OCTOBER 15, 2009 ISSUE
Wright to Succeed Link as Watauga High School Athletic Director
Outside of Jeff Link’s Watauga High School office are two wire baskets: one serves as an inbox for administrative papers and the other for athletic papers.
Soon, Link will be able to put the athletic inbox in his outbox.
Link, who took over some assistant principal duties at Watauga High School this school year, will move into that role on a full-time basis, with Tom Wright assuming the athletic director’s job for the Pioneers.
“We can’t put a date on the transition,” Link said. “But, in essence, it has already started.”
Wright, who moved to the school in 1995, has already started working with Link on his new position. Wright has been the girls basketball coach, assistant boys basketball and football coach, physical education teacher and assistant principal during his time at the high school.
“To have this come up, it’s an exciting opportunity, but it wasn’t really a career goal,” Wright said. “I’m sure I’ll miss the direct contact with the students but I’ll still be involved by going to the athletic events and seeing and speaking to them there. It won’t be like I’m completely isolated.”
A resignation of another assistant principal opened the door for Link to move into that spot. Wright will switch over to permanent athletic director duties as soon as a physical education teacher can be hired to take his place.
Wright said he is looking forward to making the transition and it should be smooth.
“I think I have an advantage [by knowing the community] but there are a lot of things about the job that I’ll lean on Coach Link for,” Wright said. “I’m thankful that he’ll be around and can help me out.”
“I’m not going to be 20 miles away, but just right down the hall,” Link said. “The whole time I’ve been in education, I’ve been involved in athletics. It’s going to be tough to step away. I’ll still be going to games.”
Link, who took over as the athletic director in June 2008, said the opportunity to become an assistant principal was another step in his career goals. He had already finished a masters degree in school administration.
Link said that in his new role, he’ll be in charge of buildings and grounds, parking, buses, clubs, school safety and some discipline of students.
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