MONROE - Jeff Newcomer came within 12 hours last spring of leaving his hometown of Monroe for a job at East Carolina University overseeing 150 acres of athletic and recreational land.
That all changed with one opportunity. Newcomer, 35, was named the Monroe High School interim athletic director last year. In May, he was hired as the activities director and is a week away from the start of the school year.
"It was a pretty stressful day for my entire family," Newcomer said. "It was a roller coaster of emotions. My wife (Jen) has been amazing."
Newcomer worked as an inventory manager at Colony Brands in Monroe before taking over as interim athletic director last spring. Newcomer earned two degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: a bachelor's degree in health, human performance, recreation and coaching and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction with a special focus on sports administration. He has nine years of experience working in athletics, managing events and overseeing athletic facilities at UW-Whitewater, Washington University in St. Louis, Bradley University and Monroe High School.
He graduated from Monroe High School in 1999.
Before the school year kicks into full swing, Newcomer, in a conversation with Times sports reporter Mark Nesbitt, outlined some of his goals and expectations as Monroe's new activities director, which includes implementing coaching evaluations this year.
What has it been like to return to your hometown and take over as activities director?
It's been pretty surreal and special at the same time. I don't think I would have applied for the same position at another school because this is my hometown and where I grew up. I played football, basketball and baseball in high school. I used to roam these halls with my Monroe football jersey on and I still see some of the teachers and coaches haven't changed.
What are your job duties as activities director?
I oversee everything outside the classroom from the clubs to the service organizations and athletics. It includes the FFA, the play and German Club to make sure they are following our handbook. I have to oversee the financials for those organizations as well. I oversee athletics. My other duties include coordinating schedules, getting officials, workers, coaching evaluations and making sure athletes are eligible academically. Our student-athletes need to be leaders in the classroom and on the field and court. It takes more to be a Cheesemaker. I'm looking for different ways to grow our department and instill pride in our department and keep that partnership with the YMCA and the (Parks and Recreation) department strong.
How has your job as activities director changed from last year when you filled in as the interim athletic director?
Not too much. They (the Monroe School Board) changed it from athletic director to activities director. The oversight of those clubs and organizations, the handbook was added.
I heard that you were considering implementing coaching evaluations this season. Are you going to use coaching evaluations this season and what value do they add?
Our coaching evaluations are something we need to help our coaches and to give them an opportunity to get better. It's not to say we don't have good coaches, but we can always get better. It will mostly be used as a developmental tool to give coaches feedback and give them an opportunity to grow. As a person you always want to know how you are doing so you can improve. I did a personal check list evaluation with coaches before the season. We went over expectations and goals. At the end of the season, we will sit down and go over the season. We will go over what went good, what we need to improve and what we can change. It will give some coaches a chance to evaluate me. It will give them a sense that administration cares.
I created a coaching evaluation manual website with all of the evaluations on there so they know how they will be evaluated. It's a one-stop shop.
What do you think of Badger Conference expansion next year with Watertown joining the Badger South and Beaver Dam the Badger North?
It's an exciting time. There will obviously be some growing pains like with anything. We have Watertown on a few of our sports schedules this year. Traveling is not new to Monroe. We are looking forward to playing different teams, facing different athletes and competitions. I would like to really see the conference aligned North-South. Mount Horeb is the closest school to Monroe and they are in the Badger North. I would like to see Mount Horeb in the Badger South and Watertown and Beaver Dam in the North. We are happy to be in the Badger Conference and we are looking forward to an even bigger Badger Conference.
With revenue limits and tight school budgets, what other areas are you looking at to generate revenue?
Our Cheesemaker Booster Club does a good job every season of supporting our athletic programs. The more we can support them the more they can support us. Getting more buy-in from the coaches, families and parents can help us. Every year we will lean on our Cheesemaker Booster Club more.
You have been on the Monroe Common Council for four years. How do you like your work as an alderman?
It's great. Once we decided to move back to town, I heard a radio ad that they were looking for an alderman in Ward 4. I lived in Ward 4 and inquired. I was asked to join and haven't looked back. I really enjoy working with the aldermen, the mayor and the city to help Monroe grow to be a better place. It's nice to be on that end and to see what is coming down the pipeline. It's nice to be on the city side of it and know why things are being done a certain way.
What are your hobbies?
I like to stay active. I love sports. It's hard for me to play sports because I'm getting to the point where everything hurts. I have a lot of fun running around the yard and playing with my 2-year-old son (Hayes) and 4-year-old daughter (Finley). I like to occasionally golf and travel. My wife is a speech therapist at Abe Lincoln and we have the same schedule now.
