Greater Latrobe picks assistant to serve as next athletic director
Greater Latrobe looked within to find the district’s next athletic director.
The school board Tuesday promoted Zachary Heide, the assistant athletic director, to take over the department’s top post beginning July 1. His new salary was set at $65,000.
Heide, who served in the district in various capacities for about five years, will succeed Athletic Director Mark Mears, who is set to retire Aug. 6.
“We’re excited to work with him as athletic director come July,” Superintendent Georgia Teppert said.
Heide said his goals include having more Greater Latrobe Wildcats continue their athletic careers beyond the varsity level, with district athletic facilities supporting that effort. In recent years, Greater Latrobe added a $9 million athletic complex on its high school campus.
“I’m looking forward to providing our student athletes with the best facilities” and “the best opportunities to become better athletes down the road,” he said, noting he wants to “get more of those student athletes into college so they may better themselves in the future, both academically and athletically.”
Mears served the district for 31 years and will continue in the role of wrestling coach, working with Heide in a different capacity during the 2021-22 winter sports season.
“He’ll do great,” Mears said of Heide’s pending new role. “He’s already developed a rapport and a relationship with all the boosters and all the coaches. He’s real personable. The kids love him.”
A 2012 graduate of Mt. Pleasant Area High School, Heide lives in Mt. Pleasant Township. He graduated in 2016 from Seton Hill University with a degree in sports management and a minor in business administration.
He initially joined Greater Latrobe as a high school suspension supervisor, then worked as a substitute teacher. Switching to the athletic department, he began as a secretary and advanced to assistant athletic director.
Also at its April 20 meeting, the school board will consider approval of retirement resignations for: elementary life skills teacher Cynthia Planinsek; kindergarten teacher Mary Helen Vasinko; and confidential secretary Karen Townsend, who works in the central pupil services office.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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