By Spencer Bodow
Springtime may just be the greatest time for sports. With March Madness, NBA and NHL Playoffs, and MLB opening day, the sports world gets excited when flowers bloom. However, so much has been flipped upside down amid the pandemic and it has deeply hurt sports everywhere. Still, Tempe Prep has not forgotten about its sports. Doug Seagrave was recently announced as next year’s Athletic Director.
Doug Seagrave was brought to TPA to win and that is what he fully intends to do. With his valuable experience, Mr. Seagrave believes he is able to maximize the potential of both athletes and coaches as an athletic director.
The two keys to Mr. Seagrave’s plan are preparation and relationships. The preparation includes facilities, equipment, and training. He plans to also implement a strength, speed, and conditioning program for any student who wants high quality training in their offseason.
As for the relationships, Mr. Seagrave wants “coaches that build positive relationships with students and families while doing a great job teaching their sport. The coaches need to motivate and push their athletes to achieve while coaching in a positive manner consistent with the mission and values of TPA.” The relationships are what Mr. Seagrave believes create enthusiasm for teams to play at their highest potential.
It is an optimistic time for Tempe Prep athletics. As Doug Seagrave takes the reins, there is not very much to worry about. He comes with great experience and knowledge, and also allows himself to be immersed in a new school. He says, “I am very much looking forward to getting on campus so I can be an integral part of the TPA family. Being with students on campus is one of my greatest joys.”
Most of the reason our school is a top 20 school in Arizona is not our athletics. And yet, with a determined Athletic Director, our school shouldn’t be far from having some championships to boast about.
Mr. Seagrave brings impressive record with him
By Sama Allam
Tempe Prep is proud to welcome a new Athletic Director, to start on July 1. Doug Seagrave, formerly the AD at Lafayette Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Indiana, had resigned from his position to further focus on and be with his family. Before Lafayette Jefferson, Seagrave also had experience as the AD for Indianapolis Cathedral HS, Triton Central HS, and Warren Central HS. Throughout his career as an AD, Seagrave has played a role in winning 26 state championships and 2 national championships.
At his previous schools, Mr. Seagrave and his co-workers helped “hundreds of athletes realize their dream of playing in college. At least 150 of those athletes were at the Division 1 level.” Additional accomplishments include having coaches win several state, and 1 national, coach of the year awards. This success also extends to the athletes, several having been named state player of the year in their sport.
In the fall of 2018, Mr. Seagrave and his family moved to Scottsdale. His most recent position was at Rancho Solano HS as the Academic Compliance Officer and athletic department assistant.
Mr. Seagrave is confident in his abilities to lead the Tempe Prep Athletics Department, saying his past experiences have prepared him for this position. Over the years, Mr. Seagrave has refined his philosophy for elevating athletic programs, stating, “I bring that successful philosophy and experience with me in everything I do at Tempe Prep.”
Surrounded by many great coaches, athletes, and faculty throughout his career, Mr. Seagrave offers a new, rich perspective on administering the athletic programs at Tempe Prep. While Tempe Prep might not become an athletic powerhouse overnight, some big changes are going to be made, it seems like, with the new AD, Mr. Seagrave.