In the past year, MT athletics have seen a lot of success. Last school year, both the bowling and newly-founded Unified Track and Field teams claimed state titles in their respective sports. This year, fall teams are excelling, all having great regular season records and high post-season expectations.
During the winter last school year, a change was made in the athletic department with a new hiring. After spending 15 years as a member of the Neumann University soccer staff and the last eight as the head coach, Tim Hollenback decided to switch from coaching to directing. With the difficulties of balancing the demands of being a college coach with his other responsibilities, Hollenback decided to apply to a few high schools in the area to become an athletic director. He was hired by MT and trained by the interim athletic director after the previous athletic director, Jason Strunk, relocated to Texas for family reasons.
As a part of his new role, Hollenback has created new media opportunities and community connections with all of the teams at MT. Hollenback used his experience with advertisement at Neumann University to create graphics, including an Instagram page where he posts game information, live streams, and publicly recognizes athletes for their achievements.
Another new addition was media day, a day of taking pictures of all the athletic teams with props and effects. Also added since Hollenback’s hiring is a new camera for Journey Field, a Unified Track and Field team last spring, and a girl’s golf team this fall. Hollenback said there are also plans to create a Unified Bocce team this winter. Although it is a demanding job, Hollenback says he enjoys it and is extremely grateful for the opportunity.
“I want people to feel valued in our programs,” Hollenback said. “It’s important that we highlight all of our programs equally.” These new additions allow for just that. A former high school athlete himself, Hollenback has experience with representing a school and knows how it feels to be recognized for achievements by them. Hollenback’s main goal as athletic director is to make everyone in MT sports feel like a part of the school, and these new additions do just that.
