By FRED KRONER
Zach Steele is learning quickly about the nuances of being a high school athletic director.
“Scheduling events years from now has been something that I didn’t think I would have to do,” said Steele, who recently started his duties as the athletic director at Oakwood High School, “but I already have taken a few phone calls from other athletic directors.
“It’s amazing how far out you have to schedule everything in advance at the high school level. I think the biggest challenges in my new role will be to stay on top of things, and organization.
“I find myself to be strong in those areas, but this will be an even bigger challenge than when I was a teacher.”
The Robinson High School graduate (Class of 2001) has spent the last 16 years at St. Joseph Middle School in an assortment of positions.
He taught sixth-grade English and social studies for five years and then switched to fifth grade for one year.
Steele spent the past 10 years teaching at the eighth-grade level, focusing on English, which he said, “worked out really well.”
In his first year in the district, he served as the interim baseball coach for one year in the fall and then worked with track and field in the spring all 16 years, the past 14 as the Panthers’ head coach.
His two years as an assistant were under Jon McDannald, whom he calls “a huge influence.”
For someone who was a three-year letter winner in high school in baseball and had highlights such as a pitching win his sophomore year over state-ranked Olney and a three-home-run game as a junior, spending his springs on the track oval was not in Steele’s original plans.
“I always thought I would coach baseball, which I did for a year,” Steele said. “I had no idea I would be coaching track and field for 16.”
Steele had the chance to play baseball after high school at the local community college, Lincoln Trail, in Robinson – located about 110 miles southeast of Champaign-Urbana – but instead opted to attend Eastern Illinois University.
He didn’t have a clear career path in mind when he set foot on the campus in Charleston.
“I considered dentistry because my mom worked in that field,” Steele said. “I also considered psychology, because I was always interested in the human brain and wanted to help others.”
However, EIU has gained a reputation for decades as a preparation college for future teachers, and Steele went in that direction.
“When I entered school, education was a field that people were flocking to,” Steele said. “Education was also becoming more popular with males as was teaching in the elementary and middle-level schools.”
He had support from his parents as well as others.
“Teachers such as Sue Wassell, Bob Sornberger, Jay Jared, and Mike White were educators that influenced me to become an educator,” Steele said. “My family had a friend who taught elementary P.E. and she thought it would be a great fit. I also considered coaching and possibly administration.
“Being at a top-notch education school, I thought why not? Coaching was certainly part of the appeal of education.”
Though Steele has not made an impact on people in the same manner he would have had he pursued a psychology degree, he has nonetheless been an influence for young minds.
“When you form positive relationships with your students, whether in the classroom or on the field, it is a wonderful feeling that you will never forget,” Steele said. “Also, being able to see those students and/or athletes later on and seeing how successful they have become in high school, college, or in the real world is very rewarding.
“If I was able to have a tiny part of their success, then it makes me feel like I have done my job.”
Steele completed work on his master’s degree in educational leadership prior to the beginning of COVID-19 in 2020.
“I learned so much, but I always questioned, ‘was I ready to leave the classroom?’” Steele said. “After I graduated with my master’s, I did apply and was interviewed for a few assistant administrative positions, but was never offered.”
He put the brakes on his search during COVID.
“I thought I would stay where I was, ride that out, and then see what was out there after,” Steele said. “I definitely didn’t think it would be good to make that move during the pandemic, not knowing what the future would hold.”
Encouragement from a former co-worker spurred him to re-start his search in the past year.
“I received some advice from someone I worked with previously who said I was ready, so I started looking,” Steele said.
“Being an administrator has always been appealing to me because I get to be a part of making impactful decisions for a school district, making positive changes, and building positive relationships between myself and faculty and staff, students, and the community of a school district.”
He is now learning the specifics of being an athletic director, but Steele has had no shortage of role models in his life.
“I had some great administrators from grade school to high school, and at St. Joseph Middle School,” he said.
Steele believes his days as a two-sport high school athlete (he also lettered in basketball) were beneficial.
“Playing various sports (also including football and soccer in his younger years) helped me to work with different people, including coaches and teammates,” he said. “It also kept me active for a longer period of time.
“Playing high school sports, being a part of various teams, and building relationships with my peers will always stick with me.”
In addition to overseeing the 16 sports (plus competitive cheerleading and dance) that Oakwood offers at the high school level, Steele will serve as the assistant principal at a school that had an enrollment listed on the IHSA website as 305 for 2022-23.
“I will be in charge of half of teacher and staff evaluations, plus I am a part of student discipline for my new position,” he said.
Athletic directors have supervisory duties at the majority of home athletic events, but Steele expects to have some assistance.
“My principal (Erin Smith) and I have agreed to split some of those responsibilities, which I feel very lucky in that aspect, especially with a family,” Steele said. “However, I want to be at those events, cheering on our athletes and supporting the various teams.”
Much of the athletic director’s work for the start of the 2023-24 school year was finalized by outgoing AD Kyle Shelton.
That will lessen the stress of his on-the-job training.
“Scheduling and officials for the most part are set, which I am very fortunate that my predecessor took care of,” Steele said. “My main goals for the beginning of the year are to get to know the faculty, staff, and the students of Oakwood High School and to build strong relationships with them.
“I want all of us to have a united bond as a building, and I want them to be able to approach me with anything, and I hope I can serve them to the best of my abilities.
“Another goal is to be sure that all athletic events run as smoothly as possible, cheer on our sports teams, and to also build relationships with the coaches at Oakwood High School. I want them to know as athletic director, they have my full support and I will do whatever it takes to meet their needs.”
He is looking forward to his new position, but acknowledged it was a tough decision to step out of his teaching role.
“I have had very many fond memories as an educator,” Steele said. “First, building relationships with fellow teachers and coaches at the middle school level.
“Also, having an impact on our youth as a teacher and coach. The positive relationships that I have been able to build with students is something that will always stay with me and was definitely the hardest reason to leave the classroom; that and being able to collaborate with fellow teachers and being able to teach content that I love.
“I hope that I can take what I have learned in the classroom the past 16 years and apply it as an administrator.”
Steele said he is thankful for “being a part of some great teams in the school building and working alongside some great mentors while being a teacher (at St. Joseph Middle School), adding, “it is something that I will take with me as I move onto administration.
“Those relationships and all the advice so many coworkers in the building gave me is something I will never forget.
“I would like to thank St. Joseph Middle School for making me into the educator I am today, and I hope I make Oakwood High School and the Oakwood community proud.”
Steele and his wife, Andrea, are the parents of two children. Drew is entering fourth grade and George is about to start second grade.
Andrea Steele is a first-grade teacher in the St. Joseph school district, where the family will continue to reside.
“It is only an 11-minute drive from my doorstep to Oakwood High School, which isn’t a bad commute,” said Zach Steele, whose final thank you was directed to his wife.
“I also want to thank my wife, Andrea, for her support to go out and begin this journey as a school administrator,” he added.
