Arundel High School girls basketball coach Lee Rogers (left) was named the school's new athletic director last week. He takes over for Bernie Walter, who retired last month.
by Aaron Grayagray@digitalsports.comLee Rogers and Bernie Walter go way back.
Their relationship started when Rogers, a Linwood Middle School teacher at the time, had Walter's daughter, Kelly, in his physical education class. Kelly Walter went on to become a standout athlete at the now-defunct Andover High School but it was her presence in that class which opened the door for Rogers and his education career back in 1980.
Walter, a long-time coach and athletic director, was looking for few good men to become teachers and coaches at
Arundel High School and thought Rogers fit the bill.
"When I heard the opportunity to teach at the high school level, I jumped at it," Rogers said. "I knew Bernie through his daughter so he hired me. We still joke about that today because over the years, I'm the only thing he hasn't been able to get rid of. So I guess he finally had to leave me."
After 27 years at the helm, Walter
retired from his athletic director position on July 14. Rogers, who has been an assistant athletic director under Walter for the last eight years, was promoted to the top spot last week and will officially take over as Arundel's athletic director when school starts next month.
"This is a great honor," Rogers said Wednesday. "This is an exciting time for Arundel and we have a great team in place to help continue the school's success and maintain its tradition."
Said Walter: "I think it's a great choice. Lee has worked very hard as an assiatant to me and has already done some amazing things at Arundel. He knows what he's doing and I'm sure he will do a great job."
The 56-year-old Severn resident is best known for turning the Wildcats girls basketball program into one of the most elite in the state. Arundel has won three Class 4A state titles and advanced to the state semifinals nine times since Rogers took over in 1989. The Wildcats have also won
13 Anne Arundel county championships under his watch.
Rogers has a 381-105 career coaching record with the girls team -- he coached the Arundel boys basketball team for five years prior to taking over the girls squad -- and has also coached football, track, volleyball, girls lacrosse and baseball during his 33 years in education.
"Lee has been working towards this for many years," said girls basketball assistant coach Jim Bridgett, who has been working with Rogers over the last decade. "He'll do a great job because he knows this kind of work. He's been coaching and educating student athletes for years and has a great relationship with the faculty."
Rogers said he wants to bring the same highly-disciplined approach he takes towards basketball and expand it to all sports at Arundel.
"It's all about the kids," said Rogers, who led the
Wildcats (22-6) to a 20-0 record against county competition in the 2007-08 season and an appearance in a state finals against four-time champion Eleanor Roosevelt.
"Helping the kids get better and trying to get them into college has always been my main focus and we'll continue to do that here."
Walter left big shoes to fill at the Gambrills school but Rogers said the right people are around him and that they will be successful because they work as a team. Football coaches Chuck Markiewicz and Kevin Necessary (also the boys lacrosse coach) will each serve as assistant athletic directors and will play important administrative roles during the winter when Rogers will be roaming the sidelines.
"It's going to be a lot of work but we're going to delegate responsibilities," Rogers said. "Chuck and Kevin are great resources and we've been working together this summer to get things done as a team."
With the rear expansions to the school almost complete and the new turf playing surface laid down this summer on the football field, it's been a busy few months so when Rogers first heard of Walter's retirement, he said he was shocked.
"Bernie worked so hard at getting things going and seeing them through," Rogers said. "He's such a mainstay in everything this school does. He set up everything with the new turf field and now I'm going to make sure it all works out. But just because Bernie retired doesn't mean he's not going to be around. He's still very much involved.
"I'm probably going to have to send him a check for consultant fees," Rogers joked. "Bernie has been a great help."
When Walters stepped down last month, he said that he would like to remain as baseball coach. Rogers said the coach who has won a record 10 state titles is more than welcome to retain the position.
"It is Bernie's job and he can stay as long as he wants," Rogers said. "It may not be my decision but I certainly don't want him to leave."
*Some photos used were courtesy of the Lady Wildcats Basketball web site.