Athletic Director Jim Konrad has requested a change in position for the upcoming school year according to Principal Kevin Pobst.

Pending the board of education’s approval, Konrad will return to the position of dean of students, the job he held prior to becoming athletic director.

If the change is approved, he will also return to his position as the head boys soccer coach, Konrad said.

“Although I love being athletic director, I’m far away from the kids,” Konrad said. 

Konrad was head coach at NNHS for 10 years. Before that, he was assistant coach for six years. He also played at NNHS as a student, Konrad said.

“The soccer program has always been very important to me,” he said.

During Konrad’s first two years as athletic director, he was also the head boys soccer coach. However, the district asked him to step down from coaching at the beginning of the school year because holding those two positions is a conflict of interest.

“[The district] didn’t want someone to be their own boss, which I understand,” said Konrad.

According to Pobst, Konrad will be replacing dean Montrine Johnson, who is leaving NNHS to become Neuqua Valley High School’s assistant principal of student services.

“I’m excited to look holistically at the student services department and to be able to capitalize on the good work that they already do at Neuqua,” Johnson said.

The district began accepting applications for athletic director earlier this month, Pobst said.