Sturzinger leaving Perkins AD post

PERKINS TWP. — Perkins High School is in the market for a new athletic director. Ted Sturzinger Jr. plans to resign from the high-profile job to pursue an administrative position at Vanguard Sentinel Career & Technology Centers in Fremont. Sturzinger was hired at Perkins in March 2020 and held the athletic director's job for three years. "Mr. Sturzinger did a great job for us and we're so appreciative of the time we had to work with him," Perkins superintendent Todd Boggs said. "It's sad on one hand because he did a great job with the kids and coaches and in building the program. At the same time we're happy about him reaching some personal career goals. He'll do a great job." Sturzinger declined comment Thursday afternoon because his position has not been officially approved by the Vanguard board of education. He expected that to happen Thursday night. Sturzinger, a 1996 Perkins graduate, took the AD job at his alma mater shortly after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Before taking the Perkins job he worked for two years as an assistant principal at Fremont Middle School. At the time, Sturzinger said, "I wouldn't have left for any other job." He came to Perkins as several key hires were being made, and several months before new synthetic turf was installed at the football stadium. Football coach Jalen Santoro was hired a couple months prior to Sturzinger's arrival. The AD played a key role in hiring boys basketball coach Eric Kochendoerfer, girls basketball coach Ryan Orshoski and baseball coach TJ Blanton, who all came aboard in 2022. Sturzinger also hired strength and conditioning coordinator Sam Wentz in 2022. Wentz was named the Pirates' volleyball coach earlier this year. Sturzinger and his family live near Perkins High School. Perkins posted the athletic director job this week and will accept applicants until Monday. The job description includes this position purpose: "To manage and coordinate the school district athletic activities and sports programs to promote athletics and physical fitness as positive extra-curricular activities, and to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to participate and share in the benefits of the district's athletic programs." The job post says Perkins prefers candidates with "successful experience managing or directing the athletic programs or a school district." Boggs said he hopes to begin interviewing candidates next week. "We'll evaluate the candidates and see when we want to bring them in," he said. The first official day for fall sports practices is July 31.