Seneca's New AD Gearing Up for First Season at the Helm

As the 2011 high school sports season approaches in Montgomery County and student athletes prepare to get back into their daily routines, new athletic director Jesse Irvin has a distinct vision for the Germantown school's athletic program.

"I want Seneca to be a place where people are coming to watch a football, a soccer or a field hockey game regardless of whether they have a child here because they want to be a part of the school and the community,” said Irvin. “That's what we're trying to create here."

Before coming to Seneca Valley, spent the prior three seasons as the head boys’ basketball coach at Before he coached basketball at Northwest, he spent three seasons at Seneca Valley as an assistant athletic director and assistant basketball coach.

As Seneca’s new AD, Irvin said he plans to spread awareness about the school's athletic teams through social media, using Facebook and Twitter to engage with the community. He said he wants to create a culture where academic importance is placed above athletic success and where integrity and character take priority over on-the-field achievements. 

"I just want to see our teams grow. I want to see our athletes progress and be better off at the end of each season than they were when they started off," Irvin said. "It doesn't always necessarily mean winning. I want to establish an environment with a good, structured program where our coaches are teachers and educators first and [are] worrying about athletics second because we're here to take care of their academics first."

Seneca Valley is no stranger to athletic success. Its girls varsity basketball team is less than two years removed from an undefeated state championship-winning season and its football team is a perennial contender. But, even though the Screamin' Eagles have captured 12 state titles, more state titles than any other team in Maryland history, it's been nine seasons since Seneca brought home the championship, making it the longest drought since the school opened its doors in 1974.

But Irvin is confident the football program will soon be able to return to its former glory under eighth-year coach . 

"We have a great coaching staff in place with a great plan to make this team as successful as possible,” Irvin said.  “It's just a matter of finding the right players to buy into it, and so far from what I've seen they are buying into it, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what they do on the field."