Mark Pollex: First year in review

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September 29, 2009 • Sam Fitzgerald
Filed under High School, Sports, Uncategorized

Last year was Athletic Director Mark Pollex’s first year as the Athletic Director at FAHS, and he faced both old and new challenges of the FAHS Athletic Department.
One of the first things Pollex did when he arrived at FAHS was put up the signs in the athletic hallway.
“I thought an early indication of his philosophy were the message words that hang in the red wing as one approaches the locker rooms and athletic facilities. All of those attributes align with what I have always valued in team work and dedication,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jame Fitzpatrick said.
This project was started before Pollex arrived, but only covered half of the hallway. To complete the project, Pollex approached the “Captains Club” and asked what they wanted the rest of the words to say.
“The slogans/words were chosen by our athletes to signify what it means to be a quality athletic organization, as well as quality student athletes,” Pollex said.
Pollex has hired many new coaches and assistants in his first year as AD. FAHS has a new head boys basketball coach, the entire girls basketball staff has seen a change, a new boys and girls volleyball coach has been hired, and a new boys soccer coach took the helm.
One new addition was Boys Basketball Coach and Physical Education Teacher Mike Hintz.
“When I originally called over to give a reference for an individual for the job, it became apparent very quickly that this was going to be a hire that Mr. Pollex was going to put time and research into, to make sure there was a perfect fit for the Fort Atkinson School District,” Hintz said.
This year FAHS has a brand new gym floor, which is a vast improvement over the old one. The improvement of our athletic facilities was started by Kevin Flegner, the former Athletic Director, but has been continued by Pollex.
“He has picked up the ball on Mr. Flegner’s vision for ‘Field of Dreams’ to improve our facilities through Booster Club and community support while not using any taxpayer dollars in the facility upgrades,” Fitzpatrick said.
One of Flegner’s goals in his “Field of Dreams” plan was for FAHS to stop relying on Jones and Ralph park for baseball and softball games. This is a long-term goal of Pollex’s, but Jones and Ralph Park are both more the adequate venues at this point.
“I can speak as someone who has played and coached on these fields, as well as many other nice fields around the state, and both Jones and Ralph Park are right up there with the very best,” Pollex said.
Flegner and Pollex both have a similar vision for the future with the continued improvement of our athletic facilities.
“I now am in the process of assembling another such group of coaches and community members to gather ideas and visions to form a strategic plan that focuses on what can be done to improve not only our outside facilities, but also our indoor ones,” Pollex said.
Pollex’s short-term goals include; modifying and improving the school culture, becoming a more unified athletic department with coaches supporting coaches, and athletes supporting coaches etc., getting athletes to truly become more athletic through off-season training, and continued improvement of FAHS’s programs through staff members and facilities.