Schools

Update: Former UCHS Athletic Director Speaks Out

Chad Kish left the School District of University City in 2011 after one year at the high school.

In May 2011, University City Patch reported that University City High School Athletic Director Chad Kish was placed on paid administrative leave.

At the time, School District of University City Communications Director Linda Russell confirmed the leave, saying "Yes, Mr. Kish is on paid administrative leave. It does not involve students."

As with many personnel issues, the issue was resolved without media fanfare and no further information was released to the public. 

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Kish left the district, according to a letter from Dr. Darryl O. Cobb, assistant superintendent for human resources. The letter is dated Sept. 2, 2011 and reads as follows:

Mr. Charles Kish, Jr. was employed as Director of Athletics for the School District of University City from July 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. In his capacity as Director of Athletics, Mr. Kish was the administrator responsible for overseeing the operation of the District's athletic programming.

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Mr. Kish resigned his employment effective at the end of the day on August 31, 2011, to pursue opportunities elsewhere, and the District's Board of Education accepted his resignation. 

Last week, Kish issued the following statement regarding his tenure with the U City School District:

As an administrator there are many tough decisions you have to make, such as: hiring, disciplining, or terminating and employee; or letting a student-athlete know they are not eligible to participate. I had to make all of these decisions regularly at University City, but the toughest may have been deciding to leave.  

I look on my time at the district as a time of personal, professional, and departmental growth. 

I left the district for personal reasons, not as the result of any disciplinary actions. I ultimately decided I missed the daily interaction with student-athletes and determined I would return to college-level coaching. In this specific position, I felt like I needed to spend most of my day as a paper-pusher, not spending time impacting positive student growth. The Athletic Department was moving in a positive direction and was in good hands with Patrick Oligschlaeger, so I personally decided to return to my passion of coaching college basketball. 

I enjoyed my time as the District’s Athletic Director and think there were a variety of positive changes I was able to start or be a major contributor in the process. The addition of community service projects each sports season was a great project, including: a neighborhood leaf rake, a canned food drive, and volunteering with Challenger Baseball. I was able to start an Athletic Family Night with the assistance of the Booster Club, upgrade facilities, develop a program-based evaluation process, develop a financially sound and responsible budgeting process, and facilitated an improved connection between the high school and middle school programming. I was involved in the process to name the gym and basketball floor after important former coaches and athletes, improved fundraising, and developed a weekly athletic web-based newsletter. But, the most important improvement may have been the development and implementation of a proactive department hiring process, with head coaching successes that included: Carl Reed (football,) Rick Seim (baseball,) and Brad Land (Soccer).


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