Written by: Adalee Hobson

An athletic director’s job starts long before athletes step onto the field and continues long after the lights turn off on the court. Hank Weedin has been the athletic director at Salem High School for 13 years. 

In 1995 he started his career with the Lions as a PE/health teacher. He began making an impact in Lions athletics when he was named the freshman team defensive coordinator for the Lions football team. 

Weedin did not plan on staying with Salem Schools very long. He eventually wanted to find a job closer to home, but the Lions Community won him and his wife over. Originally from Charlestown, he decided to stay and see where Salem Schools led him. 

While he knew he liked football, basketball was calling his name. Weedin became the freshman coach for the Lions basketball team and soon after, he became the head coach, a position he held for 18 years. 

While coaching boys basketball, the athletic director position opened up at SHS. He had always wanted to be an athletic director so he applied and was offered the position. Although he started the new job, he was still coaching the boys. After a while it became a little too much for Weedin. He knew he was going to have to pick one. 

Weedin spoke about one of the last teams he coached, one he said impacted his coaching career. They finished with a 22-3 season and ranked 5th in 3A. After the following season, he was ready to end on a good note and stepped down from the coaching position. 

Athletic directors are constantly going: scheduling games, practices, finding referees, finding workers for athletic events, ordering equipment, watching over field maintenance, making sure the court/field is prepared before the game, budgeting athletic expenses, hiring coaches, evaluating officials, organizing transportation for away events, making sure athletes final forms are up to date, and making sure coaches have updated their coaching certificate. 

“A lot of people think ADs sit around relaxing during the day and only have to work during games,” said Weedin. “ADs are usually busier during the day than they are at the actual events.” 

Salem High School Principal Bob Setser said,“There are some days Hank is still here as I am leaving.” 

Athletic directors do so much more behind the scenes then at the event that they spent the entire day putting together. Although being an AD is not an easy job, Weedin still loves it. 

“I have always loved sports and enjoy being around that environment,” he said. 

Weedin has been a part of the athletic program for about  31 years and has seen many changes. Although technology has made it easier to look for referees or other officials, it doesn’t mean an AD isn’t in their office all day working for the program. Being an athletic director is not an easy job, but Weedin keeps the program up-to-date every day and even for years to come.