Dexter Community Schools Hires Darren Kecskes as Athletic Director

After an exhaustive three-month search for a new athletic director, Darren Kecskes of Dearborn has been hired by Dexter Community Schools.

Kecskes was selected from a pool of 187 applicants to lead the district's athletics department, which was split from the Community Education Department earlier this year after .

"We're excited to have Darren on board and we're looking forward to utilizing his leadership and passion for student athletics in the district with the start of the fall sports season," Sean Burton, director of support services said. "(Kecskes') passion for athletics and his experience as a teacher, administrator and athletics director will be great assets for the district."

Kecskes is coming to Dexter from Huron High School in New Boston, where he served as the assistant principal. Prior to that, he worked in the athletics departments of several high schools and colleges around the state including Kalamazoo College and Olivet College.

Kecskes studied at Western Michigan University, where he received a bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's degree in athletics administration.

Since taking over the position, Kecskes said the first week on the job has mostly been "playing catch up."

"Right now I've been busy finalizing team schedules, meeting with coaches and athletes, and just getting adjusted to the program," he said. "In about a week I'll have a baseline to move forward and I will start looking at ways we can streamline the department for more efficiency."

One of his goals, Kecskes said, is to provide more continuing education for coaches.

"I'd like to have more opportunities for our coaches to attend the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Coaches Advancement Program. I've taken all the classes and I believe that everything it teaches trickles down and helps the kids out," he said.

Helping student athletes was Kecskes motivating factor for becoming an athletic director.

"I knew what I wanted to do with my career by the time I was 18," he said. "Athletics is about building relationships and helping kids be the most successful in their life."

To that end, Kecskes wants to reassure parents that although the district recently for the 2012 school year, he is working diligently on a proposal to help families with lower incomes pay for sports.

"We're looking at several different options to make athletics accessible to everyone," he said.

One proposal involves service scholarships. Parents can volunteer a certain number of hours at games in exchange for a participation fee waiver. In addition, a "Legacy League" is also being proposed to establish a scholarship fund low income families can apply for.

Kecskes said he also wants to open a dialogue with all of the district's varsity and club sports programs in order to create a "punch list" of issues to address in the coming year, including transitioning the district's uniform colors from maroon and gold to the official colors of maroon and white.

The department will also be launching a new website and Facebook page that Kecskes said will be easier for parents, students and community members to navigate. 

"We need to build a brand, but in order to do that, we need everyone on the same page and on a level playing field," he said. "Change is difficult but necessary and I think if everyone is doing what's best for the kids, then it will all work out."

What he's most excited about, Kecske said, is meeting his new students and community members.

"I look forward to meeting everyone at our games," he said.

For more information, visit www.dexterschools.org.