In an era where sports success is more abundant than ever before at Ottawa Hills High School, it was important to the school district to locate the right individual to become its next athletic director.
When the process was complete, Ottawa Hills had gone to the collegiate level in choosing Ryan Wronkowicz to fill the spot.
Wronkowicz, 46, has spent the past 12 years helping build the athletic programs at Lourdes University in Sylvania, where he most recently served as the Gray Wolves' assistant athletic director and sports information director. He works with 24 sports programs at Lourdes.
“I've been in college athletics for 24 years and was just kind of looking for something a little bit different that aligns with what I've done,” Wronkowicz said of taking the Ottawa Hills post. “A high school athletic director does a lot of different things, from scheduling to game management to overseeing coaches.
“I've done a lot of that type stuff at the collegiate level, so it's an opportunity to work with a different group of student-athletes.”
Wronkowicz was chosen from an original list of 56 applicants, according to school superintendent Adam Fineske.
The Ottawa Hills selection committee — composed of coaches, administrators, parents, school boosters, and students — narrowed that list to eight candidates, who received interviews. The list was trimmed to five and then three, before the committee made its choice.
“We're really excited about Ryan and what he's going to be able to bring to the table with his 12 years of experience at Lourdes,” Fineske said. “What is really intriguing to me is how, when he started there, he was part of the whole process of creating an athletic program with the [administrative] team over there. And, to develop it into what it is today, is pretty neat.”
Wronkowicz, a 1995 Anthony Wayne High School graduate, completed a bachelor of science degree in sports management from Bowling Green State University in 1999. After a one-year internship in California, he returned to the Midwest to work at Valparaiso University in Indiana. He spent 12 years at Valpo (2000-12), the first five as assistant SID before being promoted to SID in 2005.
When Wronkowicz arrived at Lourdes in 2012, the school was in its third year with athletics, and he has been a part of the university's rapid growth in sports.
“It's great to have someone like that come in and take the reins of a pretty strong athletic program here,” Fineske said, “knowing that he has all that experience dealing with coaches, hiring coaches and referees, and with game-day management and technology.
“I think the biggest piece is how up-to-date he is with the sports world today, when it comes to social media and how to expose our kids to some positive experiences. To provide them with some great opportunities to succeed, whether it's in high school, or the next level. He brings all of that to the table.”
In moving from the college to the high school level, Wronkowicz, a Perrysburg resident, sees a new type of challenge in his career.
“I'm looking to carry on the tradition,” said Wronkowicz, who participated in cross country, track, bowling, and golf while at AW. “Ottawa Hills is known for both academic and athletic excellence, and that's something that I've always liked at the college level — promoting the student-athlete as a whole.
“They've got a lot of teams that have had success at various times, and I'd like to be able to help keep that momentum going for the district.”
The Green Bears' baseball program has enjoyed statewide success for nearly four decades, and the boys soccer, boys and girls basketball, boys lacrosse, boys golf, and boys and girls tennis have also enjoyed long-standing success.
More recently, the school's football program, and the boys and girls cross country and track teams, have been elevated to higher levels of success in tournament competition, as well as within the Toledo Area Athletic Conference.
“Obviously, everybody likes to win, and Ottawa Hills has a great track record over the years,” Wronkowicz said. “Dr. Fineske seems like a great person to work with, and he's got some good ideas for the district, as does Ben McMurray, the principal.
“In talking with them, when I was looking at something [in a new job], it had to be something like this. I like that it is a smaller district so that I can get the opportunity to know all of the kids while I'm there, and see what they're like.”
Fineske said that Wronkowicz, whose hiring is subject to school-board approval on Monday, has already begun acclimating himself to Ottawa Hills athletics.
“He's going to transition here from Lourdes, working after hours,” Fineske said. “We have two key coaching positions open — our girls basketball and boys soccer head coaches. Those are two big sports here, and those coaches need to be hired in the next couple weeks.
“He'll be involved with that a little bit in his off hours from Lourdes. They're being flexible with his transition. His first official day here will be June 1.”
The Ottawa Hills superintendent offered thanks to TAAC commissioner Rick Kaifas, who has served double duty since the fall season as Ottawa Hills' interim AD, with assistance from Greg Neuendorf.
“We are so grateful that he was able to step in this year,” Fineske said of Kaifas. “He has really kept our programs afloat and successful throughout the year. He's made sure our kids didn't miss out on any experiences, and that they had the same opportunities to participate and succeed in sports.”
One challenge that Wronkowicz will face, along with Kaifas in his ongoing commissioner's role, is keeping the TAAC in existence.
With Northwood set to exit the TAAC and join the Sandusky Bay Conference's River Division following the 2024-25 school year, the conference will be down to just five full-time members — Ottawa Hills, Cardinal Stritch, Toledo Christian, Maumee Valley, and Emmanuel Christian.
TC shifted to eight-player football a few years ago, and Maumee Valley and Emmanuel do not have football.
Beyond the fall of 2024, Ottawa Hills and Stritch, which restored its football program in 2023 after suspending play in 2022, will be part of a six-team football league along with four football-only TAAC members from the Buckeye Border Conference — Edon, Hilltop, Montpelier, and North Central.
For most other sports, after Northwood leaves, the TAAC will have five or fewer teams competing. This past winter, Emmanuel did not have girls varsity basketball. In the current spring season, Maumee Valley does not have baseball or softball programs, and Stritch does not have softball.
“That's something I haven't really looked into a whole lot yet,” Wronkowicz said. “But, with every situation, there's a solution. I'll take some time to work with the administration, and see what the best fit is to get something together.”
The superintendent is well aware of the challenge, and hopes a solution can be found.
“He wants to come in and look at the situation with fresh eyes, and give his thoughts once he gets more knowledge on it,” Fineske said of the new AD. “There are some things up in the air right now with Northwood leaving, and it'll be interesting to see where the league goes.”
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