Graf has assumed the role of high school and middle school athletics director in McLouth, filling the void left by former AD Jason Schroeder. Schroeder left the Class 2A school after three years to take the AD and assistant principal job at Holton, and Graf was voted in by the school board at its meeting on May 13.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous, but I’m very excited about balancing everything and being able to impact so many more kids,” Graf said. “It’s just widening that opportunity to reach more kids and make high school good for them.”

Graf spent seven years as a teacher and assistant coach in Tonganoxie before becoming McLouth’s girls coach. She’ll retain her coaching position and continue to teach special education.

Graf takes over a McLouth athletic department preparing for its first year in the newly founded Northeast Kansas League. Schedules are primarily set for 2013-14, but the school must hire two people to serve as event supervisors during athletic events. Graf served as a supervisor last year.

“I’ve spent several hours already working, but Schroeder left me in a pretty good position,” Graf said. “Mostly, it’s just a lot of organizational stuff, and I like that stuff anyway.”

Aside from setting up routine home games, Graf’s in-year responsibilities will include planning and organizing special athletic events. McLouth will host high school and middle school volleyball tournaments, a high school cross country meet, high school and middle school track and field meets and its annual boys basketball tournament this year.

After spending seven years in a Class 4A program at Tonganoxie, Graf admitted it was easier to take the AD job after spending a year getting accustomed to McLouth’s operations.

“I have the experience from being active at Tongie, but things are different because it’s a much smaller school,” she said. “It really helped being involved in that supervisor role last year.”

Schroeder’s departure also created openings for a high school boys basketball coach, middle school track and field coach and elementary school physical education teacher, but Graf said all those positions have been filled.