Top Rookie AD: MacDannald earns section award

Manteca High athletic director Neil MacDannald (left) was honored with the Top Rookie Athletic Director for the Sac-Joaquin Section by the California State Athletic Directors Association. (Photo contributed)

By RONNIE FUENTES 
The Tower

SANTA CLARA – Manteca High athletic director Neil MacDannald has been named a Top Rookie Athletic Director for the Sac-Joaquin Section award by the California State Athletic Directors Association.  

This award is presented to only two athletic directors in the Sac-Joaquin Section each year and is a testament to MacDannald’s leadership abilities, capacity to oversee a successful athletic program, and his commitment to excellence. 

The gravity of this honor is significant, one section official said, because the Sac-Joaquin Section is the second largest section in the state, bested only in size by the Southern Section. The Sac-Joaquin Section stretches from Yuba City to Merced and is home to nearly 200 schools.  

“This is an award given to two ADs across the entire section every year. We are made up of about 200 schools (198) from Yuba City to Merced, and this is a large pool. This isn't just 200 schools, but we have a turnover of ADs of about 25 percent every year. There are new ADs coming through all the time,” Sac-Joaquin Section assistant commissioner Will DeBoard said. “If you're getting this award, you've definitely distinguished yourself not just in central valley but the entire state." 

Brett Lewis, Manteca High’s vice principal, has been a witness to MacDannald’s work ethic for each and every sport on campus. Lewis said MacDannald’s diligence and dedication has earned him the respect and admiration of many on campus and in the community.

“He coached multiple sports for years at MHS and did it at a high level. He not only was a good X's and O's coach, he was very organized and prepared,” Lewis said of MacDannald, who has coached baseball and football to multiple section titles. “That has bled over into him being AD leading all coaches on campus.”  

Megan Peterson, Manteca High’s principal recognizes the wealth of experience and dedication MacDannald has for sports and his position as the athletic director.  

“Neil brings a wealth of experience to the AD position. He understands what being an outstanding coach takes, and he both encourages and expects those qualities in the men and women he hires to work with our student athletes,” she said. “He is committed to creating an elite athletic program at Manteca High and has demonstrated time and again that he has the leadership skills to get that job done.”