Dan Applegate was playing basketball with some friends Thursday evening when he got a call from Niles Community Schools’ Interim Supt. Michael Lindley.

Applegate, who was one of three finalists to succeed Lindley in the role of superintendent at the time, was asked if he wanted to hear the news now or later.

Applegate told Lindley that he needed a minute to finish the game.

When he returned to his phone a few minutes later, he found a number of messages saying “congratulations.”

A quick call to his wife confirmed it:

He had been offered the job of Niles superintendent, pending negotiations.

“I was excited, I was shocked — just because of the timeline,” said Applegate. “This all came a little earlier than I thought. Instead of going from three (finalists) to two, they (the school board) went from three to one.”

Applegate will not officially become superintendent until he and the school board agree on a contract.

Lindley said he expects both sides will work something out in time for the board’s Feb. 2 meeting.

They will begin discussing details next week.

“I don’t think there will be any issues,” Applegate said. “It should go pretty quickly.”

Applegate currently works as the assessment and accreditation coordinator at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana.

The administrator said he still has some things he needs to wrap up there before he can begin working as Niles’ superintendent.

“I think I can get stuff done and be close to starting before the school year is out — sometime in April,” he said.

Prior to taking a job at Saint Mary’s College, Applegate worked in the Niles district for 14 years. The relationships and reputation he built during that time were major factors in the board’s decision to hire him.

Board members said they received numerous emails and calls during the search process from people supporting Applegate.

Several people even spoke in favor of Applegate prior to his second public interview with the board last week.

Applegate said he did not expect that type of response from the community.

“Exhilarating is the best way I can describe it,” he said. “I was so pumped and I am so motivated and ecstatic.”

Receiving so much public support has further strengthened his belief that Niles is the right fit for him.

“I knew that there were great people working there that will support you if you work hard and they know you care,” he said. “It is a culture that you want to be a part of.”

Applegate thanked the community for supporting him.