bcruikshank

Asst. Activities Director at Ankeny Centennial High School

[Jaguars AD @Jaguars_AD]

𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 🏅💪

Tate Duax - the 4A state boys soccer leader in goals, assists, and points - takes home the top individual award: 2026 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year.

📰 https://t.co/oowwlBQE3c

#GoJags

[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

[bcruikshank @bcruikshank3]

And I think trips to Mason City, Marshalltown and 3 trips to Sioux City will do some good for him and his team

[bcruikshank @bcruikshank3]

@RushMornings don’t let Brian Duax fool you this morning about his trip to Mason City. #1 team in the state goes up there and wins 10-0 in spite of their coach. He got on the wrong bus, illegally equipped his team and because he is a diva the field wasn’t up to usual standards.

[Rich Barton @RichfieldRich]

The AD position is the least understood position in a school district & unfortunately too often the least appreciated. Being the guardian of the school's front porch reputation is 1 of the most crucial positions in the building. The Coach of the Coaches has tremendous influence

[IAwrestle @IAwrestle]

Ankeny’s Lauren Watson just pulled off the improbable, as she pins 3x state champ Katie Biscoglia in the finals 🤯🤯🤯

#IAwrestle X #iahswr

[Chris Parker @chris_parker222]

**Giveaway**
@ParkerResources Daily Planner (digital version). Each of 365 pages has Tasks list, Daily Reflection, & tips/resources linked.

To enter, be following & RT/like this post.

See more or order here:
- Hard Copy https://t.co/13Qxx4FM8u
- Digital https://t.co/qHEl4VTMDE

[Jay Groth @ACjagswrestling]

Jaguar wrestler Cale Vandermark has signed with The Iowa State Cyclones. Congrats Cale.
Go Clones!

[Valley High School Athletics and Activities @vhstigers]

Congrats Kari on signing with Drake to play softball!!
@VHSTigerSB

[Matthewson’s Mini Helmets @mm_helmets]

#9 and my personal favorite. Wings from the Flying Herky logo cut out to add a winged look.

[Matthewson’s Mini Helmets @mm_helmets]

#8

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#7

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#6

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#5

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#4

[Matthewson’s Mini Helmets @mm_helmets]

9 alternates that were sent to us and we brought to life. Let us know your favorite!

#1

[Matthewson’s Mini Helmets @mm_helmets]

#2

Metallic silver with light great face mask .

[Matthewson’s Mini Helmets @mm_helmets]

Different spin on the Iowa script from 77’

[Jaguars AD @Jaguars_AD]

Jaguar Nation!

Please officially welcome Tristan Spears to the family! We are thrilled to have Tristan joining our office and can't wait to see the impact his skill set and passion will make here at Centennial!

#GoJags

[Matt Eichhorn @Eichhorn17]

Wrapped up a 65 hour work week. We hosted 25 high school level games in that time span.

I'm going to brag on the AD profession here for a minute. We work our asses off for our students & community. Most of the time at the expense of our own families. Excited to see mine tonight