By Susan Bromley

Staff Writer

Brandon Twp.- Don Watchowski has resigned as the district athletic director to take the same position in Royal Oak.

“It was a difficult professional decision,” said Watchowski. “Sometimes you make decisions based on what you believe is best for your family and the long-term.”

The Royal Oak Board of Education unanimously approved Watchowski as their new athletic director at a June 23 meeting, sealing the end of his tenure here, which began five years ago when he took over for Wayne Thompson, who returned to teaching.

Royal Oak is familiar ground for Watchowski. He was a high school and middle school teacher in the Royal Oak district from 2004-2008 and coached junior varsity basketball at Royal Oak High School from 2005-2008. He also had a stint in Birmingham, coaching varsity baseball at Seaholm High School from 2005-2010, teaching elementary students in the district from 2008-2010, and serving as an assistant principal intern and athletic director intern. For a year before coming to Brandon, he was an assistant principal/athletic director at Richmond High School.

During his time at Brandon, Watchowski said the athletic department and all of the programs have moved forward. He is proud of the cohesiveness and trust built between leadership and the coaching staff, teachers, athletes and the community.

“The foundation is set for really good growth and achievement over the next few years,” he said. “It takes a community to run an athletic department, continuing to support and trust one another. All parties have to work together for what is best for our kids to put them in a position to be successful, including parks and recreation programs, any of our club sports, travel sports, and middle school programs. Overall, I want to thank everyone for the support they have given

not only me, but the Brandon Athletic Department. One of the top strengths of this community is its people and ultimately, I am proud to have been a Blackhawk. I am a much better athletic director and person than I was five years ago and hope to continue with that moving forward.”

Watchowski’s last day in Brandon was June 30.

“He’s a big loss for the district,” said Superintendent Matt Outlaw. “He is an outstanding athletic director.”

Outlaw and Brandon High School Principal Dan Stevens are currently pre-screening about 26 of more than 70 applicants for the athletic director position. The candidates are very strong, said Outlaw, with several having experience as athletic directors, and others with great potential. There are a number of internal applicants. Large committee interviews are planned for July 12, and a recommendation will be made to the board of education at the end of that week, with approval of a candidate slated for the July 18 school board meeting.

“We are looking for someone that understands that athletics is an extension of the classroom,” said Outlaw. “Some of the most powerful lessons come from extra-curriculars. We are looking for someone who has successful experience coaching, for those with experience with administration, someone who is just the right fit for our team and that could come in a number of different packages. One of the areas that is a high priority, that Don was really working on, is developing youth through feeder programs, and building connections between school programs and recreation programs, from youth up through high school. That is a huge priority for us.”