The group texts never stop. Neither do the emails, phone calls, meetings, one-on-one conversations or scheduling. There are coaches to coordinate, officials to track down, facilities to manage and, somewhere in between it all, a few minutes to find something to eat. Bo Roundy loves the mess that comes with being an athletic director.
After seven years as Davis High School’s athletic director and 21 years as a wrestling coach, Roundy recently earned his Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA), the highest professional designation offered by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Roundy pursued the designation because he wanted to continue growing professionally and strengthen the skills he uses to serve students, coaches and the Davis High community. The certification process combines leadership coursework, professional experience and a comprehensive project.
For Roundy, that project provided an opportunity to highlight one of the programs he is most passionate about: Davis High’s student leadership group. Now in its sixth year, the program brings student leaders from athletics, theater, dance, orchestra and other activities together to discuss teamwork, culture, communication, mental toughness, character and handling pressure. Roundy believes those connections are especially important at a large high school, giving students an opportunity to recognize that, despite being involved in different activities, they face many of the same challenges.
While Roundy takes pride in making sure games and events run smoothly, he says working with students is the most rewarding part of his job. He recently retired as Davis High’s head wrestling coach but plans to remain involved in athletics as an official and continue his professional development. He hopes to eventually teach courses for other athletic administrators, sharing the leadership lessons and experiences he has gained throughout his career.