Ryan West has never actually held the official title of athletic director, but he’s been just about everything else during more than three decades in public education.
The former principal at Englewood High School — who is also in his second year as president of the Colorado High School Activities Association Board of Directors, West is more than ready for the job he now has as interim athletic director at Regis Jesuit High School.
“Regis has a great tradition, not just athletically, but they know how to develop the whole kid,” West said. “It’s exactly what I was looking for.”
West is hitting the ground running, as he comes up to speed with the school’s 30 athletic programs between the boys and girls divisions. He has associate athletic director Jordan Kasemodel — who also serves as the school’s girls basketball coach — as well as assistant principal Bryan Timme in place to help him. They have kept things together since the departure of Todd Schuler, who stepped down in early June from the job he’d held for two years.
West finds things in a very good place in many ways. Regis Jesuit won a state championship last season in ice hockey, finished as the state runners-up in baseball, girls basketball, boys and girls swimming and boys tennis and had an individual Class 5A boys wrestling state champion in Garrett Reece.
In terms of facilities, a massive renovation of Lou Kellogg Stadium was completed last summer and the basketball floor of the Girls Division gym was redone. This summer, a complex of tennis courts to the east of the school is done. So West’s biggest concentration now is getting to know his coaches.
“Right now, I just want to build relationships with the coaches, find out who they are and what their needs are,” West said. “That’s the biggest piece for me. I’m very relational and truly believe in having a healthy work-life balance.
“Ultimately, everybody wants to win and we want to compete, but that’s not the only thing. It’s about giving the kids the experience they deserve, holding them to the highest academic standards and making sure we are developing the whole person.”
West is becoming acquainted with the rivalries held by Regis Jesuit, but he knows one well just from his old household. His kids are athletes in softball and boys basketball at Mountain Vista in Highlands Ranch, so they already know Regis Jesuit well from play in the Continental League.
Evan Henderson takes over at Overland
Overland High School now has its third athletic director in as many years, as Evan Henderson has moved into the role in place of Domonic Martinez, who had the position last year after Karl Buck’s departure to Centaurus. Martinez remains in the administration at Overland in a different role.
Steve Carpenter (Cherokee Trail), Jason Wilkins (Cherry Creek), Heather Nelsen and Vince Orlando (Eaglecrest), Wes Smock (Grandview) and John Thompson (Smoky Hill) all return to their posts to round out the Cherry Creek Schools group of ADs.
