Apollo High School will see a changing of the guard in its Athletic Department at the end of the school year, as longtime Athletic Director Dan Crume is set to retire and pass the reins to his assistant and former player, Josh Jackson.
Crume has spent 32 years in athletics, including the past 14 at Apollo — the last eight of those as Athletic Director.
“I have been doing this for 32 years, and I am about to turn 55,” Crume said. “The time is right.”
This decision wasn’t something spur-of-the-moment. Crume said it came after ongoing conversations with his wife throughout the school year.
Before stepping into the administrative role, Crume served as Apollo’s head football coach from 2012-2017. His coaching career stems from his college years as an assistant at Warren East, steadily climbing the ranks before landing at Apollo.
“I was always looking to improve and advance,” Crume said. “There aren’t many things I regret as far as making moves, it was just a matter of the opportunities that presented themselves. I was fortunate enough to be offered positions and continue to advance.”
Jackson has served as Apollo’s Assistant Athletic Director for all eight years of Crume’s tenure, and Crume said he’s confident in the transition.
“I think it is a great move,” Crume said. “When I was hired, he was brought in as an assistant, and we’ve had a lot of changes over eight years. We’ve changed policies and budget structures, and we’ve gone through major renovations. He’s been there through it all, so he’s seen all that, and I think he’s got some ideas of his own that he would like to implement that I think will probably continue to propel the athletic program at Apollo forward. I think that’s a good move, and I think he will do a great job.”
Jackson, who officially begins his new role July 1, is deeply connected to Apollo. He played soccer there before graduating in 1997, returned as a teacher in 2005-06, and later served as head coach of the soccer team from 2008-2012.
“This means a lot to me, and Apollo has been my life,” Jackson said.” “I went to school there, and my wife went to school there. I met her at Apollo at a football game, and both of our kids go to Apollo. It was never a question of whether I would ever leave. It is home to me, a part of me, and always will be. To be able to take this position and lead the program that I was a part of when I was in high school means a lot.”
With just a few weeks left to work alongside Crume, Jackson plans to soak up as much knowledge as possible.
“He coached football for 27 years, and his dad and wife were principles. He has a lot of leadership qualities, and I want to soak up those things as well as any other bits of knowledge he has. Just like I have the last eight years.”
