Edison athletic director job is 'natural fit' for Kristen Hayden

Kristen Hayden has been a teacher and a coach. She can now add "administrator" to an impressive résumé. Hayden was approved this week as the new athletic director and assistant principal at Edison High School. The Lakewood, Ohio, native most recently taught physical education and STEM classes for five years at an elementary school in Lorain. She saw the Edison posting and decided to apply. "Athletics is just a natural fit for me. This position was attractive," she said. "I coached in Vermilion a few years so I was familiar with the SBC. When I saw that job I jumped on it. "I love my job in Lorain so the fact that I applied for this says something. I wouldn't have left Lorain for just any position." Hayden, 50, interviewed last week with a six-person committee and followed up Monday with an interview with Edison superintendent Corey Ream. She was offered the job on Tuesday afternoon and accepted that evening. "I felt I had nothing to lose," she said about the interview process. "The minute I walked out of the interview I thought, 'I want that job.' The interview was very organic and natural. It was genuine, and that went both ways, clearly." Hayden says student experiences are important, and hammered home that point in her interviews. "I spoke a lot about building relationships and the importance of the student-athlete experience," she said. "If you would've asked me when I started coaching at 21 or 22, my philosophy has changed tremendously. "The student-athlete experience really matters to me. For me, I remember the bus rides and team dinners. I don't necessarily remember the wins and losses." Ream said there were 16 applicants for the job. The committee conducted seven interviews in the first round before settling on two finalists. "This is a somewhat unique position since it is both athletic director and assistant principal," Ream said. "What set Kristen apart for me was her passion to create positive experiences for our students. She realizes it is important to win games, but she also understands that the good memories, supportive relationships and life lessons developed through participation in extra-curricululars can be just as important as the win-loss column. "She spoke extensively about the need to build relationships with both students and adults. This will help her make decisions that are in the best interest of each individual she serves." Hayden's salary will be $86,000. Hayden, who lives in Amherst and has a 14-year-old son, earned her undergraduate degree from Cleveland State University and earned a master's in Exercise, Leisure and Sport from Kent State in 2006. Former athletic director Nick Wenzel, who was promoted to principal this week, was on the committee. "Nick has put everything in place," Hayden said. "I'll be able to work with him to make it a smooth transition. It seemed like a really good fit." Ream is confident Wenzel will help Hayden make a smooth transition. "There is going to be a learning curve for any new administrator, but I am confident she has the tools and the drive she needs to be successful," Ream said. "Nick will be a tremendous resource for her and I am sure they will work well together. I trust Dr. Wenzel to give her the guidance and support she needs while, at the same time, providing her the autonomy to make the position her own." Hayden also can approach her new job from a coach's perspective, having spent many years coaching soccer. She led the Lakewood (1994-2003) and Vermilion (2015-17) high school programs and also was the head coach at Oberlin College from 2007 to 2012. She also was an assistant coach at Kent State. Hayden played soccer and softball in high school. Her contract calls for an August 1 start date, but she will be at Edison for 10 days in July to get acclimated to the school. Hayden's first impression of the Edison campus was very positive. "I love the scenery, driving up looking at the athletic facilities surrounding the school. The space is amazing," she said. "The places that I've coached don't have that kind of space. The field house is nice and the new turf field will be amazing. "It's the perfect place to start (her career in administration). I feel like I have the credentials and could see myself doing this job."