Severna Park High School Welcomes New Athletic Director

Dave Kauffman has been named the new athletic director at Severna Park High School.

"Dave has a lot of experience in the county," said Severna Park High School Principal Patrick Bathras. "He comes to us with experience as an assistant principal, as an administrator, and assistant athletic director [and] coach."

Kauffman takes over for Kevin Rutledge, who previously served as the Falcons’ athletic director. Rutledge left to pursue a new career opportunity in New Jersey.

Last year, before joining the Falcons athletic staff, Kauffman served as an assistant principal at Crofton High School. His career in Anne Arundel County has also included stints at South River, Glen Burnie, Northeast and Meade high schools. In total, Kauffman brings 25 years of work experience within the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system to Severna Park.

"[He] has a true passion for sports and athletics," Bathras said. "I think he's going to be a good fit with all of his knowledge and experience here at Severna Park High School."

It's been a fast start to the job, said Kauffman, whose hire became official on August 23.

"It's been insightful and kind of eye-opening. I came in two weeks into the fall season starting. I kind of had to hit the ground running,” Kauffman said. “It's been an awesome experience so far; it's been wonderful. The coaches, the community and the athletes here are just phenomenal. They've been a great help to help me get acclimated."

The opportunity to be an athletic director is something Kauffman always saw himself doing, but timing and other administrative positions steered his career elsewhere until now.

"That opportunity doesn't come open very much. So, when this opened up, I knew it was a position I wanted," Kauffman said. "I'm very blessed and fortunate to get an opportunity to work here."

After the numerous challenges that the coronavirus pandemic presented to last year's school calendar, Kauffman is focused on helping students return to a sense of normalcy this fall.

"The biggest expectation for us is just reacclimating our student athletes to being together and participating [in athletics] and giving them positive opportunities out there," Kauffman said. "Your wins and losses are going to come. As we're getting through all this, that's the biggest expectation, that our student-athletes can walk out of a season and know that they had a positive experience. They learned and they grew from it."

Kauffman said the history and pedigree of Severna Park High School well-known, and he is excited to be a part of it.

"Severna Park, growing up in this area, has had a very rich tradition academically and athletically,” he said. “The school speaks for itself. When you look at the success that the school has had, you can't measure it.”

More information about Severna Park High School athletics, including news, schedules and rosters, can be found at www.severnaparkathletics.org.