The Fourth Region
Athletic Directors Association has selected veteran Allen County-Scottsville
High School Athletic Director Kerry Harwood as the Athletic Director of the
Year.
“Kerry represents our region, state and Allen County Schools with respect, dignity and pride in everything he does,” explained Jonathon Vincent, president of the Region 4 Athletic Director’s Association. “We have all had the privilege of working closely with Coach Harwood for several years and he is definitely one of the best in the business at being a servant leader and keeping the best interest of our student-athletes at the forefront of every decision.”
Harwood assumed the AD duties at AC-SH in
June of 2007. However, his connection with the athletic programs at the high
school dates back to his days as a student-athlete for the Patriot football and
baseball teams in the mid-1980s. Harwood attended Western Kentucky University
before quickly returning to his home school.
“Coach Jim Tinius hired me in the fall of 1988 as a Para-professional football coach,” Harwood noted. “I coached football with Larry Gilbert, Chad Cooper, Steve Long, and helped Coach Brad Hood in 2006. In baseball, I helped Bobby Williams as a volunteer his last year and then was an assistant coach when Coach Gary Dewitt was baseball coach.”
Harwood stepped in as Patriot baseball coach in 1996 and served through
the 2012 season, thus spending five years in the dual-role of coach and athletic
director. Following the 2012 baseball season, Harwood retired from baseball
after 16 years as head coach for Patriot baseball and a 267-200 record.
Within six months, Harwood’s athletic director’s role brought him back to coaching. With the 2013 softball season fast approaching---and no head coaching candidate selected---Harwood agreed to coach Lady Patriot softball for one season. Serving in more of a manager role, Harwood led the Lady Patriots to a record and prepare assistant coach Ernie Stafford to take the realms in 2014,
The role of athletic director is complex. Harwood oversees multiple
sports at AC-S---baseball, basketball, bass fishing, competitive cheer, cross
country, golf, football, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field,
and volleyball. His role includes representing AC-SH at Kentucky High School
Athletic Association meetings, completing KHSAA paperwork, making sure athletes
have up-to-date physical forms, securing officials for athletic contests,
overseeing gym and field preparations, coordinating facility scheduling, grade
verification, event management, and, when necessary, the hiring of coaches.
“There are so many things behind the scenes people don’t see,” Harwood said, adding that he has been blessed to work with great coaches during his tenure at AC-SH. “The coaches make things so much easier. Our coaches do things the right way, treat the kids right, and have a passion for their players and their sports.”
Harwood notes that he prefers to be a “behind-the-scenes” AD.
“I just want to offer the support to coaches if they need it,” Harwood noted. “I’m not a cookie-cutter AD that requires every sport to do everything the same way every day. I’m am here to offer support if they need me but I’m not going to run a coaches’ program because as a coach, I would not want an AD telling me how to make every move. They do a great job.”
During his
years as athletic director, Harwood has looked at ways to bring more and more
recognition to present and past student-athletes. Athlete-of-the-month
recognitions, improved communication of accomplishments, special honorees at
games, and the launching of the AC-SHS Athletic Hall-of-Fame are among the
various ways Harwood has and continues to spotlight AC-S athletics and
achievements.
Harwood’s selection comes from his peers---the 17 athletic directors from Region 4 schools that are part of the regional association. Formed several years ago, the regional association is a partnership that meets regularly, works together, and addresses any issues that may arise.
“Every school has a voice,” Harwood said. “We are a close-knit group that works together. I really look forward to those days when we all get together. It’s exciting. We started selecting an athletic director of the year four or five years ago. It’s an honor to be recognized by the guys. I respect them so much.”
In addition to receiving the region award, Harwood will be recognized later this spring at the state athletic directors’ conference in Louisville and be a candidate for selection as the State Athletic Director of the Year.