Ask the AD - Dave Klingel, South River High School
This summer, CSZ will be doing a segment on the WICKipedia entitled "Ask the AD". In this feature, we'll be conducting Q&A's with various athletic directors around Maryland to learn more about how different high schools run their athletic programs, and what to expect from them in the future.
Today we're featuring Dave Klingel from South River High School in Anne Arundel County! During our conversation Dave spoke to us about the importance of athletics connecting to the surrounding community, the joy he gets from watching South River's athletes compete, and a letter he received from a former South River student athlete.
County Sports Zone:How did you become athletic director at South River? How did your appointment come about?
Dave Klingel:In 2005 I became the assistant athletic director after lacrosse and soccer coach Greg Carroll retired. I was in the right place at the right time when athletic director Jim Haluck retired. Both men were very influential in my desire to take the position and taught me a great amount in the years I was under them.
CSZ:How has the job changed since you started? How has it stayed the same?
DK:The job has become a 24/7 job that is more administrative each year. The student-athletes passion and commitment always stays the same. The energy that they bring on a daily basis keeps me energized.
CSZ:How would you rate this past year for South River athletics? Were there a couple highlights that stand out?
DK:I think we had a good year at South River in 2015-16. We had a lot of new faces on the varsity level which will continue to grow. Our kids gained tremendous experience last season and we hope their hard work over the summer will propel us to a great 16-17. Boys soccer winning a county championship, swimming winning a county and regional championship on both the boys and girls side, and wrestling winning the county championship were highlights of the 2015-16 year.
CSZ:What're a couple things you've accomplished while South River athletic director that you are most proud of?
DK:I received a letter from an athlete who graduated this year thanking me for bringing a family atmosphere to South River. No matter the sport, I believe each is an important cog to the overall unit. I hope that I succeed in my job by making the high school athletic experience memorable and meaningful for all student-athletes. This has a great deal to do with the coaches that lead them on and off the field.
CSZ:What do you enjoy most about your job?
DK:I enjoy the preparation for an event. I enjoy going out to the field at noon and preparing the event for the evening. I enjoy the people. If you don't like to interact with the many different levels of people you encounter you are missing out. The relationships and lifelong connections I have developed in my 10 years at South River will last a lifetime.
I also love the game. I am a competitor and love watching our athletes give their best every day. People don't realize the pressure our kids encounter on a daily basis. I truly appreciate their efforts and the amount of pressure they deal with on a daily basis.
CSZ:How do you view the athletic director's role within the community of a high school?
DK:The ability for our athletes to connect to the community is vital. Our football team took in CJ Burke whose mother passed away from cancer this year. They invited CJ to practice, let him and his mother and father participate in senior night, and play a flag football game at halftime.
Our kids also went to one of our feeder elementary schools to be helpers at their field day in June. It was a great experience for all involved.
CSZ:Is there anything exciting or new we should be on the look out for from South River's athletic department?
DK:We have some work being done around our facility with track resurfacing and stadium improvements from Ferguson Trenching. Our gym floor is being sanded, painted, and sealed by Miller Contracting, and we will continue to try to make our second turf field into a varsity venue.
CSZ:What are your long term goals for South River's athletics program?
DK:Our long term goals are to continue to upgrade our facility, maintain a respect among our opponents, and continue to give our student-athletes a positive experience at the high school level.
Today we're featuring Dave Klingel from South River High School in Anne Arundel County! During our conversation Dave spoke to us about the importance of athletics connecting to the surrounding community, the joy he gets from watching South River's athletes compete, and a letter he received from a former South River student athlete.
County Sports Zone:How did you become athletic director at South River? How did your appointment come about?
Dave Klingel:In 2005 I became the assistant athletic director after lacrosse and soccer coach Greg Carroll retired. I was in the right place at the right time when athletic director Jim Haluck retired. Both men were very influential in my desire to take the position and taught me a great amount in the years I was under them.
CSZ:How has the job changed since you started? How has it stayed the same?
DK:The job has become a 24/7 job that is more administrative each year. The student-athletes passion and commitment always stays the same. The energy that they bring on a daily basis keeps me energized.
CSZ:How would you rate this past year for South River athletics? Were there a couple highlights that stand out?
DK:I think we had a good year at South River in 2015-16. We had a lot of new faces on the varsity level which will continue to grow. Our kids gained tremendous experience last season and we hope their hard work over the summer will propel us to a great 16-17. Boys soccer winning a county championship, swimming winning a county and regional championship on both the boys and girls side, and wrestling winning the county championship were highlights of the 2015-16 year.
CSZ:What're a couple things you've accomplished while South River athletic director that you are most proud of?
DK:I received a letter from an athlete who graduated this year thanking me for bringing a family atmosphere to South River. No matter the sport, I believe each is an important cog to the overall unit. I hope that I succeed in my job by making the high school athletic experience memorable and meaningful for all student-athletes. This has a great deal to do with the coaches that lead them on and off the field.
CSZ:What do you enjoy most about your job?
DK:I enjoy the preparation for an event. I enjoy going out to the field at noon and preparing the event for the evening. I enjoy the people. If you don't like to interact with the many different levels of people you encounter you are missing out. The relationships and lifelong connections I have developed in my 10 years at South River will last a lifetime.
I also love the game. I am a competitor and love watching our athletes give their best every day. People don't realize the pressure our kids encounter on a daily basis. I truly appreciate their efforts and the amount of pressure they deal with on a daily basis.
CSZ:How do you view the athletic director's role within the community of a high school?
DK:The ability for our athletes to connect to the community is vital. Our football team took in CJ Burke whose mother passed away from cancer this year. They invited CJ to practice, let him and his mother and father participate in senior night, and play a flag football game at halftime.
Our kids also went to one of our feeder elementary schools to be helpers at their field day in June. It was a great experience for all involved.
CSZ:Is there anything exciting or new we should be on the look out for from South River's athletic department?
DK:We have some work being done around our facility with track resurfacing and stadium improvements from Ferguson Trenching. Our gym floor is being sanded, painted, and sealed by Miller Contracting, and we will continue to try to make our second turf field into a varsity venue.
CSZ:What are your long term goals for South River's athletics program?
DK:Our long term goals are to continue to upgrade our facility, maintain a respect among our opponents, and continue to give our student-athletes a positive experience at the high school level.
| July 8th, 2016 | By: Wick Eisenberg |