BUCYRUS — There will be a changing of the guard in the Bucyrus High School athletic department effective July 31.
Current Redmen athletic director, Rick Rawson, announced his retirement at the end of his contract. His replacement, Kelli Williams, was hired shortly after Rawson’s announcement and for the past several weeks, the two have been working on the transition.
After 32 years in the Bucyrus school district, the decision to leave was not an easy one for Rawson. Ultimately, family responsibilities compelled him to make the move.
“I was getting pulled in too many directions,” Rawson said. “It didn’t start just this year. The biggest factor was my mom’s health.”
Sadly, his mother passed away on July 13, but Rick’s family responsibilities are far from over. His father survives and is still living on his own in Fremont. Dad has health issues of his own.
“After 32 years, it was just the right time,” Rawson said of the decision. “I wasn’t planning on (going) more than 35 anyway. The strains on my time were just too much.”
Prior to being the athletics and transportation director for the past five years, Rawson was a math teacher and coached football. He was an assistant on the varsity staff and coached freshmen and junior varsity.
Rawson eventually served as assistant offensive coordinator and in 2001 was promoted to defensive coordinator. He also broke down film after varsity games Friday nights.
When the opening was posted for Rawson’s job, Kelli Williams jumped at the chance to make a career change. Williams has been the head softball coach at Heidelberg for the past three years, so becoming a high school AD is a definite change in career direction.
“I thought it was a good time for a change,” Williams said. “I’ve been coaching for 11 years. I saw the opening and it was close to home.”
Williams grew up in Celina and still has family there. The trip from Bucyrus to Celina is only about an hour and forty-five minutes.
“I will miss coaching and the close interaction with the girls,” Williams said. “I will have that as an AD as well. But it will be with more sports to go to and be part of rather than being in charge of one sport.”
While she will miss the direct coaching aspect, Williams views this as an opportunity to branch out.
“I won’t be making the decisions, but I will enjoy sitting back and watching other coaches,” Williams said. “That’s my excitement for the job.”
Being new to the area, Williams intends to get out into the community, getting to know the kids, the coaches and the city of Bucyrus better. She wants to be a supporter and set goals as time goes on.
Williams is grateful for the assistance Rawson has offered during the transition, despite his personal situation, and does not pretend that that she will replace him.
“Rick will be missed and cannot really be replaced,” Williams said. “With 32 years’ experience in the system, I can’t replace Rick at all. I just hope to do half as good a job as he did.”
For his part, Rawson will not miss the long hours demanded of an athletics director, especially during the school year. He will miss the interaction with the kids.
“That’s what I got into teaching for,” Rawson said. “I like to reflect on how worked with kids over the years. That part I will miss, helping inspire our kids. In 30 years, you get to the place where you are having your kids’ kids.”
Williams has some catching up to do.