PORT ANGELES — New Port Angeles High School athletic director Jarom Packer is off to a quick start, attending a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association AD workshop this week as he settles into one of his two new jobs at the high school.
“I was able to see the faces of the ADs I will be working with, get more familiar with eligibility rules and regulations, making sure we are current on all our processes and make sure our coaches and athletes are being safe and having fun coaching and playing their sport,” Packer said Thursday.
Packer, age 30, also will serve as the new high school assistant principal after four years in the district teaching physical education at Dry Creek Elementary.
“Initally when I applied the position was only for assistant principal, but I had finished my masters degreee in educational leadership and wanted to take the step to educational administration,”Packer said. Later in the process they added on the AD responsibilities and I thought this was a great union of two paths that I want to pursue.”
Packer said he was hoping to become an athletic director at some point in the next 10 years in a 2022 Port Angeles School District Employee Newsletter.
“Funny how life works out, isnt it,” Packer said. “Now I have two full-time jobs as AD and assistant principal. The middle school will be hiring its own athletic director to handle those duties.”
Coaching searches
Packer said the school is currently looking for an assistant boys tennis coach to assist with practices from now through mid-October.
“We are looking for an assistant boys tennis coach, we have a new head coach, coach Scott Snyder who comes to us with tons off experience from high school to the pros.
“He has said that someone doesn’t understand tennis all that well but can work in a mentoring role would be welcomed.”
Packer also mentioned the school is searching for two spring sports coaches: girls golf to replace Mike DuPuis and baseball to take over for Zac Moore. Both coaches resigned in June after leading golfers and the baseball squad to their respective state tournaments.
Girls flag football
Girls flag football, the first new WIAA-sanctioned school sport introduced since 1999, has been approved and Port Angeles plans to field a team this winter.
“Yes, flag football is a go for our ladies this winter, we haven’t posted that head coching position yet for that, but that is a go,” Packer said. “It will be as of right now, a Western Washington competition, the east side of the state has yet to declare its season because of the differences in winter conditions.
“The state competition for flag football will be in the spring. Having a season in one period and then having a state competition in another is something that isn’t new, there have been boys tennis players who qualify for state that also qualify for state with their baseball team.”
The sport was added in April vote of the WIAA representative assembly.
Flag football has grown in popularity in recent seasons, driven by generous grant funding by the Seattle Seahawks with the team spending more than $500,000 to launch girls flag football teams around the state.
The Tacoma News Tribune reported a total of 83 schools around the state fielded teams last winter. In Pierce County, 20 high schools fielded girls flag football teams last year, from large Class 4A schools like Puyallup and Emerald Ridge, Tacoma schools Silas, Mount Tahoma, Lincoln, Stadium to Foss and smaller schools.
Packer said the plan is to play Olympic League opponents, like fall football.
Exciting future
As for taking on two new positions at Port Angeles, Packer is enthused. The school will be updated thanks to a November 2024 bond passage, including a renovated gymnasium, weight room and locker rooms.
“I’m excited to help continue the good traditions that happen in our athletic department,” Packer said. “I’m looking to be innovative and to try new things. We want to continue to have successful seasons that show up on the banners [in the gym] and when student-athletes are able to look back on their time in athletics they have positive experiences and memories and have learned how to handle all types of situations.”
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@peninsuladaily news.com.
New Port Angeles High School assistant principal and athletic director Jarom Packer is pictured with his wife Merrin and three children.
New Port Angeles High School assistant principal and athletic director Jarom Packer is pictured with his wife Merrin and their three children.
