When the new Colfax-Mingo school year begins in August, Zach Tomas will be starting his 10th year in the district.
Tomas has been loyal and passionate about Tigerhawk athletics throughout his tenure, and the C-M Board of Education unanimously approved a promotion on Monday night.
Tomas has been named the school’s latest activities director, replacing Bryan Poulter, who is retiring in June after serving 33 years in the district.
“I am excited to lead on a higher level,” said Tomas, who also is the head cross country coach and girls track coach at the school. “We have a lot of good things going here. Bryan did a great job for the district. He’ll still be around to support me, too.”
Tomas will remain in his position as a physical education teacher. He will serve 60 percent of his time as activities director and 40 percent as a teacher.
Like most activities directors, Tomas will oversee the process of hiring coaches, transportation, scheduling and maintaining programs.
“I’ve always thought about doing this, but I considered even more after I got my Masters from Viterbo,” Tomas said. “I am excited. I am glad now to know that it’s been board approved and the position has been defined.”
Tomas’ degree from Viterbo University is in Educational Administration, which is often used on a path toward being a principal.
“I knew early on that I didn’t want to do the principal side of things,” Tomas said. “(Poulter) was great to work with. He let me experience a lot of what it takes to do the day-to-day stuff, and I am lucky to have had that experience with him.”
Tomas said Poulter was his mentor during his course studies at Viterbo.
“Zach had shared with me that he had interest in being an athletic director for several years now,” Poulter said. “If you have good internal people, inside hiring can be beneficial. He has never done anything in his career to make me feel like he is not committed to Colfax-Mingo. He is a strong leader in everything he does.
“He’s always shown the side of looking for more instruction in the coaching area. He wants to improve himself all the time.”