Dayton Hires New Athletic Director

DAYTON -- Rick Hamil- ton, former WP head soccer coach, was appointed by the school board to the athletic di- rector position for the Dayton School District on Wednesday, July 11.

Dayton's former athletic director, Jack Smiley, passed away in early May. Hamilton begins his new position in August.

Hamilton was the head WP soccer coach in 2010-11 and after the season he transferred to Arizona for a job opportu- nity. Dayton Superintendant Doug Johnson said Hamilton is notable because he worked closely with Smiley to help form the Waitsburg and Prescott athletic combine.

Hamilton said after work- ing closely with Smiley in Waitsburg, he was sad to hear of Smiley's passing.

"We had a great relation- ship," Hamilton said. "We were both old school and I think old school has a lot to contribute hellip; especially to coaching."

Dayton High School Principal Andy Maheras said Smi- ley was Hamilton's athletic director when Hamilton was coaching in Waitsburg.

"(Hamilton) is kind of cut from the same cloth as Jack Smiley," Maheras said. "Jack Smiley spoke very highly of him when they worked to- gether."

And, Maheras said, Hamil- ton is one of the few coaches in the league with a national en- dorsement as a coach. Hamilton is endorsed by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. And, he is looked up to for starting the WP soccer program and bringing it from last place to first in its Cinder- ella season.

In 2010, Hamilton was the Washington Coach of the Year for his time with the WP soc- cer team for bringing the team from last to first in the league with an 18-0 record.

Maheras said Hamilton has an administrative endorse- ment, and Johnson said he also has a teaching certificate, but currently Hamilton will serve only as the athletic director and he has no teaching or administrative assignment at this time.

Once Hamilton begins in Dayton, he will be the liaison between the coaching staff and the district staff members, Maheras said.

Hamilton said he wants to hold all of the coaches to the same high standard for which he held his athletes he was a coach.

"Everything has to be a team effort and everyone has to be on the same page," Ham- ilton said. "That's what I hope to accomplish."

The committee was im- pressed with Hamilton and the letters of recommendation he received, Board Member Tamara Fritze said.

"I think he's a good choice," Fritze said. "I was impressed by him hellip; He wants the kids to have a good experience with athletics."

Maheras said all of the letters of recommendation for Hamilton gave him high marks and emphasized his ability to work with people and his con- cern for the students.

Hamilton plans to spend more time in Dayton and become a member of the Dayton community, Maheras said.

"(Hamilton) wants to settle down and become a Dayton citizen," Maheras said. "He wants to be part of Dayton."

Hamilton said he is renting a house in Dayton near the school and he is looking forward to living in the district.

"I feel honored to be a part of Dayton," Hamilton said. "There's a lot of history. I think it's going to be fun, I always love new challenges."

For now, Hamilton said he does not have any changes he wants to make when he starts work in August. He said he will need time to come in and evaluate everything to work as a team to help the program.

"As the director, he'll bring a wealth of knowledge not only in coaching but with other head coaches as well," Maheras said.

He will also help with organization and scheduling, which Maheras said the district struggled with last spring.

"We look forward to having him on the district team and I'm hoping it ends up being a great year," Maheras said.