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In order to fit the position into the budget, the county's new athletic director also will have to work two nights a week as an assistant principal.
By JAMAL THALJI
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 29, 2001
Kit Broadbelt was never the county athletic director in word, but in deed.
The official title didn't exist in Pasco County. But the essence of the job did, and Broadbelt fulfilled those duties for seven years under the title of supervisor of county athletics, working in the curriculum and instructional services office.
But overseeing the county's athletic programs and facilities was only one of many duties. Broadbelt also oversaw the county's physical education, driver's ed and Junior ROTC programs.
When Broadbelt moved to that position after 11 years as an assistant principal at Land O'Lakes, he did so knowing one day his athletic responsibilities would be split off into a separate job.
Now after years of anticipation, Broadbelt's job has been split into two.
Finally, the county is looking for a true athletic director.
But it won't be Broadbelt.
He has decided the new job, as defined by the Pasco County School District, isn't right for him.
The school system has decided the athletic director's position is only a three-day-a-week job. The other two workdays are actually nights, to be spent as an assistant principal at Marchman Technical Education Center.
The county AD will be based there, in New Port Richey, rather than at the main school district office in Land O'Lakes, where Broadbelt works.
The composition of the new position raises three key issues:
Is it really just a three-day-a-week job?
How difficult will it be for the future AD, working three days and two nights, to find time to attend athletic events?
And has this arrangement made it a less attractive job to potential candidates?
Broadbelt had his choice of the two jobs and opted for the position overseeing physical education, driver's ed and Junior ROTC. "I had kind of defined myself as the athletic person for the county," Broadbelt said. "I really think the potential is there for me to do some things new in an area that has not received as much attention in the past.
"So I'm staying in curriculum and instruction, and I couldn't be more excited."
Would Broadbelt have assumed the duties of the county athletic director if two nights a week weren't dedicated to being Marchman's assistant principal? Broadbelt put it this way: It won't exactly help the new athletic director.
"It does become a nighttime position, and there's no getting around that," Broadbelt said. "I definitely feel you have to be at games to have any credibility with the coaches.
"I think this does cast you in a role where you would be out a good number of nights a week."
Broadbelt spent those nights at stadiums, fields and gyms across the county; but on his own time. Even if the county's new athletic director wants to do that, finding the time is another matter. "That's a real tough question," Broadbelt said. "I can tell you the hours I spent in this (job) meant I had to work weekends and nights.
"The thing about athletics was it's always right now. The things that were going on mandated you address your immediate attention to athletics. It's something that has to be addressed, but there's only so many hours in the day."
Bob Dorn, administrative assistant for secondary, adult and alternative schools, said the new position can work. After all, working days and nights is nothing new to the school district's administrators.
"We have a number of people who work at night," he said. "When you're an administrator, you are no longer an 8 to 3:30 person per se.
"I don't think the evening aspect will preclude someone from wanting to do it."
The new jobs were approved by the school board in June. But they wouldn't have become a reality, Dorn said, unless the school district tied the county athletic director's job to Marchman.
It was the only way the school budget could allow the creation of a new administrative position, and the district believed the time was right.
"It has been too much for one person to accomplish," Dorn said. "Some things got more emphasis, and some things got less emphasis at times."
The position's salary will range from $50,000 to $70,000, depending on the administrator's level of experience.
Whoever gets the job also must have educational leadership certification and have taken the Florida Educational Leadership Exam, all required to be an assistant principal.
Dorn said the job schedule is flexible enough that the new county athletic director will be able to juggle three days and two nights of work and carry out both functions.
"As far as the district is concerned, we're gaining," Dorn said.
"The days will change as needed. There are certain nights when classes need to be covered, and one doesn't need to go to every athletic event."
The cut-off date for applications was June 29, but Dorn has the option of re-opening the application period.
Only three have applied: Hudson athletic director and volleyball coach Linda McQuade, Gulf assistant principal Thomas Brochu and Michael Pursley, a physical education teacher at Eisenhower Middle School in Hillsborough County.
Pursley recently obtained a master's degree in science and educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
But other potential candidates didn't apply.
"I thought about it," River Ridge athletic director and baseball coach Jack Homko said. "I just couldn't see myself being home very often. Not to mention I don't want to get out of coaching yet.
"It's just a tough situation. When you're going to work two nights a week as an assistant principal and then going to athletic events as well, that person is going to be out an awful lot of time.
"I understand dollars and cents. I know why things happen because (of budgetary concerns), and I know because of the way they set (the job) up, that not too many people decided to go for it."
The role of spectator isn't in the county athletic director's official job description. But many consider it an important, if unofficial, function.
High school athletic directors often have to attend athletic events at their own schools out of sheer necessity. But Homko said he tries to go above and beyond and attend events even when his presence isn't required. Even during baseball season, when he's coaching.
"As the athletic director at River Ridge, it doesn't say I have to go to athletic events," he said. "But I try to attend several home events every night. What really kills me is during the spring and I can't get to softball games and during Fridays I don't get to see track.
"I think the kids like it. They want to see who's in charge, and I think the county people like that as well."
As did Broadbelt.
"I felt, from my perspective, it certainly is important to be out there and see these coaches in their realms," he said. "You can't operate this position from an office realm.
"If you do that, you lose a lot of credibility."
But to Dorn, the most important factor to consider is this: The new arrangement is better than the old.
"I think it depends on how you look at it," he said. "We have had a job that has had curriculum and athletic aspects, and we had one person doing all that.
"Now we have one person focusing on one aspect and one person who is able to focus on the athletic part."