Athletic directors play a vital role in shaping the success of school sports programs. On Athletic Administrator Day, we talked with Marissa Dazell, Athletic Director at Anthony Wayne Junior High, and John Snyder, Athletic Director at Anthony Wayne High School, to learn about the challenges, rewards, and lessons they’ve learned in their roles.
Q: How long have you been involved with Anthony Wayne Local Schools?
Marissa Dazell
I moved into the district in the fourth grade, and graduated in 2011. This is my seventh year as a 7th grade intervention specialist, and my first year as an athletic director.
John Snyder
This is my 13th year as the athletic director at AWHS.
Q: Was becoming an athletic administrator a career goal for you?
Marissa Dazell
I was always interested in a leadership role, but as a mom I wasn’t sure what the extra responsibility would look like. I also really enjoy special education and am still early in my career, I also don’t see myself leaving this building. This opportunity allowed me to take a step up while staying in the junior high. Ultimately, my husband encouraged me to give it a try.
John Snyder
I was a teacher for two years in TPS, then was laid off due to budget cuts. They wanted to keep me around, and offered me an AD position. I was 24 and didn’t even know what that was.
I thought I was going to be a history teacher for my entire life.
Q: What was it like learning your new position?
Marissa Dazell
It's a lot more responsibility than I was expecting, and I didn’t think I was going to survive it at first. But it’s been a group effort. My building administrators, Jordan Lefevre and Lori Williams and Secretary Jamie Gladwell have been very supportive and have made this an easy transition. Lori gave the best advice when she said, “You have to learn it the first year, and you can live it the second year.”
John Snyder
It took me about four years to feel like I was where I was supposed to be. I love what I do, but there were definitely a few moments of “what did you get yourself into and how do you get yourself out?” I had some great mentors along the way - principals and athletic directors from other schools who were always a call away. I was just so young, I didn’t realize how much I counted on them until they retired. They saved me from drowning on more than one occasion.
Q: What are your primary responsibilities as an athletic director?
Marissa Dazell
It's a lot of facilitation. There are a lot of moving parts and many people involved, collaboration is critical. I work with others to schedule games, make sure facilities are ready, hire officials, schedule buses and make sure everything is communicated. Everyone around me is so dedicated to their work, that it makes my job easy, and I’m very thankful for their support.
In addition to the behind the scenes activities, I attend events. I’m there to monitor the student section and promote positivity, assist coaches, officials and ticket takers. I’ve made announcements and resolved issues as they arise. I’m here to help out wherever needed.
John Snyder
The best part of the position is that Monday doesn’t look like Tuesday, and Tuesday is not a Wednesday. Every day is so incredibly different – it’s hard to say what a typical day looks like.
It’s everything involved with managing 26 programs and 700 high school athletes. My days include managing schedules, coaches and facilities, checking on athletes, working with officials and ticket takers. Collaborating with the staff here to ensure everything runs smoothly. It takes a lot of coordination and when half the student body is involved in at least one sport.
I say it’s like working two shifts. There’s a shift during the school day that starts around 7:30 a.m., and a shift after school that runs until whenever the games finish. It’s just like any other administrative role in a school. The position requires you to be on the job or available all the time. There is always something to attend to.
Q: What are the biggest challenges in your role?
Marissa Dazell
I’m an intervention specialist by day, a mom and wife at home, and an athletic director before and after school. Time management is key. In order to balance it all, I need to be very organized – and I try to keep things in compartments and focus on one thing at a time. When I’m wearing my intervention specialist hat, I’m a teacher. When I’m a mom, I’m taking care of my kids. I try to keep them separate as much as possible. I also try to use my time as wisely as possible, and share the load with others when needed.
John Snyder
One of my biggest struggles is to show everyone the same amount of love. It’s not possible to attend everything, and oftentimes I get pulled to wherever the largest expected turnout is to help manage the facility and everything that comes with big crowds.
We look at a big spreadsheet and look at every game for the week and we try to figure out who can go where. We try to get to the events deemed to be the most populated - crowd control, watching the student section, helping with tickets. We make assignments for supervision and try to get to as many events as possible. We try to make all the athletes, coaches and parents feel included and remind them that they are all important, but inevitably someone feels left out from time to time. It’s just a hazard of the job - just because I'm not at YOUR game doest mean that I’m not at A game.
We also battle a lack of space. We are constantly juggling schedules and facilities to get a practice or game somewhere. We have grown so much, we just do not have the amount of space we need for this number of athletes, or the number of spectators that attend. For example, our soccer teams are league champs and people turn out to watch– and we only have one set of stands for both schools to share. And when it comes to football, we just don’t have a seat for everyone.
Q: How do you address criticism that sports are overemphasized in schools?
