors in my association are the most dedicated and committed professionals that I have had the pleasure to work with.  It is a fraternity of dedicated men and women who truly believe that athletics is truly an extension of the classroom and that lessons learned in the gyms and on the fields will provide our student athletes with the experiences to guide them throughout the rest of their lives.

Bob Panariello, CMAA

President – Suffolk County Athletic Directors

Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Islip Public Schools