FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2007
Titusville's Dan Diesel named 2007 NASPE Florida Athletic Director of the Year
VIERA – Dan Diesel, Titusville High School’s athletic director was recently named the 2007 Florida Athletic Director of the Year. The honor is awarded annually by the National Association of Sports and Physical Education (NASPE) and the National Council for Secondary School Athletic Directors (NCSSAD). It is given in recognition of secondary school athletic directors who exemplify the highest standards of their profession, and who, through their influence on the lives of young people under their direction, have made significant contributions to their schools and communities. From the state winners, district winners are then chosen. A national winner will then be announced in Baltimore at the NASPE awards banquet in March.
According to Dr. Richard A. DiPatri, Brevard Public Schools Superintendent, “Dan Diesel is first and foremost an outstanding person. Dan is an extraordinary teacher, coach and athletic director who fosters student achievement both on and off the field. Individuals like Dan are instrumental in providing opportunities for students to enjoy success now and in the future. We are all proud of his accomplishments.”
Diesel began his career at Titusville High School in 1983 as a Biology teacher. He has coached football, basketball, wrestling, track, baseball and golf. He spent 23 of his years coaching two or more sports at one time and 11 years coaching three or more sports.
A Titusville High alumnus, Diesel shares, “I feel that I have been living my dream since the day I returned to my alma mater (THS) back in 1983 to teach and coach. A lot of kids are not sure what they want to do when they grow up. I knew I wanted to work with kids and make a difference in their lives.”
Diesel is also very active in the North Brevard community. He has coached and served on the Little League Board of Directors for 12 years as well as served as a volunteer at the Country Acres Children’s Home for 8 years. He is also a member of the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee.
Gary Shiffrin, principal at Merritt Island High School expresses, “Brevard County is very fortunate to have many of the most outstanding athletic administrators to be found in the entire country. These men and women work tirelessly for the benefit of all our student athletes. Their behind the scenes efforts are essential for the successful operation of our athletic programs. Dan Diesel has been one of those truly outstanding athletic directors for the past ten years.”
Shiffrin, who nominated Dan Diesel for Athletic Director of the Year, stated in his nominating letter, “He is highly professional and has a wonderful knowledge of what it takes to run a big time high school program. He is constantly providing insight and leadership in all areas of our program. Dan is a team player and bends over backwards to insure that our student athletes are properly provided with the quality opportunities they deserve.”
Diesel has been honored with many awards over his coaching career including All Space Coast Boys Golf Coach of the Year for three years and Cape Coast Conference Boys and Girls Golf Coach of the Year. Diesel’s philosophy is “Whatever I can do and wherever I can go to make a difference in kids’ lives with the use of the Athletic Director and coaching positions I have been blessed with…I do and I go.”
About the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 17,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, sport management professionals, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare physical activity professionals. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs through research, development of standards, and dissemination of information. It is the largest of the five national associations that make the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.
Contact:
Paul K. Kun
Director of Communications
National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
(703) 476-3461
pkun@aahperd.org
