Ceres High School has a new athletic director.
Longtime teacher and coach Glenn Driskell has been tapped to replace Phil de la Porte, who filled the position for 25 years.
"I hope I can improve on the good things Phil did when he was here," Driskell said. "I'll use him as a reference and in the capacity of fundraising. With his longtime standing in the community and the people he knows, that's a resource you don't want to lose."
Glenn, 51, started preparing for the new school year in 2006-07. He stopped coaching cross country so he could take on some of de la Porte's responsibilities.
"I was assistant athletic director last year," Driskell said. "They gave me one period off to do that. I did scheduling and transportation, went to all of the VOL and CIF meetings as a representative, and took care of all of the paper work for all of the coaches. I also went through training for the new American Sport Education Program."
Glenn begun his career at Ceres High in the mid-1980s.
"This is my 23rd year teaching," said Driskell, who started out as a substitute. Glenn earned his bachelor of arts degree from Cal State Stanislaus and teaching credential from Chapman University.
Driskell's forte is math. This year, he will teach honors geometry and P.E.
Glenn directed five varsity sports teams at Ceres High: boys basketball (14 years), track and field (14 years), cross country (11 years), boys tennis (two years) and softball (one year).
The 1993-94 boys basketball team posted a 27-4 overall record, earned the No. 1 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs and captured the Valley Oak League championship.
Ceres High's softball program hasn't missed the playoffs in 22 years. The streak started during Driskell's lone year at the helm in 1986.
"I've coached the sons and daughters of athletes that I had when I first got here," Driskell said. "That's kind of neat."
Glenn's first official day was on July 1. He's filled just about every open coaching position. He's also attended various meetings since being hired.
"I started thinking about becoming an athletic director 10 years ago," he said. "I actually applied for the job at Central Valley when it opened. I was one of the two finalists. They went with someone else. That was fine."
Driskell was destined to remain a Bulldog. He's called Ceres High home for over 20 years. He's built a lot of meaningful relationships.
"For me, it's very special," he said. "It's my extended family."
If Driskell has any questions pertaining to his new job, his buddy will be close by. Phil helps coach the Ceres High varsity girls basketball team.
"He's one of my closest friends," Glenn said. "We have traveled around the world together."
They've gone to Paris, Stockholm, New York, Washington D.C. and Idaho.
Glenn met Phil for the first time in December 1984.
"He was instrumental in hiring me," Driskell said.
Longtime teacher and coach Glenn Driskell has been tapped to replace Phil de la Porte, who filled the position for 25 years.
"I hope I can improve on the good things Phil did when he was here," Driskell said. "I'll use him as a reference and in the capacity of fundraising. With his longtime standing in the community and the people he knows, that's a resource you don't want to lose."
Glenn, 51, started preparing for the new school year in 2006-07. He stopped coaching cross country so he could take on some of de la Porte's responsibilities.
"I was assistant athletic director last year," Driskell said. "They gave me one period off to do that. I did scheduling and transportation, went to all of the VOL and CIF meetings as a representative, and took care of all of the paper work for all of the coaches. I also went through training for the new American Sport Education Program."
Glenn begun his career at Ceres High in the mid-1980s.
"This is my 23rd year teaching," said Driskell, who started out as a substitute. Glenn earned his bachelor of arts degree from Cal State Stanislaus and teaching credential from Chapman University.
Driskell's forte is math. This year, he will teach honors geometry and P.E.
Glenn directed five varsity sports teams at Ceres High: boys basketball (14 years), track and field (14 years), cross country (11 years), boys tennis (two years) and softball (one year).
The 1993-94 boys basketball team posted a 27-4 overall record, earned the No. 1 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs and captured the Valley Oak League championship.
Ceres High's softball program hasn't missed the playoffs in 22 years. The streak started during Driskell's lone year at the helm in 1986.
"I've coached the sons and daughters of athletes that I had when I first got here," Driskell said. "That's kind of neat."
Glenn's first official day was on July 1. He's filled just about every open coaching position. He's also attended various meetings since being hired.
"I started thinking about becoming an athletic director 10 years ago," he said. "I actually applied for the job at Central Valley when it opened. I was one of the two finalists. They went with someone else. That was fine."
Driskell was destined to remain a Bulldog. He's called Ceres High home for over 20 years. He's built a lot of meaningful relationships.
"For me, it's very special," he said. "It's my extended family."
If Driskell has any questions pertaining to his new job, his buddy will be close by. Phil helps coach the Ceres High varsity girls basketball team.
"He's one of my closest friends," Glenn said. "We have traveled around the world together."
They've gone to Paris, Stockholm, New York, Washington D.C. and Idaho.
Glenn met Phil for the first time in December 1984.
"He was instrumental in hiring me," Driskell said.
