TJ West returns as WHS athletic director

By Wade Holland

www.WilliamstownSportsReport.com

After a one-year hiatus, a familiar face has returned to the Williamstown school district with T.J. West once again filling the role of athletic director.

A life-long resident who has served many roles within the Williamstown Independent School District over the years, West was the athletic director two years ago before taking a year off to spend more time with his family, which had just welcomed a new grandchild into their lives.

T.J. West fills multiple roles within the Williamstown school system, including athletic director, security, and in-school suspension coordinator.

T.J. West returns to role as Williamstown athletic director

A 1975 graduate of Grant Co. High School, West went to work for the state highway department shortly after graduation and retired after 29 years. Already well known within the school system, he took a job at Williamstown shortly after retirement.

What was originally a four-hour-per-day gig has evolved into a position that is much more. Besides serving as the school’s athletic director, West is also the in-school suspension coordinator as well as security. Over the years he has served many roles in many different sports at Williamstown, everything from keeping the book to varsity head coach.

Why has West stayed at Williamstown all these years when

money is not the motivation? It’s easy, he says.

“Because of the way people treat you. As you can see, walking up and down the hallway, the kids saying ‘happy birthday’ and things like that,” said West, who was celebrating his 57th birthday the day of this interview. “Everyone is close here. And it’s a small setting. Everyone knows everyone. We’ve got great kids here and we’ve got great staff here. It’s just a real positive place to be.”

West also has the pleasure of working with his wife of 13 years, Kelly, at Williamstown, where she serves as the family resource coordinator. Seeing too much of each other is not a problem, he says.

“I never see her. She’s busy and I’m busy. We occasionally pass in the hallways. And I may hear from her on the phone from time to time, but I don’t see her until I get home most days.”

As athletic director, West works many hours per day and most often is the last person remaining in the school after athletic events.

“Just me and the janitor,” West said, while noting the long hours are not the hardest part of the job. It’s when he has to make a tough decision that he knows is not what others may want.

“You have to make decisions based on what you feel is best. But you’re never going to make everyone happy,” he said. “You really walk a fine line because you want to do what is best for your athletes. And that is what I’m here for is to represent my coaches and athletes and make it a positive experience. But along the lines, some of the decisions I make are not very popular.”

One of the most important jobs as athletic director is also his most rewarding. That’s when he runs eligibility on the student-athletes once per week. Very seldom is there an issue, and he attributes that to the hard work and effort put in by the teachers within the school system.

“Our teachers are very vigilant here. They do a very good job of staying on our kids and getting the most out of them,” he said.

As for how much longer you can expect to see West roaming the hallways or making things happen at nightly athletic events, West did not hesitate with his answer.

“The way I feel right now, I will be here doing something from now on,” he said. “As long as they will have me, I will be here.”