After close to a year of full-scale sports for East Jefferson Rivals athletics, the program is searching for a new, full-time athletic director to manage the Rivals, starting in fall 2022.

To further unify the athletics merger between Chimacum and Port Townsend high schools, one person will take the reins of athletic director.

Port Townsend School District posted a job listing last month for an athletic director.

Since then, the school district has found two potential fits for the role, with both set to meet with a committee of coaches, student athletes, families, and staff from both school districts Monday, April 18.

“We want a leader that promotes a cohesive culture of sportsmanship … a strong work ethic, flexibility, adaptability, and open-mindedness,” said Superintendent Linda Rosenbury of the Port Townsend School District. “We’ve received some applications and have two candidates.”

The athletics program wants “someone who will be strong working with both [Chimacum and PT] boosters and alumni,” Rosenbury said.

After meeting with the committee Monday, coaches, student athletes, families, and staff will make a decision to choose one of the candidates to take the role, or go back to the drawing board for new options.

“We’re hoping one can rise to the top and the committee is comfortable moving forward with one candidate,” Rosenbury said.

As for when the hire would be announced, “the best case would be by end of month,” she added.

The current athletic director responsibilities have been shared between Carrie Beebe of Chimacum School District and Philip Mackey-Moseley of the Port Townsend School District. Both of them voiced concerns during the year over being stretched thin by school responsibilities and athletics duties, and asked administrators to switch to one athletic director for both schools.

Mackey-Moseley will switch to full-time dean of students for Port Townsend High, while Beebe will move to a full-time role teaching English and elective classes at Chimacum High.

“They were part of [new athletic director] conversations and did a great job collaborating this year,” Rosenbury said of the two. “This [decision] was based purely on reflection from this year, we didn’t realize we needed it.”

With the Rivals athletics merger still in its early years, both school districts are continuing to evaluate the program and look for areas to improve or excel, starting with the athletic director role.

“We’re pioneers in combining athletics. There’s no blueprint, we’re learning as we go,” Rosenbury said.

The superintendent said the change in roles won’t have a big impact on students, parents, and others involved with the Rivals.

“I think parents will feel it but not intensely, it’s more of a business decision,” she said.

“We don’t think students feel it quite as much. It won’t change student experiences.”