Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Athletics topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears athletics update: new assistant athletic director, emphasis on middle-school feeder programs
Summary
The board heard an athletics update that named Jerome Mathis and incoming assistant athletic director and head basketball coach Ty White (starting July 1) and described coaching vacancies, sports offerings and plans to begin middle-school-focused planning for feeder programs.
Assistant Superintendent of Operations J. Martinez presented a 2024-25 athletics report and previewed planning for the 2025-26 year, saying the district has coaching vacancies at multiple levels and will emphasize middle-school programs as a feeder system to Petersburg High School.
Martinez said former NFL kickoff returner Jerome Mathis is the new head football coach at Petersburg High School and that Coach Ty White will start as assistant athletic director and head basketball coach July 1. Martinez said the district will assign one shift to support elementary and middle school youth programs so those programs can feed into the high school and noted plans for expanded banquet recognition for athletes.
The presentation listed vacancy needs at Vernon Johns Middle School (soccer, cheer, boys basketball), and at Petersburg High School (various coaches including outdoor/indoor track and tennis coaches). Martinez said the district has 22 varsity sports and activities across seasons and reported 265 participants with near gender parity.
Board members urged attention to mental-health services for student athletes and to building elementary-level feeder programs (T-ball leagues and Parks & Recreation partnerships) to improve long-term competitiveness. Several board members also suggested facility improvements — notably a more suitable tennis court location — and urged stronger alignment with local recreation agencies for feeder programming.
Ending: Martinez and the board said they will return with a planning timeline after Coach White starts and will present phased rollout options for middle- and elementary-level activities that align with available staffing and facilities.
