Jim Cole Named Royal Oak High School Athletic Director/Assistant Principal

Royal Oak Schools announces the appointment of Jim Cole as Athletic Director/Assistant Principal at (ROHS). Cole replaces .

Working at ROHS will be a homecoming for Cole, who is a 1970 graduate of Royal Oak Kimball High School.

“I am extremely excited to join the team at Royal Oak High School," Cole said. "The opportunity to return home to work with the staff and student-athletes will be exciting and challenging. I hope to draw from the outstanding heritage of Royal Oak athletics to move the Raven program forward. It is an amazing school in a wonderful community!”

Parents and community members will have an opportunity to meet and welcome Cole at the Raven Rally Friday, Sept. 7, from 5 – 7 p.m. in the ROHS main courtyard.   

Cole earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College and a Master of Arts degree from Central Michigan University.  

His professional career includes six years of high school teaching and coaching and almost 30 years as a coach and teacher at Alma College. He has led both men and women’s teams in a variety of sports. For the past 20 years, Cole served as Alma College’s head football coach and was also athletic director for two years. His responsibilities included staff recruitment, development and evaluation, budgeting, fundraising, compliance monitoring, and, most significantly, supervising and supporting student academic achievement.  

 “Whenever we have a staff opening, our goal is to fill the opening in such a way as to move us forward,” said Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin. “With Jim Cole’s appointment, we are accomplishing this goal. Jim’s experience makes him a coach’s coach. He knows how to develop programs and people. Players and peers describe him as a person of exceptional character, integrity, and commitment."

The district received over 200 applications for this position. Two rounds of interviews were conducted, and a broad range of persons participated in the interview process, including a parent, high school principal, school board member, coach, athletic coordinator, and executive director of administrative services. The hiring decision was made by the Superintendent.

"I look forward to bringing Jim Cole into the administrative team at the high school," said Interim Principal Jim Moll said, “His level of experience is impressive, and I know the students and staff will benefit from his leadership."