New Hopkins Academy athletic director Amy Jennings has spent her life on one bank of the Connecticut River or the other. She grew up in Northampton, attended Springfield Technical Community College and spent the last decade in Hadley. Those years showed her the town’s passion for its Golden Hawks and the integral role sports play in the fabric of the school and community.
“Our school spirit revolves around sports. I love the energy that we have here,” Jennings said. “We’re such a small town, but we’re so mighty.”
Taking over the athletic department is both a small leap and a huge task for Jennings. She’s worked in the physical education department the past few years, so she knows the athletes and some coaches that also teach at the school. Jennings also served as a site manager for many games last season helping outgoing AD Vincent Catania.
“I re-fell in love with sports and loved working the games,” Jennings said. “Personally I feel like I have really big shoes to fill.”
Catania stepped away from the athletic director position for a new opportunity in coaching and business that will let him self spend more time with his family. He’ll be running his business out of central Connecticut and coaching for the Western Mass Pioneers while also teaching in the Hadley public school system and continuing to coach the Hopkins Academy girls soccer team, which qualified for the state tournament last season.
“I love coaching them so much, I want to be able to give them as much attention as possible,” Catania said.
Catania succeeded Erik Sudnik, who established himself as one fo the Pioneer Valley’s premier athletic directors during his time at the helm.
“I learned so much from them. There’s still so much o learn, but I feel lucky that every day I learn something new,” Jennings said. “It’s a never-ending job, but I love to work.”
She has seen the impact sports have on her charges daily in the physical education department and wants to help foster the connections between fitness, sports and the school community’s success.
“I’m proud to be chosen for this job,” Jennings said. “Being around the kids in the school environment on a daily basis, knowing the athletes personally, living in the community and being involved in their every day daily life, it’s come full circle for me.”
Dylan Dubuc added another title to his collection at Granby Jr./Sr. High School when he was named the school’s athletic director. He became the Rams boys varsity basketball coach last season and is entering his sixth year as a physical education teacher at the school. Dubuc has been a coach for 17 years at various schools and spent time as a junior varsity basketball, baseball and soccer coach.
“I’ve got a good idea and a good relationship with a lot of our coaches already. I wanted to be able to provide the best opportunities and environment for our students,” Dubuc said. “I’ve grown to really love the the Granby school community, our kids. I wasn’t actively seeking out an athletic director role anywhere else. The opening here, the opportunity, just fit.”
While he’s familiar with many of the job’s aspects viewing it through a coach’s eyes, Dubuc still expects to learn as he goes, gaining experience through the seasons and years.
“Just like coaching and teaching, this can be a thankless job at times. There’s a lot of different things from budgeting, scheduling, making sure playing surfaces and facilities are up to par,” Dubuc said. “My biggest nerves are I’m eager to learn about budgeting. That’s something I’ve never really had a hand on before.”
Continuing to be able to coach basketball at Granby was a plus, not a requirement.
“Basketball’s been my passion since I was a little kid being a coach’s son growing up in the gym,” Dubuc said. “Having an opportunity to stay coaching was a big part of it. It wasn’t going to make or break my decision, though.”
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.