Gertz stepping down as Streamwood athletic director

Streamwood athletic director Steve Gertz will step down from his position at the end of the school year, he announced Monday.

A 1987 Streamwood graduate, Gertz spent the last five years as his alma mater's athletic director, preceded by six years as assistant athletic director. He began his career as a teacher at Streamwood in 1993.

Gertz said additional job duties added to his plate this school year due to administrative staff reductions in Elgin Area School District U-46 are keeping him from executing the role of athletic director effectively.

This year Gertz took on the role of Dean of Students, a job he said takes up between three to four hours a day to deal with disciplinary issues. He was also asked to teach a Driver's Education class, and he was named middle school girls basketball coordinator for all U-46 schools, in charge of scheduling, transportation and officials.

"I'm not getting enough time to spend on the reasons I took this job," Gertz said. "There's just not enough time to put towards athletics. I used to be physically at practices. I was involved with athletes and I was involved with coaches.

"The new trend is I'm a desk administrator. All I do now is paperwork, and it's survival rather than having the true impact that I once had."

In his five years as Streamwood athletic director, Gertz oversaw the implementation of the parent and student athletic handbook, a coaches handbook, the Streamwood High School Reading Program, head and assistant coach appraisals, the Streamwood Athletic Ring of Honor, and the athletic holiday toy drive. He said athletic participation at the school has increased in each of his five years as AD.

Gertz said stepping down was "a very difficult decision." He is actively seeking a similar position elsewhere.

"I love athletics and I love being an athletic director," Gertz said. "If another opportunity were to arise, I would definitely explore that option. My immediate plans are to continue looking for an athletic director position. In the meantime, I have a great position here in the district with teaching and coaching if I don't find something that's a good fit for both.

"Emotionally, this is hard. Physically, it's a big relief off my shoulders. The stress is more than people can imagine."

If he does not find a job as athletic director at another high school, Gertz will teach in the Streamwood social studies department and return to coaching as an assistant in baseball and football. He was the Sabres' head baseball coach before he became athletic director in 2005-06.