Tanya Bond believes in proper timing.
It has been the underlying theme of her journey through education as a coach, athletic director, assistant principal and more during a lengthy career in the Cherry Creek School District.
That path has led her — at the proper time — to her ultimate role, as the new director of athletics and activities for the district. Bond takes over the job from Larry Bull, who retired at the end of the last school year after holding the position since 2010.
“I’ve always known I wanted to be a coach and a teacher, but my whole career, I’ve never just said ‘I want to do this thing’ in particular,” Bond told the Sentinel just ahead of the start of the 2026-27 school year in the district Aug. 17.
“I’ve never really had this major drive for certain things, it just seems to be timing as to when they became available.”
It was timing that opened the head girls volleyball coaching job at Eaglecrest after Bond and her husband, Chad, spent three seasons on the staff of Hall of Famer Patty Childress at nearby Grandview. When she made the jump — coincidentally being hired by Bull, who was then an administrator at Eaglecrest — it began a two-decade run in which she helped Eaglecrest become one of Colorado’s elite programs.
In her time on the bench, Bond led the Raptors to a perfect 31-0 season that netted a Class 5A state championship in 2006, a feat that made her group the first team to be inducted into the school’s Athletics and Activities Hall of Fame in 2024.
The timing was then right for her to join the administrative team when former principal Gwen Hansen-Vigil opened a co-athletic director position alongside Vince Orlando and filled it with Bond. She divided responsibilities for the school’s complement of sports with Orlando and also got experience working with other athletic directors as well as administrative dealings with the Colorado High School Activities Association.
Bond also worked as an assistant principal, giving her yet another perspective.
All of those things combine to give her the ability to see the bigger picture of athletics and activities — as well as its smaller nuances that might escape those without similar experience — and she believes it will pay off.
“I’ve been fortunate to deal with pretty much all aspects of school, so I can use those experiences and hopefully be able to support all entities,” said Bond, adding she wants to make sure that non-athletic activities get due attention.
Making the new role extra special is the chance to succeed Bull, who has been a major driving force of change and progress in the district.
“I’m not trying to fill Larry’s shoes — I could never — but he was my original AD and mentor, so being able to follow him into this job is very special and meaningful to me,” Bond said.
To do the job properly, Bond had to take off the red, black and white-tinted lens she viewed things through while at Eaglecrest.
Eaglecrest has been Bond’s identity — she coached and served as an administrator there, her husband is currently the boys volleyball coach and both of her sons (Aiden and 2026 graduate Ashton) both graduated from there — but her new role will change how she views everything.
“Eaglecrest will forever and always be a special, special place for me and my family,” Bond said. “I just feel like right now, the timing is perfect. I definitely feel very ready and my intrinsic feelings on the inside already is supporting all Cherry Creek School District kids.”
Bond feels she has people in place that will help ease the bumps of transition.
All high schools at the district have returning athletic directors in Steve Carpenter (Cherokee Trail), Jason Wilkins (Cherry Creek), Orlando (Eaglecrest), Wes Smock (Grandview), Evan Henderson (Overland) and David Benedict (Smoky Hill) to help keep continuity.
Bond also lauded the existing support team of assistant director Greg Critchett, administrative assistant Kristi Hayen, plus facility rental specialists Lori LaChapelle and Jenn Townsend as an incredible assembly of knowledge and experience that she will rely on heavily.
That group will be especially important as the district undergoes massive construction at multiple sites — including a huge project reshaping the campus at Cherry Creek High School — made possible by a $950,000,000 bond approved by voters in 2024.
Among the athletic parts of the construction is a brand new swimming pool on the campus of Overland High School and a new track at Eaglecrest.
A partnership with the new NWSL franchise Denver Summit FC will yield opportunities for district athletes in a variety of sports to use Centennial Stadium, the Summit’s temporary home until a new stadium is built in 2028 or 2029.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
