Athletic Director Earns SWOADA Horizon Award

Congratulations to Zach Stakely, Athletic Director
Posted on 03/24/2022

The Southwest Ohio Athletic Directors Association (SWOADA) announced on Tuesday that St. Bernard-Elmwood Place Athletic Director, Zach Stakely, is the recipient of the 2021-2022 SWOADA Horizon Award.

The SWOADA Horizon Award is presented to an active athletic administrator who has demonstrated within their first (5) five years, signs of professionalism and involvement, which has made a difference in their school or conference. This Southwest Ohio Athletic Directors Association consists of over 230 athletic administrators based in the Ohio High School Athletic Associations Southwest District.

Over the past school year, Zach initiated major facility upgrades such as a new weight room renovation, renovation of all seven locker rooms, and the development of a new rehabilitation room. St. Bernard-Elmwood Place is now the host of the new Cincinnati Crossover Classic, which is a holiday basketball tournament for both boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball. Back in May, he was also elected as the new President of the Miami Valley Conference.

Zach is finishing up his third year at St. Bernard-Elmwood Place. Prior to the 2018-2019 school year, he spent time at Purcell Marian, Clark Montessori, Mizuno, the Cincinnati Bengals, and Ohio State. He will be presented his award at the Southwest District Administration Breakfast on April 28th at Wright State University.