By Dan Cardone

Dan Cardone is Athletic Director at North Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. He is a frequent contributor to Athletic Management.

Difference makers are people who follow through on their desires to take an athletic program in a forward direction. So who are these difference makers? They can be athletes, coaches, parents, administrative assistants, or administrators. They can also be maintenance and custodial staff members, booster club organizers—any group or person who helps the athletic department accomplish the goals that make a positive environment for those participating in interscholastic athletics. These individuals or groups are team players who, as we say here at North Hills, “row in the same direction.”

As an athletic director, I feel that it is my job to recognize, empower, and learn from these difference makers. In my last blog, I wrote about coaches and student-athletes as important cogs in the interscholastic athletic program. In this installment, I will be covering how the principal of a high school can become a difference maker in his or her role as it relates to sports.

As the number of sports programs in high schools have grown over the past 30 years, the responsibilities of the athletic director have also expanded. The wise principal will take an active interest in athletics, as there are a large number of students who are also athletes.

With the start of a new school year, the fall teams play a role. Having an outstanding football or soccer team can lead to a positive feeling throughout the school. A good principal will play on this momentum by allowing school spirit to grow. In the state of Pennsylvania, the high school principal is in charge of the interscholastic athletic program.

What other contributions can the high school principal bring that can be a major boost to the school and the athletic program? One that comes to mind is during the hiring process. During an interview with a potential coach, asking questions to the candidate about his or her willingness to contribute beyond the school day is key. Hiring coaches who are teachers can have a big impact on school discipline—coaches not only preach working hard academically, they encourage the athletes to be good role models in school.

Another way the principal can be a contributor to athletics is by attending athletic events. The team knows when the principal is present, and they are appreciative of the support. Our principal stands in the hallway between classes, and will often congratulate a player who had an outstanding performance.

The principal can also help keep the athletic department on track by directing parental complaints to individual coaches. An established chain of command sends the problem to the parties that are directly involved. A parent who is concerned about playing time may disguise the issue by trying to circumvent established procedures.

Having the leader of the high school appreciate the efforts of those involved in sports is a huge boost. It means they understand the value of participation in interscholastic athletics. Student-athletes tend to be leaders off the field in a positive way. Those involved miss school less, are less likely to be in trouble, and gain valuable lessons in life that cannot be taught in the classroom setting.

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