Zach Hatton

Son of God and a Student of the game. Former D3 catching coach. Current Assistant High School baseball coach

[Trost @TrustTrost]

High school athletic directors.

Within five minutes, I can usually tell the great ones and the bums.

But regardless of where they fall on that spectrum, almost all of them have one thing in common:

They're overworked and their departments are severely understaffed.

Think about it.

Many high schools have 35-45 sports and activities under one department umbrella.

Most have multiple levels.

That's 2,000-3,000 students, 1,500-2,500 events a school year (not including summer, offseason training and don’t forget overtime and weather delays), countless (pain-in-the-ass) parents, coaches (some great, some young, stubborn and dumb), game officials (showing up late or asking about payment), transportation (bus drivers lost), trainers, facilities (how many ADs are working on fields during the spring?), weather reschedules, scheduling conflicts and community expectations.

And that’s just the start.

We're asking one full-time athletic director and one 40-hour administrative assistant to manage it all?

Oh that’s right, they get a stipend assistant AD to help half the time.

Here’s what is truly comical: Some ADs are even forced to teach classes on top of it.

That's not a joke. That's reality.

High school athletic departments aren't rec leagues.

They're million-dollar nonprofits. They're communications departments. They're marketing departments. They're event management companies. They're community engagement engines. They're often the most visible part of a school district 365 days a year.

Yet many are staffed like it's 1956.

As June begins and school leaders finally get a chance to catch their breath, school boards should be asking a simple question:

Are we investing in the people who make our athletic departments shine?

Instead of another flashy scoreboard or cosmetic project, what would happen if those dollars went toward staffing, communications, operations or student-athlete self-care support?

The mental exhaustion in education is real.

Athletic directors carry more of it than most people realize.

It's time we start treating high school athletic departments like the businesses they've become instead of the hobby departments many still think they are.

#MoreThanJUSTGames #IHSA

[Coach Mitch @CoachMitch_2]

I got denied a head coaching job because they said my practice plans “seemed” too basic for the level that i applied for. Meanwhile my plan mirrored a certain big east program that had literally JUST won a national championship lol. Clueless ppl in power is hilarious

[Zach Hatton @Coach_Hatton44]

If you are celebrating someone’s death today, then you are absolutely the problem.

[Zach Hatton @Coach_Hatton44]

Don’t let the media make your opinion on this speech. If standing with god offends you, sorry.

[Kristan Hawkins @KristanHawkins]

Two things.

1. Stand with Harrison Butker who spoke up so courageously in a culture that condemns Catholic & conservative values.

2. Share his FULL speech, so the left can’t edit it in a way to fit their agenda & attack Butker.

[SJ-R Sports @SJRsports]

Southeast's baseball team finds successful approach at the plate https://t.co/YalX8wq4U2

[Baseball King @BasebaIlKing]

Somebody needs to hear this

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

“Everybody wants to be the beast but everybody doesn’t want to do what the beast does,” Nick Saban
🎥 @SupremeLending

[Going Yard Legacy Series @gyardlegacy]

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
- Ron Washington

[Sports Spectrum @Sports_Spectrum]

Congrats Jackson Holliday on being called up to the Big Leagues. Keep shining for Christ.

[Zach Hatton @Coach_Hatton44]

A Southeast High School legend

[Derek Parris @DerekParris]

Southeast basketball head coach Lawrence Thomas has announced his retirement.

More to come on @Channel1450com with @JimRup1450

[Zach Hatton @Coach_Hatton44]

Jesus has risen. God bless and Happy Easter.

[Bleacher Report @BleacherReport]

"I know I'm not going to the NBA, [but] I can compete with those type of guys."

Jack Gohlke showed up and dropped 10 THREES in upset win vs. Kentucky 👏 https://t.co/Px3cpaFgSt

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

“Discipline is knowing what you’re supposed to do, when you’re supposed to do it, the way it’s supposed to get done. Do the right thing, the right way all the time. Self discipline, there’s something I’m supposed to do that I really don’t want to do, can you make yourself do it?” Nick Saban
There is a difference between what you want and what you are willing to do.

[IC Athletics @IC_Athletics]

Here is the courtside view of Josh Harris' 3pt. field goal at the buzzer.

#GoBlueboys #ICAthletics @BlueboysHoops

[MLB Network @MLBNetwork]

"Whenever I'm in St. Louis it's always brought up - at least three times a day."

Former @Cardinals teammates @SSchumaker55 and @jonjayU, now members of the same @Marlins coaching staff, join #MLBTonight to talk about their memorable Postseason run in 2011. #MLBN15

[Baseball Quotes @BaseballQuotes1]

Deion Sanders says the hardest thing to do in sports is hitting a baseball

[Illinois College Baseball @BlueboyBaseball]

Mission Accomplished! Thank you to everyone who donated who helped IC Baseball sponsor an Angel Tree family!

#BlueboysBaseball

[Illinois College Baseball @BlueboyBaseball]

The 2023-2024 Illinois College Blueboys would like to extend an invitation to any Alumni, Friends, or Family to our final fall scrimmage this Friday. First pitch at 5:10 at the Future Champs Complex. Please like this post or contact one of our coaches if you plan to attend!

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

"Leaders take teams to a place that goes beyond talent.

Leaders create culture.

Culture drives behavior.

Behavior produces results.

Your team will perform this year based on the culture that your leaders build." @TimothyKight