That all changed with one opportunity. Newcomer, 35, was named the Monroe High School interim athletic director last year. In May, he was hired as the activities director and is a week away from the start of the school year.
"It was a pretty stressful day for my entire family," Newcomer said. "It was a roller coaster of emotions. My wife (Jen) has been amazing."
Newcomer worked as an inventory manager at Colony Brands in Monroe before taking over as interim athletic director last spring. Newcomer earned two degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: a bachelor's degree in health, human performance, recreation and coaching and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction with a special focus on sports administration. He has nine years of experience working in athletics, managing events and overseeing athletic facilities at UW-Whitewater, Washington University in St. Louis, Bradley University and Monroe High School.
He graduated from Monroe High School in 1999.
Before the school year kicks into full swing, Newcomer, in a conversation with Times sports reporter Mark Nesbitt, outlined some of his goals and expectations as Monroe's new activities director, which includes implementing coaching evaluations this year.
What has it been like to return to your hometown and take over as activities director?
It's been pretty surreal and special at the same time. I don't think I would have applied for the same position at another school because this is my hometown and where I grew up. I played football, basketball and baseball in high school. I used to roam these halls with my Monroe football jersey on and I still see some of the teachers and coaches haven't changed.
What are your job duties as activities director?
I oversee everything outside the classroom from the clubs to the service organizations and athletics. It includes the FFA, the play and German Club to make sure they are following our handbook. I have to oversee the financials for those organizations as well. I oversee athletics. My other duties include coordinating schedules, getting officials, workers, coaching evaluations and making sure athletes are eligible academically. Our student-athletes need to be leaders in the classroom and on the field and court. It takes more to be a Cheesemaker. I'm looking for different ways to grow our department and instill pride in our department and keep that partnership with the YMCA and the (Parks and Recreation) department strong.
How has your job as activities director changed from last year when you filled in as the interim athletic director?
Not too much. They (the Monroe School Board) changed it from athletic director to activities director. The oversight of those clubs and organizations, the handbook was added.
I heard that you were considering implementing coaching evaluations this season. Are you going to use coaching evaluations this season and what value do they add?
Our coaching evaluations are something we need to help our coaches and to give them an opportunity to get better. It's not to say we don't have good coaches, but we can always get better. It will mostly be used as a developmental tool to give coaches feedback and give them an opportunity to grow. As a person you always want to know how you are doing so you can improve. I did a personal check list evaluation with coaches before the season. We went over expectations and goals. At the end of the season, we will sit down and go over the season. We will go over what went good, what we need to improve and what we can change. It will give some coaches a chance to evaluate me. It will give them a sense that administration cares.
I created a coaching evaluation manual website with all of the evaluations on there so they know how they will be evaluated. It's a one-stop shop.
What do you think of Badger Conference expansion next year with Watertown joining the Badger South and Beaver Dam the Badger North?
It's an exciting time. There will obviously be some growing pains like with anything. We have Watertown on a few of our sports schedules this year. Traveling is not new to Monroe. We are looking forward to playing different teams, facing different athletes and competitions. I would like to really see the conference aligned North-South. Mount Horeb is the closest school to Monroe and they are in the Badger North. I would like to see Mount Horeb in the Badger South and Watertown and Beaver Dam in the North. We are happy to be in the Badger Conference and we are looking forward to an even bigger Badger Conference.
With revenue limits and tight school budgets, what other areas are you looking at to generate revenue?
Our Cheesemaker Booster Club does a good job every season of supporting our athletic programs. The more we can support them the more they can support us. Getting more buy-in from the coaches, families and parents can help us. Every year we will lean on our Cheesemaker Booster Club more.
You have been on the Monroe Common Council for four years. How do you like your work as an alderman?
It's great. Once we decided to move back to town, I heard a radio ad that they were looking for an alderman in Ward 4. I lived in Ward 4 and inquired. I was asked to join and haven't looked back. I really enjoy working with the aldermen, the mayor and the city to help Monroe grow to be a better place. It's nice to be on that end and to see what is coming down the pipeline. It's nice to be on the city side of it and know why things are being done a certain way.
What are your hobbies?
I like to stay active. I love sports. It's hard for me to play sports because I'm getting to the point where everything hurts. I have a lot of fun running around the yard and playing with my 2-year-old son (Hayes) and 4-year-old daughter (Finley). I like to occasionally golf and travel. My wife is a speech therapist at Abe Lincoln and we have the same schedule now.
