Odenwald Named Athletic Director
By Jeanne Acton | Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:58 AM
While Cliff Odenwald is a relative newcomer to the UIL staff, the newly appointed athletic director certainly is not a newcomer to athletic administration and working with the UIL. For more than 14 years, Odenwald served as an athletic director and coordinator for some of the largest athletic programs in the state.
From 2003-2007, Odenwald was the director of athletics for Plano Independent School District where he was responsible for scheduling and overseeing 460 athletic teams and supervising 250 teachers, coaches and trainers. Prior to that, Odenwald was the assistant athletic director for Garland ISD for 10 years. He also coached high school and college athletics for more than 15 years.
Odenwald joined the League in 2007 as the associate athletic director in charge of the mandated steroid testing program.
While Odenwald is confident in his ability and experience to be a strong athletic director, he is still a little wary of the shoes he has to fill.
“Dr. [Charles] Breithaupt has done a fantastic job directing the athletic department for the past 14 years, and before that was Dr. [William] Farney and Dr. [Bailey] Marshall,” Odenwald said. “My current goal is to continue the success of their leadership. We want to continue to successfully serve the students and schools of the state of Texas.”
Odenwald said while he was at Plano ISD, his goal was to provide the best athletic program for his coaches, athletes, parents and community.
“Here at UIL, it’s the same goal but on a much broader scope,” he said. “The load is heavier, but the goal is the same — offer the best athletic activities in the nation.”
One of the biggest challenges, his department will face this year will be working with school finance issues, he said.
“Budgets have become tighter, and it’s harder for schools to fund all activities,” he said. “We will work with schools to help find solutions.”
Another challenge facing Odenwald is filling the two athletic coordinator vacancies left when Dr. Mark Cousins was promoted and Rachel Seewald resigned.
“We are in the process of accepting applications, and we hope to have two people in place by March 1,” he said.
Odenwald said he expects more challenges to come his way this year, but he knows his mentor, Dr. Breithaupt, will be just down the hall. “I know exactly where his office is,” he said. “I am sure I will need his advice and direction from time to time.”