Jury excited for new role as New Riegel AD

Dave Losey stepped down as New Riegel's athletic director at the end of last school year, which opened up an opportunity for Jordyn Jury to combine his passion for education and athletics together.A little more than a year after taking over the boys basketball program at New Riegel, Jury is now both boys basketball coach and athletic director."New Riegel is a tremendous school and community," Jury said. "I am very excited to serve both even further. I would not have stepped into this role if New Riegel hadn't welcomed me with such open arms, and shown me already in my short time here how much support and connectedness there is here."Jury, a 2020 graduate of Hopewell-Loudon, played basketball under his dad Roger Jury, the current boys basketball coach. Jordyn also played college hoops at Lake Erie, Heidelberg University, and then with his brother Ried at Defiance College before graduating in the spring of 2024. Ried and Jordyn both coach AAU through One True Hoops. "I've seen first hand how much high school sports can impact young people beyond wins and losses," Jordyn said. "I wanted the opportunity to help create a positive experience for every student- athlete, regardless of the sport they play."The athletic director position is part-time at NR, which works out for Jordyn. He graduated at DC with a degree in education, specifically in social studies, so he can teach in the mornings, while managing the role in the afternoon. His biggest goal is to build on what Losey started. Jordyn considers it to be important that himself, Losey, and junior high AD Steve Bouillon are visible and accessible."My goal is to continue what has made New Riegel athletics successful," Jordyn said. "As those who served in this position before me have, while looking for ways to improve the overall experience for everyone involved."The new role however, will come with some obstacles.One of the biggest challenges Jordyn sees with balancing being both an AD and the boys basketball coach is time management.That's when utilizing his staff will be essential. His assistant coaches will be doing more of the live scouting, with him doing a little more HUDL, but adjustments will happen when the season gets closer."My basketball staff, I believe, is top notch," Jordyn said. "They will do whatever it takes to help me. We have already discussed a few small changes we will make this year to help me during the process of fulfilling this role."He won't be alone either. Several of the athletic directors throughout the area have reached out to him."They said, 'Should you ever need anything, don't be afraid to reach out'" Jordyn said.There are three particular men that Jordyn knows he can go to and looks up to. Those men include current athletic director and football coach at his alma mater Brian Colatruglio, his dad Roger, and coach David Sheldon from Colonel Crawford. Roger served as athletic director at Cardington-Lincoln Local Schools as well as boys basketball coach and Sheldon served as an athletic director previously at CC and a couple other schools. He is the current head boys basketball coach for the Eagles for over 20 years."Knowing I have them to lean on is huge," Jordyn said. "My priority will always be making sure that every athletic program receives the support it deserves, not just basketball. I represent all of our sports, and I'm committed to giving each program the attention and resources it needs to be successful."This past spring, the baseball, softball and track and field teams all had success. Both the baseball and softball teams won districts and moved on to regionals. The softball team became Division VII regional runner-ups after they fell to Southeastern Local. The track team successfully sent a handful of athletes to the regional and state track meets.For the fall, the cross country team will have a new face at the helm in Alana Stevens. The volleyball team has a new coach in Emma White, a graduate of Calvert, and the girls basketball program will have a new face as well in Calvert graduate Shelby Hemminger."I am looking forward to seeing the excitement they bring to each program," Jordyn said. "As well as seeing how they will continue to build these two traditionally strong programs. I am also excited to see the growth of other sports such as bowling and wrestling here at New Riegel."The Blue Jackets are adding a girls golf team alongside the boys golf team this fall.In addition to new faces and new teams to face, NR is now officially a member of the Northern 10 Athletic Conference East Division after leaving the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division, where they had been members since 2016.While every conference presents new challenges and opportunities, the six schools that have joined the N10 will either rekindle old rivalries from the Midland Athletic League days or spark new ones to form.For NR, it allows them to have a higher level of competition, which the N10 prides itself on, and having the closer area teams in the same league allows for the Blue Jackets to have better crowds and gate sales."Our student-athletes and coaches have built a strong tradition of competing at a high level, and I expect that to continue in the Northern 10 with a great group of area teams," Jordyn said. "Ultimately, regardless of the conference, our focus remains on developing student-athletes who represent our school and community with class, hard work, and sportsmanship."