As nearly 30 students filled the Wiscasset Middle School gym for their physical education class last week, Jim Walsh turned, smiled and said, “If I were a rookie teacher, I would be in trouble.” With 40 years of educational experience, Walsh is anything but a rookie.

Teaching PE at the Wiscasset Middle School is not the only hat Walsh wears for Wiscasset schools. He is also the new athletic director for both the Wiscasset Middle School and Wiscasset High School, which means he oversees the entire sports programs at each school.

His duties as athletic director range from ordering equipment and supplies, hiring and evaluating coaches, scheduling officials, dealing with parents and spectators, meeting the Maine Principals’ Association guidelines and deadlines and doing whatever else is necessary to prepare for a school athletic event.

He said most athletic directors begin work in July for the fall season. But he didn’t begin until September when the district had to find a replacement for Tenlee Libby, who left to take another position.

So Walsh admitted he “has things to catch up on” and said his goals are “to survive the fall, get settled for the winter, and have things down pat by spring. “Something like the lyrics in a Kelly Clarkson song, ‘What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger,’” he said.

He’s learning that organization skills are the key for success in his new position.

Coming off a week in which he had to cancel two games in row because of rain, he says inclement weather is his “worst enemy.” Rescheduling not only the games, but the officials and transportation can be challenging he said.

At the middle school level he said he would like his athletes to keep things in perspective. “I want them to have a good experience, so they will want to play at the next level,” Walsh said. At this level, “It’s not about winning or losing.”

Although high school sports are more competitive, he still wants athletes set priorities and put academics first; he feels sports are an extension of the classroom.

Sportsmanship is also important to him. He says he has already witnessed good sportsmanship at Wiscasset games.

When asked about the declining numbers in sports participation at Wiscasset High School, Walsh said that it was difficult to increase the numbers. Kids have distractions, like jobs, that keep them from committing to a team, he said. But, “coaches need to be recruiters,” he said.

According to Walsh, Wiscasset High School has about 50 students participating in fall sports or 25 percent of the student population, which “isn’t bad,” he said.  

Although new to the position of athletic director, Walsh has an extensive athletic background. He has experience as a player, coach and even as a basketball official. He played high school football, basketball and baseball. In college he was a defensive back for the University of Maine football team.

Walsh has also coached football and baseball at both the junior high and high school levels.

After a 15-year retirement from coaching, this past year he coached the Maine Sabers, a semi-pro football team. As a New England Patriot season ticket holder, he admits that football is his favorite sport, but it is closely followed by hockey.

Since 1997 Walsh has worked in administration, holding positions as assistant principal and principal at schools in Maine. His last position as assistant principal at Old Orchard Beach High School was eliminated during budget cuts.

Walsh said the transition from Old Orchard Beach to Wiscasset has been smooth. The schools are about the same size and he likes the intimacy of the small schools.

“The principals and staff in Wiscasset have been great. Wiscasset is a close knit community that takes a lot of pride in their athletic programs,” Walsh said.