Ask the AD - Terry Molloy, Westminster 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 Terry Molloy from Westminster High School in Carroll County! During our conversation, Terry talked to us about how he became an athletic director, the sports culture at Westminster and how the Owls fared in their first year since the Monocacy Valley Athletic League disbanded.
County Sports Zone:How did you become the athletic director at Westminster? How did your appointment come about?
Terry Molloy:I became the AD at Westminster in 2003. While teaching physical education here my principal came to me and said "This is why I brought you back here," after the current AD stepped down. My life had been totally built around athletics up to that point, both as a high school and collegiate player and coach, so I thought it was a natural fit for me and accepted the position.
CSZ:How has the job changed since you started? How has it stayed the same?
TM:When I first started out in this position I was also teaching PE and coaching, so time management was critical for me as I was wearing several hats at the same time. Currently, I am an administrator and no longer teach or coach, but managing my time commitments is still paramount as I also oversee all building activities and facilities management as well now.
Many of the other job requirements have stayed the same concerning budgets, schedules, transportation and security, but every day brings new challenges for me.
CSZ:How would you rate this past year for Westminster Athletics? Were there a couple highlights that stand out?
TM:I rate every year for Westminster Athletics as a success for our kids since we run an educationally based sports program. We typically have few academically ineligible student-athletes and that's something we are very proud of here. I believe overall we run a highly competitive and successful athletics program across the board, and turn out men and women of high moral character, and proven leadership skills.
Wins and losses come and go in cycles when you're involved in high school athletics and let's face it, it's nice to get the "W" but that's not truly what it's all about.
CSZ:What're a couple things you've accomplished while Westminster athletic director that you are most proud of?
TM:One area I know we are proud of is how much our FCA membership has grown to. Not only have our numbers involved with this group steadily risen, we also have many teams, and/or athletes that voluntarily meet with character coaches throughout their seasons.
The other area I am proud of is our facilities in general. Since I have been here as the AD we have replaced or added seven scoreboards, installed a stadium irrigation system, upgraded both our indoor and outdoor sound systems, plus many other items along the way. I strive to give our community and athletes the best experience we can.
CSZ:What do you enjoy most about your job?
TM:What I enjoy most about my job is the daily interactions with our student-athletes, staff and community members. I am actively involved in many areas of our community outside of school and it's nice to see many players, parents, community members and alumni outside the walls of our school. I also joke about "living at school" which I pretty much do, and based on my personality, I am always thinking of what needs to be done or addressed next.
I love my job and the time commitment it requires.
CSZ:Westminster was a longtime member of the MVAL Conference, which disbanded last summer. How did that make things different for Westminster Athletics this past year?
TM:The history we had with the MVAL, plus when it was decided our county schools would be leaving the league, has pluses and minuses as for how it affects Westminster. Being a large school, we still compete against many of the same schools from our neighboring counties as we did before we left the league. It has not majorly altered anything we do here.
CSZ:What's the sports culture like at Westminster?
TM:The sports culture at Westminster is what I would describe as intense and honest. Our kids and coaching staff are extremely committed year in and year out to the success of all our programs. They all work diligently, even in the off-season to seek improvement in their game.
We preach character and honesty, along with many other traits, and hope our athletes leave here thinking that they experienced a first class experience that they will go on to share with others along the way.
Today we're featuring Terry Molloy from Westminster High School in Carroll County! During our conversation, Terry talked to us about how he became an athletic director, the sports culture at Westminster and how the Owls fared in their first year since the Monocacy Valley Athletic League disbanded.
County Sports Zone:How did you become the athletic director at Westminster? How did your appointment come about?
Terry Molloy:I became the AD at Westminster in 2003. While teaching physical education here my principal came to me and said "This is why I brought you back here," after the current AD stepped down. My life had been totally built around athletics up to that point, both as a high school and collegiate player and coach, so I thought it was a natural fit for me and accepted the position.
CSZ:How has the job changed since you started? How has it stayed the same?
TM:When I first started out in this position I was also teaching PE and coaching, so time management was critical for me as I was wearing several hats at the same time. Currently, I am an administrator and no longer teach or coach, but managing my time commitments is still paramount as I also oversee all building activities and facilities management as well now.
Many of the other job requirements have stayed the same concerning budgets, schedules, transportation and security, but every day brings new challenges for me.
CSZ:How would you rate this past year for Westminster Athletics? Were there a couple highlights that stand out?
TM:I rate every year for Westminster Athletics as a success for our kids since we run an educationally based sports program. We typically have few academically ineligible student-athletes and that's something we are very proud of here. I believe overall we run a highly competitive and successful athletics program across the board, and turn out men and women of high moral character, and proven leadership skills.
Wins and losses come and go in cycles when you're involved in high school athletics and let's face it, it's nice to get the "W" but that's not truly what it's all about.
CSZ:What're a couple things you've accomplished while Westminster athletic director that you are most proud of?
TM:One area I know we are proud of is how much our FCA membership has grown to. Not only have our numbers involved with this group steadily risen, we also have many teams, and/or athletes that voluntarily meet with character coaches throughout their seasons.
The other area I am proud of is our facilities in general. Since I have been here as the AD we have replaced or added seven scoreboards, installed a stadium irrigation system, upgraded both our indoor and outdoor sound systems, plus many other items along the way. I strive to give our community and athletes the best experience we can.
CSZ:What do you enjoy most about your job?
TM:What I enjoy most about my job is the daily interactions with our student-athletes, staff and community members. I am actively involved in many areas of our community outside of school and it's nice to see many players, parents, community members and alumni outside the walls of our school. I also joke about "living at school" which I pretty much do, and based on my personality, I am always thinking of what needs to be done or addressed next.
I love my job and the time commitment it requires.
CSZ:Westminster was a longtime member of the MVAL Conference, which disbanded last summer. How did that make things different for Westminster Athletics this past year?
TM:The history we had with the MVAL, plus when it was decided our county schools would be leaving the league, has pluses and minuses as for how it affects Westminster. Being a large school, we still compete against many of the same schools from our neighboring counties as we did before we left the league. It has not majorly altered anything we do here.
CSZ:What's the sports culture like at Westminster?
TM:The sports culture at Westminster is what I would describe as intense and honest. Our kids and coaching staff are extremely committed year in and year out to the success of all our programs. They all work diligently, even in the off-season to seek improvement in their game.
We preach character and honesty, along with many other traits, and hope our athletes leave here thinking that they experienced a first class experience that they will go on to share with others along the way.
| July 12th, 2016 | By: Wick Eisenberg |