St. Vincent-St. Mary is turning to a leader in sports with vast experience at another well-known Catholic high school in Summit County.
On Tuesday, June 2, STVM announced it hired Mark Hassman as its new athletic director. Hassman’s resume includes more than 30 years as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal and AD.
Hassman served as Walsh Jesuit’s athletic director from 2017-25. Before becoming Walsh’s AD, Hassman worked as the school’s principal for 11 years and as an assistant principal for three years.
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At STVM, Hassman replaces Kyle Sasala, who became the Fighting Irish’s AD in 2022 and left last month for the same job at GlenOak.
“We are thrilled to welcome one of Ohio’s most respected athletic directors to the Irish family,” STVM president Dave Vitatoe said in a news release. “At the outset, we targeted experienced candidates with a successful track record and clear standard of excellence. Not only does Mark Hassman meet those requirements, his integrity, authenticity, and focus on building meaningful relationships will be felt by our coaches, student-athletes, and broader community. This is a significant addition to the leadership team at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.”
STVM hired Hassman after a committee of administrators, board members, booster club leadership and coaches conducted a search for Sasala’s successor, according to the school’s release.
“It is an honor to lead an athletic program with such a rich and storied history and to be part of the STVM community, which embraces the unique strengths and passions of each student as they strive to reach their full academic and athletic potential,” Hassman said in the release. “I look forward to supporting our coaches, student-athletes, and families while helping continue the tradition of excellence that defines St. Vincent-St. Mary.”
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: St. Vincent-St. Mary hires Mark Hassman as athletic director
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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