By Susan Bromley

Staff Writer

Brandon Twp.-The path that led Chris Deines to being named the new Brandon athletic director included time in an airport prior to his honeymoon flight.

Deines, who was unanimously approved as the district’s new AD at the July 18 board of education meeting, was newly wed to wife Danielle in 2012 and was signing her up for insurance benefits at Durand Area Schools, where he had been a physical education and health teacher for six years, when employees asked if he was going to apply for the Durand athletic director position. He responded that he was about to leave on his honeymoon.

The next day, sitting in the airport waiting for a flight to Las Vegas, he applied, setting a course he had not planned on. When the couple arrived back in the U.S. from the second leg of their honeymoon in Jamaica, he had a scheduled interview. Only hours after that interview, he had the Durand job and now, four years later, he is about to arrive in Brandon, feeling both nervous and excited.

“I’m really looking forward to establishing and building new relationships in the community of Brandon,” said Deines. “The toughest thing for me is in Durand, I had every student in my class at one point, I knew them all by first name. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone here and building those relationships and helping coaches and teams get to the next level of greatness.”

While it was easier to learn the names in Durand, a small class B district, with 460 students at the high school, compared to Brandon, where that number is currently more than double at 984, the challenge of a larger school district is what inspired Deines to apply here.

He was not alone. Superintendent Matt Outlaw said the district had 91 applicants for the position after Don Watchowski resigned last month to become AD in Royal Oak.

“I was extremely pleased with the pool of applicants for the position,” said Superintendent Matt Outlaw. “In my career, I have been part of hiring four athletic directors and have never had a stronger pool. I think that people see the potential here and want to be part of taking our athletic department to the next level.”

From the 91 applicants, 28 were chosen to be interviewed in round 1, including 14 current athletic directors in other districts, and eight teachers and/or coaches in the Brandon district. Round two narrowed the field to seven candidates and more in-depth screening, before three finalists were chosen, and Deines was ultimately selected.

“I believe that Chris is exactly what the athletic department needs to continue moving forward,” Outlaw said. “Chris understands what it takes to be a successful coach and to have a highly successful athletic department. I look forward to great things from Chris.”

Deines earned his bachelor of science degree in education from Grand Valley State University in 2004 and a master’s degree in teaching from Marygrove College in 2010. He taught physical education and health at Durand for seven years, coached varsity baseball and football there, and besides athletic director since 2012, was also serving as community enrichment director. In that capacity, he has worked to connect community youth programs with the district’s middle school and high school athletics, something Outlaw has said is an extremely high priority for Brandon.

To build those connections, Deines brainstormed with coaches and they came up with the idea to offer free clinics to kindergarten through sixth grade students prior to the start of football and basketball seasons, which has been very effective and which he hopes to implement here.

“The kids come in for a few hours and learn about the sports and have some fun,” said Deines. “The coaches offer some free time with it being a no-pressure, introductory type thing for the kids. It’s a way for first and second graders to see high school athletes up close and personal, too.”

Deines’ philosophy on high school athletics is that it is an educational extension of the classroom, a chance for students to be well-rounded physically and mentally.

“It’s another opportunity for kids to compete and challenge one another,” he said. “You learn a lot of life lessons on an athletic field— teamwork, self-disclipline, responsibility, accountability, and of course, winning and losing with class and integrity. I’ve never been one to say we will win at all costs. I believe in playing within the rules of the game and being the best possible team or individual you can be. Success breeds success and we want to go from good to great.”

Deines, who is married to Danielle and the father of Hadlee, almost 3, and Brodie, 7-weeks-old, is scheduled to officially start as Brandon athletic director Aug. 8.