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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Wes Gall named MIAAA Athletic Director of the Year

Manchesterís Gall among 14 recognized by peers at MIAAAís Mid-Winter Conference

By Ed Patino, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: March 29, 2007

The way Wes Gall sees it, the key to running a successful athletic department is to have contributions from his staff, athletes and community.

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That explains why the Manchester High School athletic director was quick to share the credit while accepting his recent honor.

Gall was recently selected as one of 14 regional Athletic Directors of the Year by the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. He was recognized for the award March 19 at the MIAAA Mid-Winter Conference in Traverse City.

Along with the regional awards, the MIAAA honored four special service awards, including statewide Athletic Director of the Year, which was awarded to Karen Leinaar of Benzie Central.

"It's a great honor that my colleagues and peers feel I've accomplished the things needed to be done to earn that honor," Gall said. "When I was listening to the accomplishments of the other ADs, I was very honored to be in that class."

With the often hectic schedule that athletic directors face, Gall gives a lot of credit to his coaching staff and those who volunteer to help out at events throughout the year.

"We have a great support staff at Manchester with the coaches and boosters," he said. "This award is their's, too. They help me solve any problems as a group and have helped me along the way."

Gall began teaching in 1975 and still does today at Manchester High School. He has served as the school's athletic director for the past 12 years. Gall is also the head coach of Manchester's varsity football team. In addition, he has served as head coach for junior varsity football, baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball.

"I was coaching both football and softball when I first became athletic director," Gall said. "There were two days a week that I was gone, but I knew things would go fine because of the parents and coaches who served as contest managers. I had good people helping out."

Gall says that serving as athletic director and football coach in the fall is not too hard. Most girls' basketball games during the fall begin not long after Gall gets off the practice field with the football team.

Also lending a hand is Sandy Gordi, the secretary of the athletic department. Gall said Gordi plays a major role in keeping operations running smoothly.

"I can't do it without her," Gall said. "Sandy does a super job at getting things done."

Gall has won several coaching awards in football. He is a two-time winner of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year, earning the honor in 1993 and 2004. He was also the Associated Press Coach of the Year in 1993 and was the Ann Arbor News Coach of the Year in 1990.

Gall also takes an active role in the Manchester community. He has participated in many service activities, including Manchester youth basketball, youth baseball and softball, and the Manchester Athletic Boosters. Gall was involved in helping the boosters raise money for the Manchester Athletic Complex.

He also participates in the Manchester Chicken Broil, the town's major summer festival.

"We have a strong support base in Manchester," Gall said. "That includes parents, former students and athletes."

Gall was named the MIAAA's Athletic Director of the Year for Region 6, which covers Southeastern Michigan and schools from the Cascades Conference, the Southeastern Conference, the Big 8 Conference, the Lenawee County Athletic Association and the Tri-County Conference.

Jean Bell (Midland Dow) received the Jack Johnson Distinguished Service Award, while Fred Smith (Comstock) earned the George Lovich Award of Merit. The Special Recognition Award went to Carol Hulett of Mount Clemens.

Other regional Athletic Directors of the Year include Tim Hall (Region 1, Sault Area), Jim Kanine (Region 2, Charlevoix), Tim Genson (Region 3, Mason County Central), Bruce Foster (Region 4, Wyoming Kelloggsville), Don Knight (Region 5, Otsego), Ron Beegle (Region 7, Charlotte), Mike Thayer (Region 8, Merrill), Lorri Glidden (Region 9, Marlette), Jan Sander (Region 10, Warren Woods-Tower), Curt Ellis (Region 11, Novi), Bob Droop (Region 12, Garden City), Pete Donaldson (Region 13, Royal Oak Shrine) and Terri Clock (Region 14, Muskegon Bunker Hill Middle School).

The MIAAA is a 46-year old organization of nearly 700 members serving as athletic administrators in high schools and junior high/middle schools throughout Michigan. It partners with the Michigan High School Athletic Association to promote the educational value of interscholastic athletics, as well as the role and profession of the athletic director.

Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173 or epatino@heritage.com.