By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Niles Community Schools announced Thursday that John Danaher III, a current assistant coach with the varsity football team and information technology teacher at Niles High School, will be the new athletic director effective Monday morning.
Danaher was chosen from among more than 20 candidates to fill the position left empty by the departure of Laurie Ryan to Forest Hills Central High School in early August.
Because of the school policy regarding the athletic director position, Danaher will no longer be an assistant coach with the football team once he begins his new position Monday morning.
Danaher has a Bachelor's degree in Business Education and is currently working toward a Master's Degree. He is in his fifth year of teaching at Niles and his 10th year of teaching overall.
A former assistant girls basketball coach and golf coach at Niles, Danaher will follow in his father's footsteps when he becomes the new Niles athletic director.
John Danaher II was the athletic director at Mishawaka High School in Indiana for 27 years before retiring two years ago.
Danaher informed the football team he would be leaving once he was informed of the school's decision Thursday.
The Niles football game tonight at Battle Creek Harper Creek will be Danaher's last varsity game as a coach.
Danaher feels a solid groundwork has already been laid for his new position and he hopes to maintain the high success level of all of the Niles athletic programs.