Kason Mattes
Staff Writer
@mon3ymattesqu
An athletic director's job involves a lot more than just showing up for games and cheering. From managing budgets and schedules to handling upset parents and hiring coaches, it's an all-consuming role that shapes a school's entire sports program. So what's it really like behind the scenes? Our school's athletic director gave us the inside scoop on the pressures, the highlights, and the endless list of tasks that go into keeping all our teams on the field.
To get the inside scoop on the high-pressure world of high school athletics, Head Athletic Director Mike Craig gave us the inner workings of being a part of the Athletic Director's Team.
The first thing that hits you is the schedule. It's not a normal 9-to-5. Mike Craig is responsible for every single sport, every single season. That means checking bus schedules at 8 a.m. and still being at the winter sports celebration at 7 p.m.
When asked for a rundown of what he does, Mike said, “I schedule games, officials, transportation, evaluate coaches, develop handbooks, work with the Mid Penn Conference, and PIAA District.”
Great power comes with great responsibility as an Athletic Director. There is always going to be pressure and expectations coming from the parents, players, students, alumni, and community who are often heavily invested in the success of the teams at CV.
“You try to always handle things fairly and always try to make your decisions that are in the best interest of our athletes that put in work on our teams,” Craig said.
Craig has encountered a spectrum of hardships in his role, but one stands out more than the rest: “Handling the death of an athlete.”
In the end, being an athletic director is about a lot more than just sports—it's about leadership, commitment, and heart. Mike Craig showed us that behind every game, practice, and team victory is a mountain of behind-the-scenes work and tough decisions. From long hours and high expectations to emotional challenges and community pressure, the role is anything but easy. But through it all, Craig stays focused on what matters most: doing what's best for the student-athletes. It’s clear that the success of CV's sports programs isn’t just about talent on the field—it's also about the dedication behind the scenes.