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May 28, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels March 19, 2004 Kemper: 'It's my dream job' By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings With a new job in his back pocket and a new baby on the way, life couldn't be much better for Karl Kemper. Or more stressful. "Yeah, definitely it's a little overwhelming with all these decisions we've had to make in a short amount of time," said Kemper, 38, who was selected Wednesday by the Ashland School District to replace outgoing Ashland High athletic director Jim Nagel. "But my wife and I are looking at it like an adventure." Kemper is slated to assume his new position July 1, but he wouldn't mind starting sooner. "I couldn't be more excited," he said. "it's my dream job, it really is. It's just a great opportunity to work with a group of people that are doing the right things for kids. It's a very unique situation." Kemper is particularly impressed with the Ashland Youth Activities Levy, which has saved the AHS athletic department from cuts that have become routine across the state thanks to the Oregon budget crisis. "With the levy, the community support and the value system the people have down there, I mean, it's a model program." Kemper currently works for the Forest Grove School District and is no stranger to the world of prep sports. He has coached basketball, baseball and football and was the head varsity girls' basketball coach at Banks High School for six years. He has worked as a special education teacher and has a strong background in adaptive physical education for special needs students. He holds a master's degree in sports management and a bachelor's degree in physical education and health. He also holds an Oregon administrative license and an Oregon teacher's license. "We're very excited," Ashland superintendent Juli Di Chiro said. "We think that Karl's going to bring a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of fresh ideas to the district. Karl brings to us not only experience as a coach, but he has a lot of � good ideas about how we can improve our program and promote physical fitness in general." Di Chiro added that Kemper's enthusiasm also helped him stand out among the other 21 candidates. "We had several students on the selection committee and he was definitely their first choice, so I'm glad that it worked out that way," she said. While Kemper has been involved in high school sports for over 15 years, he has never worked as an athletic director. However, he says it's a job he's been grooming himself for and is ready to take on. "I've been involved in athletics my whole life and I know what a good athletics program looks like and I know what it takes to make it successful and a positive experience for kids," he said. "I'm definitely going to have a learning curve and I'm looking forward to the guidance of Juli and (AHS principal Jeff Schlecht). I'm very confident that they're going to help me make sure it works." And what exactly does that mean? "Well, I think our mission as educators is to develop the whole child in all areas of their lives," he said. "I think it's important to help students value the connection between a healthy mind and a healthy body and give them the tools so that they can attain them. "The people of Ashland have screamed loud and clear that they believe in the power of participation." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams