WINDHAM – Rich Drummond is leaving his job as athletic director at Portland High to become athletic director at Windham High.
Drummond, 40, will replace Steve Merrill, who is retiring. Drummond, who will begin his new job July 1, has been athletic director at Portland since 2005.
“I’m a Windham resident and my family is in the community,” said Drummond. “It’s a great situation for me personally and professionally.
“I saw the position posted and applied. I’m looking forward to picking up where Steve left off.”
Drummond said he was hired prior to last week’s April school vacation.
High school athletic directors typically have long hours. Having a much shorter drive to work will make the long days and nights more palatable for Drummond.
“I think if you talk to any athletic director, they will say that the job involves long hours and that it does become tiring at times,” Drummond said.
“Having the opportunity to work in the community I live in will be exciting. Compared to the drive I have now, it’s going to be a lot shorter.”
That will mean more time at home for Drummond, the father of 7-year-old twin girls.
Another difference between the schools is that Windham, like the majority of schools in the SMAA, has its athletic fields at the school. Being a city school, Portland’s fields are scattered throughout the city.
“That will be a nice piece to the job. A good percentage of the activities will be at my fingertips,” he said.
The athletic facilities at Windham were upgraded a few years ago with the renovation of the school, which included a new gymnasium, athletic and coaches offices and a new stadium complex.
Windham went from near the bottom of the league to near the top in terms of quality athletic facilities.
Windham Principal Deborah McAfee said Drummond brings a great amount of experience to the job.
“Rich is a great fit for Windham,” said McAfee. “We’re certainly going to miss Steve Merrill, who did a wonderful job. In Rich, we’re getting someone with a similar personality.
“I know Rich Drummond from working with him in the SMAA. I’ve known him since he was the athletic director at Noble High. He gave us a tour of Noble’s new high school when we were in the process of building a new school at Windham.”
Drummond, a Presque Isle native, spent seven years as Noble’s athletic director before coming to Portland.
“I’m going to miss Portland High,” said Drummond. “I’m leaving behind some outstanding people that I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Portland has been very good to me.”
Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at: tchard@pressherald.com
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