Twenty-three days after announcing the departure of current Athletic Director Nick Kocsis, the Parker community received the announcement that faculty member Madi Maldonado will step into the role of Interim Director of Athletics the 2026–27 school year. Kocsis, who served as Athletic Director during the 2024-2026 school years, will be pursuing other opportunities at the end of the school year, according to the announcement from April 2. “Fortune favors the bold,” Kocsis said, providing a word of advice for the incoming Athletic Director.
Maldonado is completing her fifth year at Parker and has served in a variety of roles across various grades and divisions at Parker. These roles include cross-divisional Physical Education Teacher, Physical Education Department Chair, ninth grade Gradehead, Upper School Advisor, and faculty and staff DEIB Committee member. Maldonado has also coached basketball and softball at the varsity level and volleyball for the Middle School. “[All my roles] have fulfilled me in every way,” Maldonado said. With her cross-divisional experience and passion for creating bonds with students, Maldonado believes that, as Athletic Director, she has unique knowledge of Parker as an institution and the students’ needs.
Athletics have served as a central focus throughout Maldonado’s life. In addition to playing volleyball, softball, and basketball growing up in Chicago, she played at the varsity level for these sports at Lane Tech College Prep and was a Division III softball player at her alma mater, Kenyon College. Prior to her teaching career at Parker, Maldonado taught and coached at Maret School in Washington, D.C.
Teachers and faculty members, however, aren’t the only members of the Parker community affected by changes in the athletic department. Through three seasons and 49 Middle and Upper School teams, the Athletic Department and the role of Athletic Director is important to students. Dal Harrell, Upper School Girls Student Athletic Council head and track and cross country captain, has suggestions for how to support student athletes and the athletic department. “Ms. Maldonado can best support our athletic programs by really utilizing social media,” Harrell said. By posting updates about athletics, games, and successes, Harrell believes that Maldonado can benefit Parker’s athletic programs. According to Harrell, face-to-face interaction and conversation is also important to developing athletics, and Maldonado should promote athletes and athletic department collaboration by “meeting with the captains,” Harrell said.
Maldonado is the first interim Athletic Director in the history of Parker Athletics. Previously, the role had been held as a full-time position beyond a one-year term, in hopes of fostering a more stable, knowledgeable athletic department with stronger student relationships. Maldonado sees the struggles of her new-found role. “The nature of an interim role can feel dichotomous; balancing being an agent of change and maintaining the stability of the department,” Maldonado said.
Harrell, however, doesn’t think the “interim” nature of Maldonado’s role will negatively impact the Athletic Department. “I think that having an interim athletic director, especially Ms. Maldonado, is going to set us in a great direction,” Harrell said. “She’s a go-getter, and I know she’s going to get important things done.”
Sophomore Grace Hatley, who has played softball under Maldonado’s direction, ties her values as a coach to the position of Interim Athletic Director.. As a coach, Maldonado has a “drive for winning that strengthens the team overall,” Hatley said. As Interim Athletic Director, the experience of coaching multiple girls sports across different seasons gives Maldonado both the information and experience to take Parker athletics to the next level in her new role. “I think her motivation for winning in our sports and succeeding will also be a good quality to being Athletic Director,” Hatley said.
Maldonado has many plans for the future of Parker Athletics, revolving around issues she knows “all too well” and the general improvement of Parker Athletics. Maldonado’s top priority is “cultivat[ing] a competitive and joyful athletics culture.” By creating a positive culture, Maldonado hopes to uplift varsity teams, create a stronger pipeline from Middle School to Upper School sports, and ensure that every athlete feels valued and appreciated.
Beyond creating positive team environments, Maldonado aims to tackle the hot topics within the Parker Athletic Department. “As Athletic Director, I will ensure our department does everything we can to… ensure our girls and boys teams are receiving equitable treatment,” Maldonado said. For years, gender inequity has been an important topic in the Parker Community, one that has remained top of mind for many student athletes. Maldonado, however, has developed new strategies to tackle athletic inclusion. She plans to make strategic decisions on facilities usage, budgets, ceremonies, and social media highlights to highlight each sport, regardless of gender or previous popularity and fandom.
Overall, Maldonado is “excited to have the opportunity to enhance [the Athletic Department,]” and with her years of experience in the Parker community and athletics, there is “no doubt,” Harrell said, that Maldonado will make great changes to the athletic department.
