In August, Lawrence High School will have a new administrator, who will double as the school athletic director.

Bill DeWitt, current principal at Thomas More Prep-Marion High School in Hays, Kan., will fill the voids left when assistant principal Felton Avery and athletic director Ron Commons retire this year. Lawrence High is hiring just one person to manage both holes left by the retirees.

Principal Matt Brungardt interviewed four candidates for the dual position of assistant principal and athletic director, but DeWitt stood out in areas Brungardt felt would be beneficial to the school.

“We were looking for somebody that could provide some structural leadership, someone who would be good at working with student management, and student discipline, and yet have a background to also provide leadership in athletics,” Brungardt said.

The leadership experience DeWitt holds comes from four years as principal of Thomas More Prep-Marian, and the athletics expertise stems from coaching soccer, wrestling, football, and track and field while also teaching at Tonganoxie High School for five years and at Eudora High School for seven.

At Thomas More Prep-Marian DeWitt is principal for 450 students. Next year at Lawrence High, he will oversee a student body of about 1,500 as well as the athletic program.

Brungardt doesn’t foresee the task being unreasonable for DeWitt.

“The school he’s at now has about 450 kids, and really when you look at [Lawrence High] and 1,500 students and four assistant principals, it’s basically dealing with the same number of kids,” Brungardt said. “I know he is extremely excited to get here with his family and get relocated back in the area.”

DeWitt, who graduated high school from TMP, has nothing but admiration for the school and community in Hays. However, also being a graduate of the University of Kansas, it was the opportunity of moving back to Lawrence that made him decide to make his fourth career change in education.

The many changes have taken a toll on DeWitt and his family.

Career and technical education chair Charlie Lauts thinks this will be a long term position for DeWitt.

“He [DeWitt] has children that are 12, 11, and 8 years old; and I think he intends to have his kids wear red and black. So that’s quite a few years that he’s talking about right there, I think he’s here for a while and I think he’s going to be a great addition to administration,” Lauts said.

DeWitt also voiced his enthusiasm for joining the Lawrence High family.

“This is really the only school that I would ever leave TMP for, and I’m just thrilled I’m getting the opportunity,” DeWitt said. “And I’m thrilled to get in there and work with you guys.”