In this week’s Hallway Voices, we learned more about South Milwaukee School District athletics and activities director Ante Udovicic, who talked to us about what it’s like to be in charge of the district’s middle and high school athletes and activities.
Udovicic said he gets to work with hundreds of student-performers and student athletes every year, along with coaches and advisers.
“It’s basically like being in charge of all aspects of a sports team, except we have over 20 of them. From bills and transportation to schedules and officials and everything in between. It’s a very time-consuming, but very rewarding job,” he said in an email to a reporter, adding that he takes “a lot of pictures and video clips at events.”
Udovivic said he has always been passionate about sports, loved coaching tennis and had always thought about becoming a teacher. So when the position opened up, Udovicic said he had to apply.
“It combines my passion for sports and a love of helping people. This career helps me to have an impact on future generations as if I were a teacher, just more after school and on weekends! It also has given me a new passion of seeing the kids on the stage for theater and music or at other activities,” he said.
Here’s what else Udovicic told us.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love hosting games, tournaments and events. I get to see the kids at their best and sometimes at their worst, and try to help pick them up and cheer them on at both. We can show off our great facilities, but more importantly we can showcase our great hospitality as a program. I also love going to events on the road, because I can really be a fan.
What’s a fun fact people may not know about you?
I graduated from Marquette University Law School, but I commuted from South Milwaukee to Chicago for my first year of law school at the DePaul University College of Law. I did that in part to help care for my grandmother, and help a South Milwaukee [High School] doubles team win a WIAA girls tennis state championship.
What do you like to do away from work?
I love taking my two dogs to the dog park, watching sports or a good movie.
Where was the last place you went on vacation and what did you do while you were there?
Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Ate a lot of great food, relaxed at the pool, enjoyed a dog rescue and one ping-pong tournament at our resort.
If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?
Tough question; there are so many to pick from. I would pick Dick Schaap, Hall of Fame sportswriter and sports broadcaster. He knew so many people, and talking with him would probably make me feel like I was having dinner with many more.
Hallway Voices is a weekly column during the school year where public school staff answer five questions about their work and life. Contact Alec Johnson at 262-875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com to nominate an educator, staff member or volunteer you think we should feature.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Job allows South Milwaukee’s AD to combine passion for sports, helping people
Reporting by Alec Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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