Rerick new AD at GF

Grand Forks Public Schools named Mark Rerick athletic director Monday, but don’t expect any immediate changes when Rerick steps into his new role.

“I know full well I don’t have to do anything fancy,” Rerick said. “Todd (Olson) is a wonderful athletic director. He has great things in place. I don’t have to change the world. I need to step into a spot where my first year I just figure out what he has in place.”

Rerick, a former Hillsboro High School football coach and current Dickinson High School athletic director, was approved by the Grand Forks School Board at its Monday meeting.

“We’re pleased to have a candidate of Mark’s background and expertise leading our athletic department,” Grand Forks assistant superintendent Jody Thompson said through a release.

Rerick, 34, beat out six final candidates who interviewed for the position.

Rerick replaces Grand Forks athletic director Todd Olson, who was named the Fargo Public Schools activities director in April. Olson has been the Grand Forks AD since 2005.

The only hesitation in applying for the Grand Forks position, Rerick said, was the relationships formed in Dickinson.

“Dickinson is a fantastic community,” he said. “I really formed a bond with the community.”

The professional opportunity, however, was too good to pass up.

“It ultimately felt like a good career move,” Rerick said. “Having spent time in the area, it’s a place I enjoy.”

The biggest change for Rerick will be the larger district, he said.

“I’m coming from a place with one middle school and one high school and now I’ll more than double that,” Rerick said. “My strength in the past has been relationships with coaches. My biggest task in Grand Forks will be to try to develop those positive relationships with twice as many coaches.”

Rerick, who will begin his duties in Grand Forks on July 1, was head football coach at Hillsboro for eight seasons, including a North Dakota 9-man state championship in 2008. Rerick spent four years as Hillsboro athletic director.

In 2010, Rerick became athletic director at Dickinson. He’s also the assistant high school principal.

Rerick received his undergraduate degree from Valley City State, while earning his postgraduate degree from UND.

Miller is a sports writer at the Fargo Forum

Tags: high school, sports