One Leader, Two Roles: Hopewell’s New AD and Assistant Principal in the Spotlight

On Thursday, March 6th, Hopewell Sports Nation’s Carl Santamaria and Student Writer Jacob Zupsic sat down with one of Hopewell’s Newest, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director, Mr. Joe Lamenza. HSN was able to get some insight on how his first year in Hopewell is going, what his background is, and what his plans are for the future of Hopewell Athletics.  As a important pillar here at HSN, we promise to help educate our student writers in the proper methods of conducting an interview, and how to gather factual data.  HSN wants to thank Mr. Joe Lamenza for allowing us the chance for the interview along with the educational opportunity for our writer, Jacob.

Background

In this interview, Joe shared his background and journey to his role at Hopewell. Joe and Jacob first met at Ambridge, introduced by Jacob’s Aunt, Dr. Janice Zupsic, who serves as Ambridge’s principal. At Ambridge, Joe held the same position he currently holds at Hopewell, serving as both Athletic Director and Assistant Principal.

Joe’s career in public education spans 23 years, beginning after he graduated from Slippery Rock University, where he worked as a graduate assistant football coach. He then joined Robert Morris University as a college-level football coach under former NFL coach Joe Walton, a role he held for four years. Joe later decided to transition into public education to pursue a lifestyle more in line with his personal goals. While stepping away from college-level coaching, he remained passionate about football and sought to continue coaching at the high school level.

In 2006, Joe was hired at West Mifflin High School as both an English teacher and head football coach. After spending a few years there, he moved to the Beaver Area School District, where he worked for eight years. During this time, he served as an elementary-level administrator for four years and a teacher for the remaining four. It was at Beaver that he met Dr. Jeff Beltz, Hopewell’s current superintendent, who was the head football coach at the time.

Joe then joined Blackhawk High School, initially as the head football coach, and later took on a role as a high school English teacher, where he stayed for seven years. Ready to transition into administration while staying connected to athletics, Joe accepted a position at McKeesport. However, the dual role of Athletic Director and Administrator at Ambridge appealed to him, leading him to transfer there. After a couple of years at Ambridge, an opportunity arose for the same dual role at Hopewell, which he accepted. Reflecting on his move, Joe noted, “Our Superintendent here at Hopewell is really like family to me.”

Here at Hopewell

Joe also said that one of the reasons he came to Hopewell was because of the balance that came with Hopewell’s position. He said that the interactions with students and their families are a lot more positive, and because of the balance he has, he had the opportunity to get into classrooms more and have more interactions with the students. Joe’s inspiration to become an Athletic Director and Administrator came from the initial coaching role that he had, and it was the next logical step for him. Joe said that his dream job is what he has now at Hopewell, due to the ability to connect with his students, but still have an active role in athletics. Joe said that he was never driven by money and it was the intrinsic parts that were the driving factors as to what he does.

One Memorable experience that Joe was involved in within his first year here at Hopewell was the Ambridge Vs. Hopewell football game. If you recall, Hopewell Sports Nation was there for the first few hours leading up to the game waiting patiently for the rain to end, only to have an official late start time after the storms passed through. The wait was worth it though, he said that Hopewell had a great game and was thrilled to see the way that it ended, and the ability to watch freshman quarterback James Armstrong and the year that he had in football and basketball. He said that some of the games James had were extraordinary, such as some of the splash plays that he made. He also talked about the girl’s volleyball team and their game in the WPIAL competition, and how exciting it was to see Hopewell Athletes advance in their sports. Another highlight for Joe as a new administrator is getting to know all of the kids and their families, saying “This is a great school district.” He is happy to see the morale of the school and the relationships that the teachers have with the students.

Joe said that he feels that everyone at Hopewell has a place in sports. He was very happy to see the Unified Bocce team advance as far as they have and looks forward to seeing how well they do at Geneva College for the regional playoff game. He also said that he hopes to host the Unified Bocce first-round playoff game at Hopewell because it brings students together. Joe said that he is glad that Hopewell has to offer a program for all students to be able to partake in, and that the diversity amongst our programs on all levels is something he is proud to be a part of here in Hopewell.

