Heath Wilson walks into the middle of the Northwest gym, surrounded by chattering high school students, the last note of Cougar Fight still hanging in the air. As he approaches, the only thing running through his head is the schedule.
The schedule.
Not the thousands of teenagers sitting in the bleachers.
Not his new job.
The schedule.
This was his unofficial debut in the world of Northwest, and he couldn’t be more thrilled.
Wilson’s love for sports started with T-ball, soccer and eventually, football.
“I would say football in particular really impacted my life pretty early,” Wilson said. His coaches, in particular, his high school coach at Wagnor High School in Wagnor, Oklahoma. inspired him to become an educator.
“I always appreciated how he saw my potential and treated me as who I could be, versus what I was at the time,” Wilson said
He then went on to play football at Pittsburgh State, where he also earned his bachelor’s in physical education, master’s degree in educational leadership, and doctorate in district-level leadership.
His ultimate goal: become an athletic director.
“I knew I always wanted to get into that space, again, because I know the impact coaches have on students,” Wilson said.
He began his career at Mill Valley as an assistant principal and activities director.
“My primary duties were pretty much everything that wasn’t a sport,” Wilson said.
Still, he was waiting for the opportunity to be an athletic director.
After three years, it presented itself.
Shawnee Mission Northwest’s athletic director, Angelo Giacalone, had just retired, and they were on the hunt for someone new.
After his first interview, Wilson was hooked.
“I was very, very excited because I was super impressed with the district administration team, super impressed with Dr. Grumman,” Wilson said.
This was his opportunity to finally achieve what he had been working at for years.
“I really was hoping I would get the job.”
After the third interview came the offer.
Now he is a part of the future of Northwest and is looking for his next steps.
“I’m really looking forward to watching the students succeed and win and lose in the right way,” Wilson said.
