After a national search, Covenant College landed on one of its own to lead the athletics department. John Hirte was named the new Director of Athletics, announced Dr. Brad Voyles.
Hirte steps into the role after serving as an assistant director of athletics since 2017. He becomes the 10th director in department history.
"I'm thrilled to step into this role as the next Director of Athletics at Covenant," said Hirte. "I want to thank Dr. J. Derek Halvorson, Dr. Brad Voyles, and the search committee for offering me this opportunity. I also want to thank Dr. Tim Sceggel for providing me with constant opportunities for growth as an athletic administrator over the past 10 years. I look forward to leading the life-changing work that's going on within our department of using intercollegiate athletics as a means of growing our student-athletes in their love and knowledge of Jesus."
An alumnus and a longtime staffer at Covenant, Hirte spent the last 10 years as one of the top tennis coaches in the region and was elevated to assistant director of athletics in May 2017. He will retain his status as head men's and women's tennis coach at Covenant as he enters his 11th year in the role in 2022-23.
He earned a bachelor's degree in history from Covenant in 2012 and was a four-year member of the men's tennis team.
"Throughout my time working in the athletic department, I've been grateful to work for and alongside a group of coaches and ADs who have modeled well what it looks like to maintain an excellent knowledge of sport and intercollegiate athletics with a passion for discipleship," added Hirte.
As a coach, Hirte is the winningest head coach in both men's and women's tennis program history. He was a four-time USA South Coach of the Year award winner and has five conference regular season titles between his two programs. In 10 years at the helm of both programs, Hirte has 184 wins.
Holding administrative responsibilities since 2012, Hirte excelled and was promoted to assistant director in 2017. His oversight included compliance and facilities along with serving on the senior leadership team under previous director Dr. Tim Sceggel.
Hirte takes over a department that moves into the newly-formed Collegiate Conference of the South beginning in the 2022-23 academic year. Covenant is one of nine charter members of the conference joining Agnes Scott, Berea, Belhaven, Huntingdon, LaGrange, Maryville, Piedmont, and Wesleyan.
"My goal is that our athletic department continues to be a place that seeks to glorify Christ above all else and that He is made known through the efforts of our coaches and our student-athletes as they pursue excellence on and off the field," continued Hirte. "I look forward to seeing those efforts yield high-quality team experiences and opportunities for championships as we move into the Collegiate Conference of the South."
Hirte and his wife, Claire, have two children.
Original source can be found here.
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