“Athletics are a part of Hopewell’s identity”, said Joe; although athletics are not the main identity of Hopewell they still are a contributing factor to this district. “We can utilize athletics to promote our school and its programs.” Also, “athletics help make new traditions and add to the fabric of the school district with events such as the homecoming parade, pep rallies, and tailgating events that Hopewell hosts.”

Athletic Support Environment

When asked about the support structures in place to help our athletes, Joe was quick to mention the depth of the school systems Guidance Counselors. “Students know they can meet with the counselors anytime they want, and the support they provide daily is amazing.” “We have a SAP program that helps monitor specific students that might need more support and we touch base weekly on these students.” Hopewell has three guidance counselors to divide the student body up into, allowing for them to engage more closely with all of the students.

Academically, there are a number of factors that come into play to maintain a supportive educational environment, afterall the student athletes are students first and athletes second. “To remain eligible to compete in any sport. Students must be passing 4 of 6 or 5 of 7 full credit classes to remain eligible, English/Science/Math and Social Studies for example. Eligibility for the first grading period is based on final grades from the previous year, students must have an overall 1.6 GPA. Hypothetically if they are passing core classes with D’s but have F’s in all of their electives they might fall below a 1.6 and no longer be eligible to play, said Joe.” The system is designed to keep the students passing core classes limiting the ability to bolster an overall GPA with elective courses while having an overall GPA of 1.6. Students also cant fail 3 subjects or more and be eligible to play. This cumulative approach of criteria will, at the very least, guarantee passing scores to maintain player eligibility.

“Albeit not the highest of bars to meet the overall criteria are arguable at best, but when combining the criteria with the attendance policy it prevents students from skirting the system in order to play sports. Should the GPA be raised, it’s debatable and there does not appear to be any plan to make changes in the near future” – Carl Santamaria

Future Team Identity

Joe said that the one thing that he wants to work on is the identity of each sport. He says that our current technology platform called, Schedule Star has limitations in its current form. Schedule Star can be expanded so that coaches can create specialized web pages for each of their respective sports that has a more centralized aspect. Following that, he wants everyone to know where the information is coming from and that it is going to be factual, which is why he thinks that this responsibility should be held within the head coaching role.  The platform would allow head coaches to create banners, post pictures, results of competitions and stats.  Joe would prefer that all updates come directly from the coaches in order to maintain a central point of communication coming from all Hopewell Sport Teams. “One source of data that is accurate, up to date and directly from the coaches.” Joe says that he is currently looking into how he can make that happen for our district and we may even see some changes within the next school year.

Consolidation and Hopewell Sports

HSN was eager to gather new information on the impact the consolidation might have on sports here in Hopewell. Concerns HSN has heard from the town revolve around the number of fields that will be available, and the number of gymnasiums that would remain after consolidation. Unfortunately with the plan just being passed at the end of 2024 there are not many new updates to discuss. Until building plans, and field layouts are developed we will have to wait to see the impact and strategies that will be used to positively impact Hopewell Sports.

NIL – Name Image Likeness – Pro’s and Con’s

Hopewell Sports Nation has been asked on multiple occasions about NIL. What is it, how will it effect our children at the youth level, and many have split feelings about the pros and cons of NIL. During our interview we wanted to discuss NIL basics with Joe Lamenza for a professional viewpoint. HSN is hoping to provide some context to our readers so everyone can make their own informed decision about NIL and how it could impact your children as NIL makes its way into your High School Sports programs. We will start with Joe’s view point on NIL and then provide an explanation of NIL in college sports for those unfamiliar with what it is, and where it primarily applies. Officially, HSN will take no formal stance on this debate until the States themselves roll out regulations and standards, but it is a conversation that is coming and has both positive and negative implications for our children, so its best to be prepared and informed.

Officially, Joe did not comment on the impact or course of action HASD would take on NIL Deals reaching our student athletes here at home. However, Joe did offer up that, “NIL is not good in his personal opinion, but as long as the rules are not broken and the money is not accepted illegally, I am fine with it.”

