Jeff Harter had been athletic director for the past two years when he decided to step down from his role last school year. There wasn’t one specific reason for his decision, he said. 

“Athletic Director is a fun job but a very time-consuming job, a lot of hours. My girls are eight, five, and two right now,” he said. He said he felt that stepping down would be better for his family. Teacher and tennis coach Dale Eckenburg stepped up to the role to replace Mr. Harter. 

Mr. Harter is still staying involved with athletics and the school in the ways he can while still maintaining the family time that is so important to him. He took up the job of being the Athletic Leadership teacher a few years back and has been working to make it more than just sports and football. He strives to make his students better people as well as keep our school spirited. 

“Athletics is such a big job,” he said. “It needs more people involved, more students. It needs adults to be able to guide and mentor those students.”  He takes these students under his wing and works with them to get involved and inspire others to get involved. He said he wants to bring the RHS community together and help this school feel closer than before. 

Since stepping down, he has had more time for the important things in his life and still stays connected to the campus.

“[Athletic leadership] is still definitely keeping me busy,” he said. “I’m having to juggle my schedule and make sure I can be in multiple places and do all the different things that we’re trying to do to help out.”