Coaches Unite at Glendale Prep Coaches Summit

The Glendale Prep Athletic Department recently held its annual Coaches Summit, an event designed to unite sports coaches, build a stronger athletic community, and discuss updates for the upcoming school year. This year’s summit was a significant step up from previous years, moving from the school’s gymnasium to the prestigious Legends Suites and Conference Center at Chase Field, providing attendees with a VIP experience in an exclusive setting.

This marks the second Coaches Summit for Glendale Prep Athletic Director John Kontak. Reflecting on the feedback from last year’s event, Kontak emphasized the importance of having all coaches from fall, winter, and spring sports meet together. “The coaches strongly stated that tearing down the walls between the different sports and supporting each other was very helpful for team building,” he explained.

The summit began with Jon Rickey, the Director of Athletics for Great Hearts Arizona and Founding Athletic Director for Glendale Prep, presenting on “where we were.” Rickey shared inspiring stories of the athletic department’s journey, highlighting its humble beginnings before the academy had a permanent home and the tremendous progress made since then.

Middle School Football Coach Ryan Harding followed with updates on “where we are now.” He spoke passionately about the collaboration between middle school and high school coaches, emphasizing the goal of preparing middle school athletes for varsity. “My goal as a middle school football coach is not just to win games, but also to get them ready for varsity. I tell the kids, ‘Hey, these varsity coaches need to know your name.’ Now, we’re very much partnered with the varsity team. We’re getting our kids involved, talking the same lingo, in hopes that these kids will want to stay and play in high school,” said Harding.

Kontak, along with Assistant Athletic Directors Noah Roundy and Tom Kontak, outlined “where we are going,” sharing their vision for the department’s future. Roundy, an alumnus of Glendale Prep, and the senior Kontak, with his extensive coaching experience, added depth and perspective to the plans.

The summit’s energy peaked when Roundy introduced an ice-breaker game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, encouraging coaches to mingle and connect. Kontak highlighted the unique makeup of Glendale Prep‘s coaching staff, which includes parents, community members, and teachers from both the upper and lower schools. Unlike many schools where coaches are also on the teaching staff, this diverse group rarely has the chance to interact, making the Summit an essential opportunity for team-building.

The event concluded with a family outing, as coaches and their loved ones enjoyed the pregame D’backs Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and got to enjoy the Arizona D’backs taking hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates, further fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among the Glendale Prep athletics staff.

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