Marist Athletic Director Leaving School After One Year on Job

CHICAGO, IL -- The Marist High School athletic director is leaving after one year on the job. Steve Smithers was lured away last year from the Quad Cities where he had served in a similar role.

Smithers cited family issues for bringing an end to his short tenure. He was hired by Marist as athletic director after an extensive search and started in his new job on July 1, 2016. Smithers and his wife had fully intended to relocate to Chicago.

“When I came here late last spring we had intentions of relocating and staying for a number of years,” Smithers said via email. “Things changed but it is not Marist, it’s all me.”

The day set for moving to Chicago in July 2016, Smithers said his father-in-law passed away. His mother-in-law’s care shifted to his wife. Coupled with her own job demands, relocation became impossible.

“But more than that it simply isn’t within me to meet the athletic administrative work demands anymore,” he said. “Again, sad to me that it’s on Marist’s watch as my intentions were honest and solid in the beginning, but things have shifted with me personally.”

Smithers says he plans to retire and move back to Rock Island when his contract expires June 30. He said the school was in a great area.

“I remain committed to Marist athletics and quite proud,” Smithers said. “I can say my last stop was here.”

Marist has enacted another search for an athletic director of the school’s 26 athletic programs serving 1,700 students. According to the job description posted on the school’s website, the athletic director is responsible for scheduling athletic events, facilities and either directly supervising or providing supervision for these events. The athletic director administers the budget, prepares bids, hosts conferences and invitationals, and IHSA and ESCC tournaments in various sports.

Send resume and cover letter to Don Pirkle by March 31, 2017.

Stephen Smithers | Marist High School