By Dr. David Hoch

David Hoch, EdD, is Athletic Director at Loch Raven High School in Baltimore County, Md., and a 2009 regional finalist for the NASPE Athletic Director of the Year award. He can be reached at: dhoch@bcps.org.

In November, our high school experienced a very special moment. Both the Loch Raven High School girls' and boys' soccer teams won state championships within two hours of each other at the same venue.

This was the first time that any of the 24 high schools in Baltimore County achieved the soccer double, and only the seventh time in Maryland history. While we might have been a slight favorite in the girls' match, we were definitely the underdog in the boys' contest, playing the four-time defending state champions.

Needless to say, it was a unique celebration for the school--and for me as Athletic Director. It's rare enough to win one state championship in any sport!

In fact, winning a state title can be a once in a lifetime occurrence for many coaches and athletic directors. And that can lead to some uncertainty: What exactly is our role when one of our teams hoists a trophy? Are there unique tasks to take on after a championship season?

Postgame Cheer
The very first duty any athletic administrator must tackle in this situation is to thoroughly enjoy the celebration. Let the cheers out or the tears fall--enjoy whatever emotions hit you.

But then what do you do? It has always been my philosophy that athletics should be all about the kids and coaches, so I made sure they stood center stage throughout the speeches and photos. However, I did take a moment after the coaches finished their comments to share my congratulations:

• I told team members I was proud of them and they should enjoy the experience. They had created a lifetime memory.

• I thanked them for representing the school in an exemplary fashion. Winning without class doesn't mean much, and they won while displaying great sportsmanship and teamwork.

• I asked the players to please thank their coaches for all of their efforts this season.

Back in school on Monday, we had requests from newspapers for background information and coaching contact information. Next, I had to order a few extra individual plaques for the players, and of course our two championship banners for the gym.

Another duty to take care of was the purchasing of jackets, which has been our longtime tradition for any team that wins a state championship. But the economic downturn and two championships in one day provoked the question: Where do we find the money? How do we justify this expense when budgets are so tight?

The solution was to see if the cost could be divided up. A polite request to the booster club got everything started and then we looked at the soccer teams' fundraising accounts and our gate receipt account to piece together the rest of the necessary funds. The players got their jackets without jeopardizing any academic initiatives.

While we did make a school-wide announcement highlighting the two championships Monday morning, there was no special assembly or parade. Why? Our philosophy is that every accomplishment by a student at Loch Raven is important and should be treated with equal respect.

Also in the fall, several students brought home honors from a student United Nations competition, others progressed from local through national competition in public speaking, and many earned academic recognition. These students were not lauded with any special celebrations, and sports is not more important than any other activity.

While enjoying the celebratory atmosphere, I also had to get back to the everyday business of running the athletic program. I needed to check the eligibility of our winter athletes, schedule team photos, and mentor some of our young coaches. I may have been walking around with a lilt in my step, but I didn't slow down--all our other teams couldn't be ignored.

Philosophy Check-In
When I did finally have some time to breathe, I made sure to reflect on the success of our teams. And the first thing I thought about was whether we remained true to our philosophy while on our championship journeys. When teams are successful, sometimes winning becomes most important. I wanted to make sure we hadn't gone down the wrong path.

At Loch Raven, we use the following three questions to determine success:

• Did the athletes learn and improve throughout the season? This refers to more than sport-specific skills and should include life lessons.

• Did the players have a memorable experience? Did they enjoy being on the team, work hard toward a common goal, and develop camaraderie with their teammates and coaches?

• Did the athletes and team represent our school in a positive manner? This means that they exhibit sportsmanship, are good citizens, and serve as positive role models and ambassadors for our school.

I was able to answer "yes" to all three questions with utmost confidence. If we don't achieve our primary goals, the state title isn't worth as much now or in the future.

In going through this mental exercise, I was reminded of an interview I conducted with a coaching candidate for another sport. As part of several answers to questions, this coach repeated, "I'm here to win a state championship for you." But he never mentioned how he would help our players or guide them to become better people. He was not hired.

Another part of our philosophy is to encourage multi-sport participation among our student-athletes. On the Monday after the state championships, it was great to see many of the soccer stars trying out for winter sports teams. For example, our all-state girls' goalie (who will play at the University of Virginia) was at basketball practice, eager to go.

A Pat on the Back
A final aspect of my reflection was to think about my role in building the team. As mentioned previously, I never want to take center stage as athletic director. However, we need to pat ourselves on the back every once in a while. I felt good about:

• Putting both coaching staffs together. Our coaches are hired based on a solid education-based philosophy. They not only prepare our athletes for competition, but they also instill sound values of citizenship and teach life-long lessons.

• Creating a game schedule that allowed our teams to learn, improve, and develop to their potential. Our coaches wanted challenging games early in the season, even if it meant more losses, so our players had the opportunity to see what it took to succeed against tough competition.

• The support and encouragement I provide for all the coaches. Frustrations, problems, and concerns pop up and I always try to be there for them, whether they need solid solutions or just to vent.

• The mentoring and guidance I provide coaches. During our staff meetings, throughout conversations, and with frequent e-mails, I constantly emphasize our desired educational philosophy.

• Taking care of the many necessary details for the season to progress. This includes all the unnoticed particulars such as scheduling buses, field maintenance, team photos, verifying the eligibility of the athletes, and so on.

The double championship day was exciting, exhilarating, and a lot of fun. I enjoyed the emotion and the enthusiasm. But I know the real rewards are in running an athletic department with a strong philosophy and attention to detail. The great news is that education and winning can go together.