Warsaw Hires Santa As Athletic Director
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth recommended the board approve the hiring of Joe Santa as WCHS Athletic Director, and later announced that interviews for the varsity football position would begin today.[[In-content Ad]]The seven-member board voted unanimously to hire Santa, the current athletic director at Huntington North High School. Santa will replace Dave Fulkerson, who will step down June 30 after 27 years at WCHS.
"It was a very hard decision, but we're very excited Mr. Santa is going to work for our school corporation," said board member Tammy Dalton.
There were 24 applicants for the position, seven of which were interviewed.
"We're very excited," Haworth said of Santa joining the staff at WCHS. "It was a difficult process to go through, and having gone through that process, it was evident that Joe had the skills we were looking for in a variety of areas."
Santa is in his 17th year at Huntington North, and in his time there, Viking teams have won 101 sectional championships and 17 regional and semistate championships. The baseball team was the state runner-up in 1993 and the girls basketball team won the state championship in 1995.
In his time at Huntington North, Santa saw five individual state champions and one mental attitude award winner.
Since 1991, more than 100 Huntington North athletes have been named All-State or to an All-Star team.
While Santa finishes his contract at Huntington North, Haworth said Santa also would work as closely as possible with WCHS while it tries to fill its current coaching openings.
Santa was not present at the meeting Monday, as he was out of town while Huntington North is on spring break, but did provide a prepared statement.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to work with the athletes, coaches and parents, as well as the entire Warsaw community," wrote Santa. "The tradition is well established and I hope to be able to contribute many positive things over the years."
At Huntington North, Santa developed the Student Athletic Board, a group of more than 50 students dedicated to providing leadership and service in the Huntington School Corporation and in the community.
Santa also played a major role in the planning and building of Huntington North's state-of-the-art fieldhouse.
Leaving one sports-crazy community for another, Santa said he has always been impressed with the athletic program at WCHS.
"In the 17 years I have been at Huntington North, I have always been impressed with the quality of the athletic programs at Warsaw," Santa wrote in his statement. "It is a reflection of a well-run program with outstanding student-athletes and coaches. The fan support has been fantastic and a benefit to the teams."
Santa also had high praise for the man he will replace at WCHS.
"Dave Fulkerson was one of my mentors when I first entered the athletic administration field," said Santa. "He and I have had a great working relationship and our two schools have been involved in competition as well as sharing events throughout the years. I am looking forward to being able to work with him at Warsaw."
Fulkerson will work with the school system next year as an associate athletic director.
"Joe Santa is a very strong people person," Fulkerson said in a phone interview this morning. "The selection committee could not have hired a more outstanding individual than Joe Santa. The selection committee should be congratulated. They hired an outstanding individual. Joe Santa is very familiar with the athletic program at WCHS. He's been at Huntington North for 17 years, and we've played them in the regular season and in tournaments. I think Joe Santa will come here and fit in right away."
Santa graduated from Ball State University in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education. He graduated from Western Illinois University in 1985 with a master's degree in physical education, and, in 2001, he received his Secondary School Adminstraition Certification at IPFW.
Prior to working at Huntington North, Santa was the athletic director at Fort Wayne Canterbury from 1988 to 1991.
As for the football coaching position, Haworth said he could have a name to give to the board before spring break, which starts Monday.
Delores Hearn, Chuck Sauders, Gene England, Deb Wiggins, Dan Robinson, Tammy Dalton and Ron Yeiter make up the seven-person board.
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Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth recommended the board approve the hiring of Joe Santa as WCHS Athletic Director, and later announced that interviews for the varsity football position would begin today.[[In-content Ad]]The seven-member board voted unanimously to hire Santa, the current athletic director at Huntington North High School. Santa will replace Dave Fulkerson, who will step down June 30 after 27 years at WCHS.
"It was a very hard decision, but we're very excited Mr. Santa is going to work for our school corporation," said board member Tammy Dalton.
There were 24 applicants for the position, seven of which were interviewed.
"We're very excited," Haworth said of Santa joining the staff at WCHS. "It was a difficult process to go through, and having gone through that process, it was evident that Joe had the skills we were looking for in a variety of areas."
Santa is in his 17th year at Huntington North, and in his time there, Viking teams have won 101 sectional championships and 17 regional and semistate championships. The baseball team was the state runner-up in 1993 and the girls basketball team won the state championship in 1995.
In his time at Huntington North, Santa saw five individual state champions and one mental attitude award winner.
Since 1991, more than 100 Huntington North athletes have been named All-State or to an All-Star team.
While Santa finishes his contract at Huntington North, Haworth said Santa also would work as closely as possible with WCHS while it tries to fill its current coaching openings.
Santa was not present at the meeting Monday, as he was out of town while Huntington North is on spring break, but did provide a prepared statement.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to work with the athletes, coaches and parents, as well as the entire Warsaw community," wrote Santa. "The tradition is well established and I hope to be able to contribute many positive things over the years."
At Huntington North, Santa developed the Student Athletic Board, a group of more than 50 students dedicated to providing leadership and service in the Huntington School Corporation and in the community.
Santa also played a major role in the planning and building of Huntington North's state-of-the-art fieldhouse.
Leaving one sports-crazy community for another, Santa said he has always been impressed with the athletic program at WCHS.
"In the 17 years I have been at Huntington North, I have always been impressed with the quality of the athletic programs at Warsaw," Santa wrote in his statement. "It is a reflection of a well-run program with outstanding student-athletes and coaches. The fan support has been fantastic and a benefit to the teams."
Santa also had high praise for the man he will replace at WCHS.
"Dave Fulkerson was one of my mentors when I first entered the athletic administration field," said Santa. "He and I have had a great working relationship and our two schools have been involved in competition as well as sharing events throughout the years. I am looking forward to being able to work with him at Warsaw."
Fulkerson will work with the school system next year as an associate athletic director.
"Joe Santa is a very strong people person," Fulkerson said in a phone interview this morning. "The selection committee could not have hired a more outstanding individual than Joe Santa. The selection committee should be congratulated. They hired an outstanding individual. Joe Santa is very familiar with the athletic program at WCHS. He's been at Huntington North for 17 years, and we've played them in the regular season and in tournaments. I think Joe Santa will come here and fit in right away."
Santa graduated from Ball State University in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education. He graduated from Western Illinois University in 1985 with a master's degree in physical education, and, in 2001, he received his Secondary School Adminstraition Certification at IPFW.
Prior to working at Huntington North, Santa was the athletic director at Fort Wayne Canterbury from 1988 to 1991.
As for the football coaching position, Haworth said he could have a name to give to the board before spring break, which starts Monday.
Delores Hearn, Chuck Sauders, Gene England, Deb Wiggins, Dan Robinson, Tammy Dalton and Ron Yeiter make up the seven-person board.
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