He got that chance earlier this year.

Engelken is Tonganoxie High School’s newest athletics director.

Engelken, who has taught and coached at various places in Kansas, along with a stint in the Southwest, comes to THS after eight years as athletics director in Newton.

The move to northeast Kansas was two-fold for Engelken.

That Newton district was doing some consolidation of its administration positions and Engelken, who student taught at Shawnee Mission South, enjoyed the area right out of college and always wanted to return.

“I always had in the back of my mind getting back in the Kansas City area at some point and time,” he said.

Engelken actually grew up in the Chicago area and attended Kansas State University, which was his father’s alma mater.

He graduated from Benet Academy just outside of Chicago in 1985 and then earned an education degree in 1990. He earned a master’s in education administration in 2007.

From Shawnee Mission South, Engelken headed to Raton, N.M., where he taught and was an assistant basketball coach.

After a short stint there, he came back to Kansas.

He taught and was AD and head boys basketball coach at Bern High School in Bern, a Class 1A school near Seneca along the Nebraska border in Nemaha County.

From there, Engelken took the top job on the boys basketball staff at Northern Heights, a school just outside Emporia. He taught and coached there for six years.

Engelken’s next stop was Parsons, where he was a teacher and head basketball coach for three years.

His final stop before Newton was Herington, a district south of Junction City.

There, he taught and served as head boys basketball coach for three years. He also served as the school’s AD during his third year at HHS.

During his career, Engelken has taught various courses, including American history and government, economics and political science.

At THS, he will teach leadership courses, along with an ACT prep course to complement his athletics and activities director duties.

The new AD has been settling in to his new job and has been pleased with his latest gig.

“It’s all fantastic,” he said “There’s so many great people here. Every one I’ve met has been incredibly friendly and helpful to me.

“It’s obviously a wonderful experience. I love the community and love the facilities.”

At THS, Engelken looks to continue his philosophy of operating an athletics department.

“I firmly believe that my job and the job of the coaches of an athletics department is for the kids,” he said. “That’s what we’re here for. That’s what we do … provide an important aspect of the educational system. Not just sports. Band, scholars’ bowl, debate — they’re all important aspects.”

Engelken also said those athletics and academic programs often become the face of the community

“I’m here to give them as many opportunities for them to experience and to learn various aspects of life, like teamwork, that you oftentimes don’t or can’t get in a classroom setting,” he said.

The new THS AD doesn’t have a great deal of spare time, but he said he enjoys spending time with his family and hits the golf courses when he can.

Engelken replaces Brandon Parker, who served as the school’s athletics director the past 12 years. Parker resigned from the post earlier this year, but continues to teach and coach in the district.