Marissa Dazell
We refer to our kids as student-athletes, with student coming first. We always prioritize academics and character. Students have to meet GPA requirements to participate, and should be learning to demonstrate the Portrait of a General expectations. Coaches regularly check in with teachers about student behavior and performance in the classroom. After that, there’s room to participate in athletics.
John Snyder
I tell people to look at the bigger picture. Half of our student body is involved in athletics in some way. And they are just as passionate about their sport as those who love learning, performing or volunteering. Our kids are successful across the board - we are knocking it out of the park in so many ways. There is room to celebrate and support all of our students and their successes.
Q: What makes Generals Athletics so successful?
Marissa Dazell
The kids, their parents and our coaches are key to our programs. All credit goes to them – they work hard and are committed to their sport. They work out and practice in the off-season, they are always trying to do better. It’s not like it used to be where you played a season and just forgot about it for a year.
The area rec programs and AWYF have come so far to build playing opportunities for students so they can be competitive in junior high and beyond. We are very fortunate - there are many opportunities for students of all interests and abilities to participate and take their skills to the next level. The coaches at all levels are also committed to training and learning as much as they can. They really want to be the best they can be for the kids.
But none of it would be possible without the parents – they provide so much support to their children and the coaches. Their involvement is huge and so important to their child’s success.
John Snyder
Our teams are very, very successful, and we have one of the best programs in NW Ohio, and maybe even the state. We are seeing more championships, more state-level appearances, and signing to play at the college level than ever at this school.
The kids and the coaches truly get the credit for every trophy, medal and banner - but there are also so many pieces and people behind the scenes that go into the accolades. It’s the teachers and staff, the weight room and athletic training staff, facilities, administration – the parents.
We know that the first coach they have is mom and dad - that's where it starts. They are the ones on the sidelines of those early practices and running them all over. They are encouraging athletes all along the way.
Then as they get older, there are more people who become involved who also play a role in their success. That tee ball coach is just as important as the varsity coach. They all had something to do with their success as an athlete and a person. Sometimes they don’t get enough credit for all they do to support our teams. Everyone involved wants to see the kids do well.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of being an athletic director?
Marissa Dazell
I love being there for the students, watching them be successful. Sometimes that’s where they shine the most. I enjoy having a positive rapport with the kids - they ask me if I’m going to the game, it’s a great talking point and relationship builder with them. We enjoy watching sports as a family and it's nice to have my kids there and in the atmosphere. AW has a great program here and I want my kids to grow up in this district and have the same opportunities and experiences that I did here.
John Snyder
I’m not the most emotional guy, but I love my job. The most rewarding part is not the trophies. It’s getting to see the process from beginning to end. I’m lucky to see the behind the scenes, the conditioning and practices - the blood, sweat and tears. The kids and coaches work hard and I know the effort it takes to succeed on game day. It’s awesome to see that hard work paying off.
It’s also a great feeling to connect with the athletes. They look in the stands. They know who is taking time out to come see them play. They want to talk about it when they run into you – it’s an important part of their lives and they notice when you are there. And that extends beyond high school. When I go to watch them play in a college uniform and see them light up when they see me at the game it is so rewarding.
Here at AW I’ve never felt more at home in my life. I’m passionate about this community. I love this school, these kids and this job.
Q: What goals do you have for the future of your programs?
Marissa Dazell
I want to continue to increase the positivity and growth of the students - in the classroom and on the field. I’m trying really hard to get the kids involved in school spirit and attending events. The new student ticket pricing helps make it more accessible for them to attend. They love when we do themed games - they SHOW up - dressed and ready to be involved. Being in the student section gives me the opportunity to coach fans that we are here to cheer for our team and not against the other team. It is something that is important to teach.
I am also looking forward to where the role takes me.
John Snyder
One of my biggest goals is finding a way to improve our outside facilities. We look pretty good indoors right now, but our outdoor facilities are aging. The track is in rough shape. Our soccer fields, grand stands and press box are overdue for updates. It’s time.
Improving school spirit and student attendance at events is definitely a place where we can improve. Coach and Dean of Students Andy Brungard and others do a fantastic job with encouraging students to be involved. We also are working hard to teach them the purpose of a student section and the expectations of what that looks like. It’s okay to be a die hard fan for your peers, but you need to do it in the right way.
I want to both enjoy where we are and celebrate our successes while we have them, and not get complacent. I’m trying to enjoy it while we are up, because I know that at some point it will be our turn to be down. It’s the ebb and flow of it, but I want to continue this momentum and our success.
Our AW athletic directors play an important role in shaping the student-athlete experience. Their dedication is evident in their commitment to teamwork, community, and continuous improvement, both on and off the field. From coordinating logistics to cheering in the stands, their passion for their roles creates opportunities for students to grow and excel.
As they look to the future, their vision of fostering positivity, enhancing facilities, and strengthening school pride ensures that Anthony Wayne’s athletic programs will continue to thrive, enriching the lives of students and giving fans a reason to cheer for the Generals.