WALDPORT — Waldport Middle/High School assistant principal and athletic director Steve Cooper recently earned the distinction as a “certified athletic administrator” from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
There have been 87 athletic directors since 1997 in Oregon to earn the certificate but just nine since 2018.
To earn the certification Cooper had to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in the field of interscholastic athletic administration, including an evaluation of the candidate’s educational background, experience, and professional contributions, as well as a comprehensive written examination. The process took six years.
“I have benefited from an abundance of support by coaches, fellow athletic administrators, Lincoln County School District, principal Amy Skirvin, the Waldport community, and my family,” Cooper said. “The first person to congratulate me was my high school coach and athletic director. That’s a great feeling to be recognized by someone that has had a big influence on you.”
Cooper has been an educator for 36 years and been the assistant principal/athletic director at Waldport for five.
Based in Indianapolis, the NIAAA is the professional organization for interscholastic athletic administrators.
