Current Seaholm athletic director Aaron Frank has been hired by the Birmingham School Board to become the lone athletic director for the entire Birmingham district. Birmingham School Board has decided to make this decision in order to make a projected $277,000 savings for the district.
The clear indication of why this decision was made is because of the budget crisis the Birmingham Public Schools are facing. Frank believes firmly that this decision was based simply upon the district’s financial difficulties.
“It’s really a budgetary decision,” said Frank. “We’re doing everything we can to save money and this is one of the steps it takes.”
Frank will run two “Class A” high school athletic programs that carry as many sports teams as most in the state of Michigan.
In addition, Frank is the head of the athletic departments at Derby and Berkshire Middle School.
Even though the responsibilities have doubled for Frank, he is excited for the tasks that await him.
“There will be a lot of new challenges,” said Frank. “There will be some parts that will be really tough, but there’s going to be some exciting opportunities as well.”
Groves head football coach Brendan Flaherty believes that Frank is ready for the increased role.
“Mr. Frank will do a fantastic job,” said Flaherty. “He is a fine leader and has a valued interest in Birmingham Schools by being a father of four children in our district.”
With such a responsibility for a single person, Seaholm Head Football Coach Chris Fahr said the Seaholm and Groves athletic programs won’t benefit from this system.
“I don’t think it will help either school,” said Fahr. “It is a ton of work and I don’t think one person can adequately do it.”
That being said, if there was anyone who is able to take on this type of responsibility, Fahr believes Frank is the man to do so.
“Aaron will do the very best he can do to accommodate all the coaches and programs,” said Fahr. “I do expect he will do the best job possible.”
Seaholm JV golf coach Bernie Simms is curious to see how the future of Seaholm athletics will function without Frank devoting all of his time to Seaholm.
“I think the Seaholm athletic program will be fine, but different without Mr. Frank running only Seaholm’s program every day,” said Simms.
Seaholm cross country coach Derek DiGiovanni believes that this decision won’t hurt Seaholm athletics as much as people think. DiGiovanni knows that now that Frank’s decision making is at a higher level, everyone will be on the front end of keep Seaholm athletics stable.
“It’s going to create more work for Aaron himself as well as more responsibility for coaches and parents,” said DiGiovanni. “People are going to have to pick up the slack when Aaron can’t.”
The job came down to two candidates, Frank and current Groves AD Tom Flynn. Flaherty believes experience was the main factor in the hiring of Frank.
“Aaron Frank had two more years on the job than Groves current AD Tom Flynn,” said Flaherty.
Flynn has been committed to the well being and development of all Birmingham students, especially the athletes at Groves. Prior to becoming athletic director at Groves, Flynn was the athletic trainer at Groves. Flaherty believes that Flynn’s presence will be greatly missed.
“You can’t replace the personal touch Tom has with the Groves coaches, parents, and students,” said Flaherty. “But, these are the times we live in and until state school funding gets straightened out, we (Birmingham Schools) are going to lose out.”
DiGiovanni is disappointed that the district decided to eliminate an athletic director. While DiGiovanni is well aware of the importance of academics, he believes that athletics also have a great impact on the students in Birmingham.
“How many kids do you know have great experiences in their athletic teams?” DiGiovanni said. “Those are the memories that we all remember ten 20 30 years from now.”
Fahr believes that the decision to make a district wide athletic director will only be beneficial for a short period of time.
“Short term, I believe it will,” said Fahr. “Long term, probably not as much as they think it will.”
Frank is confident that this decision will help Birmingham Schools rebound from the budget crisis they face.
“It will for sure be a benefit,” said Frank.
