Sparta — New Athletic Director Josh Sepanik has never wanted to be anything else, and he’s bringing a lifetime’s worth of passion to his new position.
“This has been something that I’ve wanted to do since seventh grade,” Sepanik told SNN. “Being an athletic director was always my dream. It was something I fell in love with. My dad really helped teach me the love of sports, the love of coaching, the love of really mentoring the next generation.”
Sepanik joined the district in July from Hillsdale High School, where he was head athletic director and dean of students.
He’s held several other teaching, coaching and AD positions, for Caledonia Public Schools, Cornerstone University, Tri-unity Christian, Forest Hills Northern and Wellspring Prep. He also spent several years as recreational director of K-12 sports at the Mary Free Bed YMCA.
Sepanik holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Grand Valley State University and a master’s degree in sports management and leadership from Northeastern University in Boston.
At Sparta, Sepanik hopes to build up the district’s sports programs and inspire in student-athletes the same passion for athletics that he’s felt all his life.
“Getting these kids to really fall in love with being at school and being on a team and the work ethic it takes, that’s what we want to do,” Sepanik said. “Ultimately, at the end of the day, we want these kids to be leaders on and off the court. We want them to be a shining example of what it means to be Sparta athletes, and be able to go on and have bright futures, not just in sports but in whatever they want to accomplish.”
Sepanik lives in Hudsonville with his wife and three kids, who recently enrolled in the district. The family is planning to relocate to Sparta.
“We’re invested in the community and being part of this community for the long haul,” he said.
Read more from Sparta:
• Grant-funded tech helps students get the most out of workouts
• ‘Let’s ride!’: Kindergartners love how the world looks from a bike
