Art Wagner can’t get away from athletics, and since he was approved by the Higley school board as the new district athletic director last Thursday, he’s no longer trying to do so.
Wagner spent 15 years at Tempe McClintock in a variety of roles, the last four of those years as the school’s athletic director (2004-2008). He moved to Phoenix Mountain Pointe to be the school’s registrar for the 2008-2009 school year.
Wagner essentially replaces Brent Rincon, who left the position two years ago to become Chandler Basha’s athletic director. The district had a part-time fill in the interim during this school year.
“The (Tempe Union District) has been so good for so long,” Wagner said. “This is the kind of the job I’ve always wanted, I can’t lie, and the opportunity became available. Higley has a little leg up because they’re still growing and have enrollment coming in. At least they’re on the positive side of that. There’s a good (school) board and superintendent, and if I didn’t think I could get support I wouldn’t have gone for this.”
Wagner’s first official day is July 1. He had Lasik eye surgery last Friday but said he expects to be fully healed later this week.
