Athletic Director Wants Kids to Learn Life Lessons

For the past two decades, Brian Gordon had a unique view of Royal Oak High School sports – from the baseball dugout.

But now his view has changed -- Gordon traded in his baseball coach duties to become the school's athletic director. To make sure he doesn't get bored, he's also the high school's assistant principal.

Taking over this summer, Gordon, who also did a stint as football coach at Kimball High School, feels like he inherited a rich sports program with plenty of potential and promise. And even after the varsity football team, the Royal Oak Ravens, finished the season without a win for the third year in a row, Gordon is maintaining optimism.

"We didn't have a very good year," Gordon said. "We struggled in a variety of different areas, more specifically our ability to compete.  And as a program we are working to get better in that area. But that will come with time." 

Gordon declined to discuss the season further. He's also supervisor of the middle school athletic programs, so he has plenty to keep him busy.

"I refer to myself as 'the big coach'," he said. "I'm responsible for all the personnel, all of the scheduling, facilities, the transportation and more. It is imperative I follow all of the MHSAA regulations and NCAA guidelines."

More so, Gordon is responsible for the direction of each sports program, so the coaching life of each coach is in his hands as well. He may have the head title of the athletic department but he performs tasks from the menial to the most responsible.

"All the hiring and all the firing," he explained. "All the evaluations of coaches, all of the equipment purchasing and inventorying – I provide direction for the department itself in terms of philosophy. And I represent the school at all of the Oakland Athletics Association (OAA) and MHSAA meetings to make sure we are following all of the guidelines. The list is endless."

In taking over the entire athletic program, Gordon has one main goal in mind – competing.

"I want to try to put on each and every playing surface – no matter if it's the pool, the football field the baseball or wherever. We want to put a competitive product where kids compete each and every day and life lessons are being learned."

And Gordon sees athletics not as an extracurricular activity but one that works with education as a co-curricular activity. Both offer teaching opportunities, he said. 

"I see athletics as an extension of the classroom," he explained. "I want the best kids to be a part of our program. Kids who are good citizens in the classroom and leaders outside of the classroom."

In doing so, Gordon wants Royal Oak High School athletics to be a model.

"I want other schools to look to us for guidance and I want them to look to us for support," he explained. "It's my goal for us to be one of the most competitive schools in the county, if not in the state."

And when he talks about winning, he means on the field and off.

"As a program, we're working to get better in (certain) areas. But we want to have a program where our kids succeed in sports, but especially in the classroom."