Allen Jefferson has been a fixture at Arlington High School sports events for years.
When the Eagles play their home football opener this fall at Larson Stadium, Jefferson plans to be there, as usual. But this time he’ll have a very different perspective.
Jefferson has decided to retire after 12 seasons as Arlington’s athletic director and 21 years at the school. He submitted his resignation letter last month.
After working in education for 31 years, the 54-year-old said he’s excited to root for Arlington without getting distracted by the numerous responsibilities of an athletic director.
Asked why he decided to resign, Jefferson said he still loves the job but he’s ready to try something new. He plans to help his wife run their meal-preparation business in Burlington and eventually pick a new path.
“It’s kind of like fishing. I’ll throw the hook in the water and see if somebody bites,” said Jefferson.
After participating in football, basketball and track at Camas High in Southwest Washington, Jefferson studied at the University of Washington. He taught history and coached boys basketball at Arlington before becoming the school’s athletic director.
The best part of being an AD is watching kids compete, he said. One of his favorite experiences came recently when he coordinated the Class 3A District 1 boys and girls basketball tournaments at Arlington.
Despite putting in a few exhausting 15-hour days, he savored the tourneys.
“That was just so much fun to see the other schools come in and play,” Jefferson said. “I enjoy putting on those kinds of things.”
“That was kind of my last hurrah,” he said.
Marsh among Hall of Fame inductees
Curt Marsh, a 1977 Snohomish High grad, will be inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame April 16 in Renton.
Marsh, a lineman, starred on Snohomish’s 1976 football team that won a state championship. He later became an All-American at the University of Washington and played seven seasons in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl ring with the Raiders.
In 2005 Marsh was named No. 9 on The Herald’s list of Snohomish County’s greatest athletes.
The other 2008 WIAA Hall of Fame inductees, grouped by category, are:
Athletes — Pat Connors, Aileen McManus and Dan Strode; Fine Arts — Ruben Van Kempen; Program — DeSales baseball; Coaches — Cash Stone, Maggie Trimble and Chuck Wyborney; Official — Clyde Pock; Administrator — Walt Thorp.
For tickets to the Hall of Fame luncheon, call 425-282-5237 or send an e-mail to abarnes@wiaa.com.
Prairie guard earns Gatorade hoops award
Ashley Corral, a point guard from Prairie High, was named the 2007-08 Gatorade Washington Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Corral, a 5-foot-9 senior who will play for the University of Southern California, averaged 19.0 points, 5.0 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 steals while leading Prairie to third place in the 4A state tournament.
Named to the McDonald’s All-American Game roster, Corral set 4A state-tourney career records for points, 3-point baskets and steals.
Before she moved to Brush Prairie after fifth grade, Corral played with Jackson’s Kristi Kingma and Meadowdale’s Eryn Jones on the Mill Creek Wolfpack select team.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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