A permanent athletic director at Hollister High should be
determined by the end of this week.
A permanent athletic director at Hollister High should be determined by the end of this week.
Three candidates interviewed for the position last week: interim A.D. Dave Tari, special education teacher and assistant varsity football coach Tod Thatcher and physical education teacher and boys track and field/cross country coach Randy Logue.
The Free Lance recenlty contacted all three candidates and asked them about what they would have to offer to the position and what changes would they make to improve the department if they were hired.
Tari: “Being athletic director this year has been a real positive experience for me. I’d love to have the job again. I’m looking forward to leading us into the future. I’ve been able to see where the weaknesses in the department are and evaluate what is needed to improve it. I’ve really enjoyed working with the other coaches and working with the logistics of scheduling.
“One of the ways I can improve from this year is, one, step back before I make decisions before I jump to conclusions. I think we have a great principal in Dwayne Morgan. Everyone has been supportive of me. I’m ready to take the school to the next level.
“We need to make sure every one in the department is on the same page. We need one booster club for all sports to achieve a common goal. I’d like an athletic department we can be proud of. Our students should be role models on the field, as well as, in the classroom.
“As far as the other candidates, I am good friends with both of them. Tod has done a great job running the Special Ed department. He has great people skills and he knows what to do in difficult situations. Randy has some great ideas and has a lot of integrity.
“If I don’t get hired, this department will be in capable hands.”
Thatcher: “I play on putting my ability to work with Special Ed skills and coaching skills in dealing with our student/athletes. That’s why I got into coaching, to help kids. I have super organizational skills and consider myself a people person. I plan on developing leadership in all aspects. I really want to motivate these kids to become more competitive athletes.
“We have to upgrade the facilities, such as an improved wrestling room. We’ve really outgrown the facilities here. There is a lot of untapped potential here. I’ll try to work harder to hire on-campus coaches. I want to make this high school one of the top programs in the Central Coast Section. I want us to be in the upper eshelon of schools. I want a first class program.
“As far as the other candidates go, I feel I’m in the best of both worlds. Whether I’m hired or not, they’ll have a qualified person as A.D.”
Logue: “I was asked several years ago by Mr. Hearn if I would be the athletic director, but I turned it down. A little voice told me that I’ve reached the point where if I don’t apply for the job now, they’ll stop asking me. I have three children with a fourth on the way in August and I don’t plan on coaching much longer.
“I feel we need drastic changes in the athletic department. One, I’d like to see all teams keep more kids. In fact, twice as many kids. I’d like to start an intramural program at school. Two, I want a set policy that no coach at the school can be a coach of a club team. Club sports are the menace to high school athletics.
“We need a comprehensive athletic policy. We don’t always follow the rule. We also need to upgrade the facilities and have on-campus coaches. Whoever gets the job needs to increase the funding to the athletic department. We need to form a common sports booster club.
“Dave has been the A.D. and you can’t compare what a year experience has done for him. He did a great job. Tod is real organized. They would both be great A.D.s”
