Courtright named AD of Year

FAIRFIELD - Athletic directors have complex jobs with procedures to follow, regulations to remember, schedules to arrange, transportation to prepare, budgets to manage, officials to employ, equipment to purchase, all while being responsible for the student-athlete.

There is an athletic director in Fairfield who excels at all of these things and more. Recognized by fellow ADs for his abilities, he was nominated and voted as the best in southeast Iowa. The Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association (IHSADA) named Jeff Courtright the Southeast District High School Athletic Director of the Year.

'I am honored that some of my peers and people that I get to work with felt that I was deserving of a nomination, and deserving of votes for this award,” Courtright said. 'The people that know me best know that I am really not that comfortable with this type of recognition.”

The attention from winning the award has Courtright wishing the focus would be on the 'students, staff members, parents and community members that I get to work with and serve on a daily basis. To be honest, I have learned so much from others that I feel strongly that there are many more deserving people for this type of recognition.”

Courtwright not only excels at the many functions required of an AD, he 'makes everyone around him better as he always wants the best for our staff and students,” said Brian Stone, Fairfield High School Principal. 'I couldn't think of an individual more deserving as he is always willing to give whatever it takes to make it the best situation for the Fairfield Community School District.”

The AD position involves a lot of time spent at school during the day and then at events in the evening. Courtright has to balance professional and personal responsibilities, which offers one of the job's greater obstacles.

'I am fortunate to have a very supportive network of family members, friends, community members, and peers that help tremendously with this challenge,” he said.

Despite the constraints on his time, FHS golf and basketball coach Mick Flattery said Courtright is 'really nice to work with. He allows me to have a lot of say in scheduling of basketball games and golf meets.”

Courtright is a 1989 graduate of Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Ill., a graduate of Northeast Missouri State University (now called Truman State) in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and in 1995 with a Master of Arts Degree in Education. His first job out of college in 1995 lasted until 2010 at FHS, when he became the Trojans AD.

'Jeff was a heck of a science teacher and wrestling coach,” Flattery said. 'Many, many students would tell you he was their favorite.”

One of the core values of the IHSADA is to be ‘Service Driven.' If an AD is modeling integrity and heart for the community, it will inspire others to embrace those qualities.

'Jeff has a passion for students and extracurricular activities,” Flattery said. 'He really wants to see the student-athlete be great at both and use those skills in everyday life as they move forward.”

Along with encouragement he received from peers and community members, Courtright said he applied for the AD position because of the 'challenges and servant leadership opportunities.”

A requirement of a servant mind-set is to not think less of self, but to think of self less.

'I like being able to serve and support the students, coaches, and sponsors of all of the school's activities,” Courtright said. 'To me, the various extracurriculars are more the same than they are different.”

A main satisfaction of the AD job is getting to be a part of a process that involves teams of people using their talents to try and achieve goals. Courtright sees that as a teaching process where valuable life lessons are learned resulting in better people. 'Jeff is definitely a positive role model in our community,” Flattery said.

'Mr. Courtright is one of the most genuine and caring individuals I've had the opportunity to work with,” Stone said.