Personally, (not to be associated to the HASD) Joe was willing to weigh in and say that, “NIL with the transfer portal has ruined college sports and in the same breathe he said, Colleges and Universities should provide some compensation to the student athletes when an athlete for example, goes on to win the Heisman Trophy and the school sells millions of dollars of merchandise of that athlete. However, having such a disparity in any locker room between multi-millionaire student athletes playing along side students that receive nothing is difficult. It’s a can of worms that has been opened up, and I hope the NCAA gets a handle on it and there will be more regulations established soon.”

NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness rights, which allow college athletes to profit from their personal brand, including their name, image, and likeness. Before the NIL rule change in 2021, NCAA athletes were not permitted to profit from these aspects while still maintaining their amateur status. With the new regulations, athletes are now allowed to sign endorsement deals, earn money from social media platforms, and capitalize on other opportunities related to their personal brand.

Effects of NIL on College Athletes:

1. Positive Effects:

   • Financial Opportunities: Athletes can now earn money while still in college, helping support themselves and their families, especially those from low-income backgrounds.
   • Entrepreneurial Skills: Athletes are learning to manage their brand and finances, which can have long-term benefits even after their playing careers end.
   • Opportunities Beyond Sports: NIL allows athletes to leverage their platform in ways unrelated to their sport, such as through influencer marketing, product endorsements, and business ventures.
   • Increased Exposure: Athletes can now use their popularity to enhance their visibility, which can help with career opportunities both in sports and other industries.

2. Negative Effects:

   • Unequal Opportunities: While NIL opportunities can benefit top-tier athletes, especially those in high-profile sports like football and basketball, less-known athletes may struggle to secure similar deals.
   • Pressure and Distractions: Managing brand deals and public relations could become overwhelming, particularly for younger athletes trying to juggle academics, sports, and business ventures.
   • Potential for Exploitation: Some athletes may fall victim to predatory agents, marketers, or other entities looking to take advantage of their inexperience in managing such deals.
   • Shift in Focus: Some critics worry that NIL could shift the focus of athletes from academics and sports to their personal financial gain, potentially impacting the integrity of collegiate athletics.

State Regulation of NIL for Youth Athletes:

As of now, states have not universally implemented regulations specifically targeting NIL agreements for youth athletes (i.e., athletes below the college level). However, some states are exploring or enacting legislation aimed at regulating NIL agreements for high school athletes. These efforts generally center around ensuring transparency and fairness, preventing exploitation, and maintaining the integrity of high school sports.  For instance, some states have begun to allow high school athletes to sign NIL deals, while others have been cautious about letting younger athletes engage in such agreements, fearing that it could alter the competitive nature of high school sports or lead to unfair advantages.  The NCAA itself has not yet introduced comprehensive guidelines for NIL agreements for high school athletes, leaving the regulation largely in the hands of state governments and local school districts.

While NIL presents several opportunities for college athletes, it also introduces challenges and risks that need to be managed carefully. As for regulating NIL for youth athletes, it’s still an evolving issue with various states taking different approaches, aiming to strike a balance between opportunity and fairness in the evolving landscape of amateur sports.

Balancing it All

“Find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life, I love what I do, and the balance that comes from being the Athletic Director and Assistant Principal is constantly prioritizing what is happening within our district.” One example that Joe gave us in this interview was Spring Sports, he said that constantly due to weather, game times and locations are subject to change. He said that a priority one hour may become less of a priority if something were to come up athletically, disciplinary, or academically. Finally, he expressed his gratitude for Mrs. Diane Rhom’s exceptional support as his secretary, highlighting their strong collaboration and her ability to keep him informed on matters he might have missed.

Finally, HSN wanted to know what excited Joe most about the upcoming Spring Season. Joe is equally excited to see all of the sports ramp up this Spring. When asked to predict a Fall Football outcome he believes, “if we have a good offseason and stay healthy we should be able to take a step forward this year”. “We had some Seniors leave this year that will be missed, but we should be able to build on the season we had last year with a lot of freshman that played whether they were ready or not and typically when you have that kind of experience he expects us to take another step forward in the right direction.”

Hopewell Sports Nation will check back with Mr. Joe Lamenza periodically for updates on many topics. There are so many questions we can ask during an interview we want to know your opinion, if you have ideas of what topics you would like to learn more about feel free to email HSN at [email protected].

Roll Vikes!!!