Athletic director position now open

The position of athletic director for the Colfax School District opened April 26.

After the resignation of former athletic director Mike Morgan, that vacancy will be combined with the job of assistant athletic director.

The school board looked over the job description at its Monday board meeting.

The list of qualifications says the following traits are desirable but not mandatory: a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association certificate, a state teaching certificate, and previous coaching experience. The position also asks for knowledge of the overall operation of the athletic program.

At first glance of the job description, board members noticed it mandated having a teaching certificate.

“I’d like to see that off,” said board member Laura Johnson.

Other members agreed, pointing out such a qualification narrowed the potential field of applicants. The final job description says a teaching certificate is desirable, but not mandatory.

The final job description, complete with qualifications, will be posted on the district Web site.

The vacancy will also be printed in local newspapers.

Another qualification for the job is the applicant cannot be a head coach.

“We will make sure that stays on there because that was a priority of the committee,” said Superintendent Michael Morgan, referring to the committee of staff that last summer created the new position. The new position comes into affect for the 2011-2012 year.

Former athletic director Mike Morgan turned in a letter of resignation April 11, stating the work load had become too much in tandem with his two other jobs at the school. His contract for the athletic director’s position ends in August.

The resignation came after the school board essentially consolidated the positions of assistant athletic director and athletic director at the start of the 2011-12 school year.

Supt. Morgan told the Gazette Mike Morgan’s multiple jobs at the school were stretching his hours too thin to fully manage the athletic director position.