He will wear three hats now instead of two at Montezuma-Cortez High School. Mike Allison, who is the head boys golf and head wrestling coach, will now add the activities director hat to his hangar. He was named to the position on Friday, Aug. 4.

Allison succeeds longtime athletic/activities director and assistant principal Brad Jones who announced his resignation last month and has decided to return to the classroom and coaching.

"It is going to be interesting and I know I’m looking forward to the challenge of the new position," Allison said on Monday, Aug. 7, while sitting in his new office in the corner of the Commons at MCHS. "This job is definitely going to be challenging and I’m excited and looking forward to taking it on."

He knows he is going to need to do a lot of book work and will learn a lot during the next year.

"I will be learning a lot. I have a lot of education ahead of me. Brad said he would come over for some tuteledge and he will give some help in scheduling and other duties. And I probably couldn’t do it this first year without the great help of (activities secretary) Stacy Hall. I know I’m going to be relying a lot on her," Allison remarked.

He has eight years of college coaching and 13 years at the high school level in various sports including wrestling, football, soccer, track, and golf. Allison, 49, has taught and coached at MCHS for the past six years.

Allison will greet the 2000-01 school year with a slew of new varsity head coaches. Charlie Rosenbaugh has been named as new head girls softball coach. Karl McGee is the new head football coach. Todd Starr takes over as boys head soccer coach and Chuck Cotter is the new head baseball skipper. Ricky Carver, who did not coach boys tennis last year but who has been the head coach for several years before that, is technically new this year. Coaches are still needed for two sports, girls basketball and girls soccer.

"So, I’m starting a new position with basically a new coaching staff. At least we’ll almost have a new staff. The ones who have been here before know me. And I will get to know the other ones. We haven’t had a chance to all meet yet. I want to help the individual coaches out and the athletes with their sports and the other activity sponsors with their activities. I want them to feel free to come in if they have a problem or need my help. But I want them to know that they are not working for me but with me for the betterment of one goal: for the kids and MCHS," Allison commented.

What made Allison decide to take on this new position?

"I will be honest with you, a year from now I wanted to make a position change. I knew I wanted to give up my job as head wrestling coach and perhaps become an assistant. I had plans on getting my Type D Certificate (administrative certificate). But suddenly the job presented itself. I think that a lot of times if you wait you lose. I interviewed right and I was lucky enough to be the one chosen.

"I felt I have got enough experience in working with collegiate athletic budgets and high school. I have worked well with other coaches. I know about 90 percent of the students and faculty here. And I felt I had something to offer on the table, too. I think everyone from the administrative office on down have been real receptive," he said.

Allison will finish up with the two sports this school year and then a selection process will take place for head golf and wrestling a year from now.

"I have enjoyed coaching those two sports," he added.

Allison took over the head wrestling job seven years ago and golf three years ago. His wrestling teams have been competitive and successful. A highlight certainly came last year as he coached his son, Cole, to an undefeated season and state individual title at 160 pounds. He has had a golfer compete at state several times.

"I will miss being in the classroom on a day to day basis. Most definitely I will miss it. But this is one of those situations that doesn’t come along too often. And like I said earlier, when a position like this presents itself, it was an an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I didn’t want to let it slide by and hope for it to come by in the future. I was lucky enough to have had my ducks all in a row and was ready for this move. Things happen at the right time sometimes," he noted.