San Benito High School teacher and coach Randy Logue has been
named athletic director at the school after an internal search to
fill the position.
San Benito High School teacher and coach Randy Logue has been named athletic director at the school after an internal search to fill the position.
Logue, 40, began his teaching career at SBHS as a mathematics teacher 17 years ago, then moved to his current role as a physical education teacher. He has also been head coach of the Haybaler boys track and field team for 14 years, the boys cross country team for two years, junior varsity wrestling for 11 years and JV football for 15.
Logue said he applied for the job because he wanted to try an administrative position to see if it was something he would like. Another consideration was his growing and maturing family. He said being gone almost every weekend as a coach is difficult with children who are getting older and interested in sports themselves.
“With three kids and a fourth on the way, I didn’t know how long I’d be able to coach,” he said. “I’ll still be involved in sports, but without the practice every day and the invitationals (track meets) every Saturday … It’s not fair for my kids not to have a childhood because my wife and I want to coach.”
Logue’s wife, Jennifer, coaches the SBHS girls track and field team. He said he’s thinking about cutting down on the number of teams he currently coaches.
Logue said he plans on making the school’s athletics program “as good as it can be.” He’s considering ideas such as starting an intramural sports program for students who aren’t on other sports teams, expanding the number of athletes on each team to get more kids involved in sports, starting a SBHS sports hall of fame to help raise funds and recognize former Haybaler athletes, and improving the school’s sports facilities.
“I want to make the athletic department as accessible to students as possible,” he said.
Logue also wants to make sure SBHS coaches are teaching values, ethics, positive morals and good citizenship as well as sports skills.
Among the responsibilities of athletic director are scheduling interscholastic games, securing officials for games, making sure facilities are maintained, making equipment available, helping set athletic policy, fundraising and ensuring student eligibility to participate in sports, he said.
“My job is to make it easier for a coach, day to day, to take care of his responsibilities as a coach – to make it easier for them to be a success,” Logue said.
As athletic director, Logue will teach three classes instead of the five normally required of teachers.
One of three applicants for the position, Logue was chosen over Dave Tari, current interim athletic director and head athletic trainer, and Tod Thatcher, a defensive coach for the varsity football team, said Evelyn Muro, director of personnel at the SBHS District. The district’s Board of Trustees approved Logue’s application at Tuesday night’s meeting.
“We were really lucky to have three really qualified individuals, not only in their performance at school, but in the interview process,” Muro said.
Logue has shown dedication to athletics since he has been with the school, Muro said. He has been a coach, taught boys and girls PE and been a mentor teacher, she said.
Since he was a child, Logue has been involved in sports. Throughout high school and college he played sports including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, track and wrestling, he said.
“I love athletics and sports,” he said. “I love the camaraderie. You form closer bonds with people than in classrooms.”
On April 30, former athletic director Marty Dillon’s lawyer notified the SBHSD that Dillon has elected not to pursue his case with the district over his firing, ending a year-long battle between Dillon and the district.
Even if Dillon returned to the district, he would not have continued as athletic director, Muro said.
