2B COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JUNE 7, 2017
Gary Roberts wins Athletic Director of the Year
O
ne year after taking over as Cot-
tage Grove high school athletic
director, Gary Roberts has been
named ‘Oregon athletic director rookie of
the year.’ Roberts was nominated by Sky-Em league representa-
tives. The Oregon athletic director’s association picks the winners
based on the achievements done by the athletic department over the
course of the year.
BY KYLE MCGOWEN
For The Sentinel
“I’ve tried to make a mark on our athletes,” Roberts said. It’s a
big deal to be an athlete and it’s a big deal for our students to sup-
port athletes. We’ve had rooter buses go to playoff games. For foot-
ball and basketball this year we have worked on making admission
free for students. We are trying to make it so kids can be connected
to our school through athletics. I think that’s pretty much where
the area of recognition was given. When the committee asked me
‘what have you done?’ I said ‘I worked hard to get kids connected
to athletics, worked with our coaches on their professional develop-
ment, and worked hard to make athletics accessible to kids.’ Either
that be through being an athlete or watching it. Our attendance at
games has increased, our school spirit has increased, and it’s been
a great year.”
Roberts has been both an educator and long-term head football
coach at Cottage Grove high school before taking over as athlet-
ic director from David Presley a year ago. Roberts remains head
football coach while continuing his athletic director duties. He has
worked closely with coaches at Cottage Grove high school to cre-
ate a great experience for both
coaches and student athletes.
“We spent the last year look-
ing at different models. I tried
to make my own mark as the
athletic director. I’m big on
coach centered education and
the trickle-down effect that hap-
pens. I don’t want to go directly
to the athletes, I want to go to
the coaches and let them go to
the athletes. So I’ve been spend-
ing more time on the coaching
part of it.
Though as athletic director,
Roberts has been focused on
training and connecting with the
coaches, he has still left his mark on student athletes over the years,
according to Lions football and basketball player, Blake Sentman.
“I’m glad he got that award. Since my sophomore year he believed
in me even when I was questioning myself as a quarterback. It was a
tough year, I was young but he stood with me and told me to keep in
there and keep working hard. He motivated me and has been there
all four years, which has helped a lot,” Sentman said.
Cottage Grove High School has lost a few head coaches over
the course of the last few months, but Roberts remains optimistic.
“One took a college job at UCC and Don Pollard retired (from be-
ing boys’ basketball coach). On the surface it looks like we lost all
these coaches, but it’s just been a weird coincidence of things.”
Roberts hopes to continue to build on the success that year one
brought both himself and Cottage grove high school athletics.
“Whether it’s playing or watching, I just want it to be the thing
to do.”
COTTAGE GROVE FOOTBALL
GOLF CLASSIC
2017
Cottage Grove High School Football Program brings you the
N. Douglas ends season 18-10
2016 Lion Football Golf Classic
June 24th, 2017
Shotgun Start at 8am
Middlefield Golf Course
For more information and the registration form go to:
BY CAITLYN MAY
cmay@cgsentinel.com
North Douglas played hard.
But the rain didn't help. The
team lost to Reedsport in the
fi rst round of the division play-
offs but according to coach Jeff
Davis, it was the determination
of the players that brought them
that far after a particularly wet
winter that hindered practice.
"There was some bad weath-
er and because of the way we
practice, we didn't always get a
chance to work on skill develop-
ment," Davis said. "But as far as
what went right this season, the
kids really hung in there espe-
cially when we had those rough
stretches."
Those rough stretches were 10
games that found the team on the
losing end of the score card in
their 18-10 season.
"We didn't play well for some
stretches," Davis said. "We came
back because the kids kept per-
sisting."
Caring for your Health
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