Everett AD Jo Levin resigns

Published 10:55 pm Monday, June 16, 2008

Jo Levin is moving on.

After four years as Everett High School’s athletic director, Levin said Monday she is leaving the position and will focus more on her teaching job.

Levin, who teaches physical education at Everett, told district administrators her decision on June 6. Levin said she had been thinking about stepping down from the athletic director position since Christmas.

“I just decided that I need a change,” Levin said.

Levin’s announcement was a little surprising, said Robert Polk, Everett School District’s athletic director. He praised Levin for making positive contributions throughout her time as an athletic director.

“She did a great job of building a good feeling around athletics in general. She is great about sending out positive notes (and) setting up gatherings … for athletes and coaches,” Polk said.

Levin, who has been teaching at Everett High since 1981, will beef up her teaching load next school year. She will teach five physical education classes, three more than she had while she was an athletic director.

The best part about being an athletic director was watching student-athletes compete, Levin said. During the busy spring season she would leave school at 3 p.m. and watch as many Seagulls teams as possible, sometimes zipping from tennis meets to softball games to soccer games.

“I really liked going to events. I feel like I was an AD that was there for the coaches and the kids,” Levin said.

She has fond memories of planning tournaments and ceremonies, and developing relationships with coaches, players and parents. One of her favorite ways to connect with athletes, she said, was to mail them signed notes that had positive messages like “You are a winner to me” and “Super job.”

Levin said she will still help organize tournaments and assist with Everett athletics when needed.

“I really love my school and my community,” said Levin, a 1977 Everett graduate.

Levin earned 12 varsity letters at Everett and starred in basketball at Western Washington University, where she was a two-time NAIA All-American.

Everett hires girls hoops coach: John Low, a 1989 Everett High grad, is the Seagulls’ new head girls basketball coach.

An assistant this past season to former Everett head coach Kelly McCoy, Low was Everett’s junior varsity boys hoops coach five seasons (2001-2006).

Low, a first-time varsity head coach, is “a longtime Everett guy and he has no plans to leave Everett. He’s also got a lot of energy and drive to want to do well,” said Polk, Everett School District’s athletic director.

Low replaces McCoy, who coached Everett to a record of 15-51 in three seasons.

Asked what he likes about coaching, Low said: “I like being involved and seeing kids learn the game and seeing them grow and change.”

Low takes over a team that is expected to return eight of 10 players from a squad that went 6-17 this past season and won a Class 3A District 1 tourney game.

“We have a good foundation returning. I see a lot of potential there,” said Low.

Levin, Everett’s athletic director the past four years, said the team’s transition from McCoy to Low will be easy: “He seemed to be very well-received by the girls.”

Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.