“Our number one goal should be to be the top of our class in the ISL, win state tournaments, and more,” Director of Athletics Nick Kocsis said. Since his first day on July 8, Kocsis has “started new systems and added structure to the department,” Assistant Director of Athletics and Operations Ellen Sandquist said. “He has brought a certain intensity to the department and a vision that includes being successful in the win column which is something that Parker hasn’t really emphasized in the past.”
Since he was young, Kocsis has been part of sports and surrounded by administrators. “It was the obvious choice for me. I had thought of being an Athletic Director from the time I was a senior in high school. I was the first person in my family to go to college and when it came time to pick a major, I knew that I liked school, and I loved sports. Coaching and sports have always been a part of my life,” Kocsis said.
Though Kocsis has always been involved in sports, before he was named Director of Athletics at his previous school in Michigan, he was a history teacher. “I taught AP European History and general history, and I was coaching the whole time,” Kocsis said. Although he found teaching fulfilling, Kocsis didn’t have the opportunities to change school policy in the way that he wanted. “As a teacher you are able to advocate for policy, but you are not actually able to make that change unless you’re an administrator,” Kocsis said. So, when given the opportunity, Kocsis became the Director of Athletics.
“My challenge there was to bring it not only up to the level of the other schools but raise that level to excel in the league, and we had a ton of success. While I was there we won three state titles and a bunch of other awards, but most of all it was fun to see the culture evolve and grow into a school that really cared about their athletics, which is what I want to do here,” Kocsis said. “Nick is probably the most serious director I have worked with in my 17 years here, and I’m excited to see what he does with the rest of this year and on,” Sandquist said.
Since becoming Director of Athletics at Parker, Kocsis has already started putting systems into place that he believes will “increase our drive to win. At the moment, all of our energy is being put into building systems. It’s not cool or fun, but it’s what it’s going to take,” Kocsis said.
“One of the main things Mr. Kocsis has brought to the athletics department, so far, has been organization. Recently, in the first SAC meeting, he created a Google Spreadsheet for captains and members of SAC to organize a list of ‘to-dos’ for the athletic department to make sure that everyone is being heard and that their concerns won’t be pushed to the side,” Girls Student Athletic Council Head and senior Audrey Smith said. From that organization, Kocsis hopes to evolve Parker’s mindset when it comes to Athletics. “Part of what drives me is the fact that, I think Parker has a reputation that it’s not known for sports. I haven’t heard that directly from anyone here but I think people think that from other schools,” Kocsis said. “I’m here to help push and direct and work really hard, but at the end of the day, the things that people say they want are going to come down to whether or not the school really wants them. I really want them and I’m willing to make them happen but only if that’s what the school really wants.”
Kocsis has already begun discussing next year’s homecoming in the hope of “putting things in that we want and taking out things we don’t need,” said Kocsis. “We want people to be excited about the school colors and having Latin as a rival. Those are the things that we should care about as a community to improve our mindset around sports and get people excited for them. The school spirit people are telling me they want to feel is something that I haven’t seen yet, and that might just be because we don’t know how to do it.”
“It’s hard to come into Parker because we have our own way in things, and I think he has done a really good job embracing Parker culture and being able to succeed at the same time,” Sandquist said.
“The people here have been great welcoming me in, and that’s one of the things I am loving about Parker, and Mr. Starks was really great in showing me the ropes and helping me out with anything I needed,” said Kocsis.
As the year moves on, Kocsis has shifted his focus to the winter and spring sports, and has already made plans for next fall. “I believe that my primary job is to help create the product on the field with the players and the coaches, and have people be excited about that. We can have light shows and all the posters we want, but it’s a lot more exciting when people are winning,” said Kocsis.
