Sports

Conversation with Mr. Hanson

By Colin Funtleyder FOCUS interviewed Stewart Hanson, the current interim Athletic Director, who comes to Blind Brook with decades of experience. Mr. Hanson presently has a contract through the end of the school year, June 2022. At that point the district will either offer Mr. Hanson a longer contract, or decide to hire a new athletic director, which would be the fourth in two years. In this interview Mr. Hanson discusses how he became an athletic director, what changes he is proposing for Blind Brook’s athletics, and his future at Blind Brook.

Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like? How did that impact you becoming an Athletic Director?

“I grew up in the Bronx playing baseball, in the nineteen sixties, everyone played baseball and it had an impact on me. I love athletics, I love the thrill of competing, and I always wanted to follow that dream. I wanted to play baseball. My father taught me, I must have an alternative plan. He supported me through my desire to play baseball, in both high school and college. He also said, ‘What do you want to do otherwise?’ I thought of that and I took up a degree in physical education. I wanted to teach and coach, and once my kids were grown, I had more time to devote to my career, and I then received my first opportunity to become an athletic director in Middletown, New York.”

Up to this point, what has been your favorite thing at Blind Brook so far?

“My favorite thing has been how welcoming the students have been. The community has reached out, shaking my hand, I get the sense that the community is happy for me to be here. I love going to the games. I enjoy watching the students win and then seeing how they handle the adversity of losing. Because in life that’s part of athletics that is such a great reflection of life because, you know, you don’t always win. I have gone on interviews and you don’t get the job and you know, it’s part of the game in the sense that you don’t always win the game. And it’s ok to lose, and it’s how you deal with that adversity. I enjoy going to the games and it’s just the best time in the day for me watching you. And I like going to the practices as well, just being out of the office and out of this chair.”

Where do you think the school/ athletic department needs to improve?

“I would say that the structure of the department needs to be examined. It seems the coaches are terrific. They really work hard for the students. I’ve come to respect them already in the two months I’ve watched them at practices and games. We have some veteran coaches here and they really go above and beyond for the students. So I would say the structure of the department outside of the coaching, administratively. I’d like to tighten up some of the structures, some of the processes, the procedures.”

How would you solve the previously mentioned concerns?

“There are some procedures and processes that are either in place and need to be finetuned, or need to be reexamined and completely reworked. I’m in the process of doing some of those right now. It really is more of an administrative thing. With the

Photo Courtesy of Stewart Hanson

the coaches, the coaches do a fine job. Some of the structures have to be reexamined.”

Will you continue to be Blind Brook’s AD next year?

“That has yet to be decided, and I’m ok with this. When I was brought in by the school board, the superintendent had a six month opportunity and they were planning to go out for a full search after the six months. And if that’s the decision that has been made, I’m comfortable with that because that was the agreement. So if I get my six months and I’m able to make some improvements, I’m ok with that. If they asked me to stay, I certainly would consider that. They don’t have any final thoughts. It is a nice place to work and I enjoy the faculty and the students. The community has been terrific working on some committees with them. I’d like to see the committees continue even beyond my tenure here. We’re putting together a spring pep rally for the spring teams. When I saw that we had two pep rallies this year, I suggested we have a third one so that we could recognize the spring athletes as well and not leave them out. So I’m looking forward to doing that. That date is April 29 and April 30th, the pep rally on Friday, and then the activities will be on Saturday.”