1 week Ago By Rich Allen, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Aspen High School Athletic Director John Castrese addresses students at athlete signing day on May 25, 2023. Castrese tendered his resignation effective the end of the school year. Aspen High School is on the search for a new athletic director after John Castrese tendered his resignation effective the end of the school year.
Castrese took the helm of the high school’s athletic department and its more-than-20 varsity sports in September 2021. He said that the decision to resign was driven by “both personal and professional growth.” “I feel that it’s the right time for me to explore new opportunities and embrace new challenges,” Castrese said via email.
“As much as I remain passionate about sports and student development, I’m also looking forward to contributing to a new community in a similar capacity. “A big factor in this decision is my desire to move back to the East Coast and be closer to my family. This transition feels like the perfect opportunity to balance my personal life while continuing to grow professionally.
” He added that he’s not limiting his next move to the East Coast and is open to whatever opportunities are out there, regardless of location. Castrese said he’s proud of the cultural development within the athletics department the school made during his tenure. Several facilities upgrades were made during his time, including improvements to the high school gymnasium’s bleachers/flooring, LED lighting and audio for the Skier Stadium turf and the creation of the Curt Ufkes Strength and Conditioning Center, a major overhaul of the school’s weight room to give students new, state-of-the-art equipment to stay competitive.
He also created an interactive records display in the gym lobby and a detailed coaches’ handbook and started hosting athlete signing days for students moving on to play collegiately. He also made an early pitch on an indoor training fieldhouse to the district to help the school’s outdoor sports get on the field during the harsh winter months, though that conversation was put on hold as the district’s board of education pumped the brakes on a future bond question. Castrese came to Aspen from the Model Secondary School for the Deaf in Washington, D.
C., with more than a decade of working in schools for the deaf after earning a master’s degree in sports administration and kinesiology from the University of North Texas. During Castrese’s time, the Skiers won six state championships: a dual Alpine skiing championship in February; poms state championships in 2023 and 2021; a boys golf state championship just a couple of weeks into his tenure in 2021; and a storybook, undefeated boys basketball state title in 2022.
He also oversaw the department through challenges including the death of student-athlete Carson Clettenberg in 2022 and the legal troubles of former boys basketball assistant coach Christopher Woodring after he allegedly took some underage former and current students to a local bar. “John took a giant leap of faith to come work in Aspen in the fall of 2021,” AHS Principal Sarah Strassburger said in an email. “He has improved our athletic program in too many ways to count.
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He has done an incredible job elevating athletics at AHS.” Castrese is staying on with the school through the end of the school year to ensure a smooth transition, he said. His resignation was publicly recognized for the first time in routine personnel updates provided to the board of education on March 5.
A job listing was opened online in early March, offering a salary range of $85,000 to $110,000. It held minimum qualifications of a bachelor’s degree, the possession of or ability to obtain an initial or professional Colorado administrator’s license within three months of hiring, and at least three years of coaching experience. Preferred qualifications included prior AD experience, secondary teaching experience and college athletics experience.
The application period closed in early April. Strassburger said the district received “numerous” applications and currently is beginning the formal interview process with a committee made up of students, parents, coaches and teachers. Aspen School District declined to comment further on Castrese’s resignation, citing district policy to not share information regarding any employee’s employment status.
Castrese, meanwhile, hopes the impacts he made on the high school’s athletics program will continue to be felt. “My goal was to create an inclusive and efficient environment that celebrated every athlete, fostered strong relationships, and advanced the quality and recognition of Aspen High School athletics,” Castrese said. “I’m proud of the impact I’ve had on the program and I feel confident that the systems and culture we’ve built will continue to serve both current and future students for years to come.
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