Armato resigns at Aurora Central Catholic
Aurora Central Catholic athletic director Mike Armato has resigned effective June 30.
A Rockford schoolboy and current resident whose first teaching assignment came at the elementary school he once attended, Armato has accepted an administrative position in the Rockford school district. On Monday night he declined to name specifics as the hire had not been officially announced in Rockford.
A 1988 graduate of Rockford Boylan who was ACC's athletic director the past three years, Armato called the chance to work in a Catholic atmosphere "akin to coming home again."
"I would like to thank (ACC principal) Father (William) Etheredge for the tremendous opportunity of serving for Aurora Central Catholic High School," Armato initially wrote in an e-mail.
"I have been blessed to have worked with many wonderful people over the past three years and shall miss the students, parents and my co-workers immensely. At the same time, I am excited to have the opportunity to serve in my hometown and work with the students and families in the Rockford area."
His highlights, he said, were developing solid working relationships with other area athletic directors and schools, and increasing emphasis on ACC girls athletics.
While transitioning from the Suburban Catholic Conference to the two-division Suburban Christian Conference, the Chargers girls volleyball team won the SCC Gold and the girls basketball team enjoyed one of its best seasons in a decade.
Boys basketball maintained its strength by appearing in a third straight regional championship.
Armato also was pleased with increased attendance at both high school invites and parochial school tournaments hosted by ACC.
"Constituents really wanted to see more time devoted to girls athletics, and I think we were able to do that," said Armato, on the phone Monday. "I think girls athletics was the focal point only because it needed to happen, but we did well with the boys, too."
In 2007 and 2008 he was also the Chargers varsity baseball coach, and served as dean of students.
He's also a husband and father. Working in the Rockford district, where his wife Holly also teaches, Mike Armato will be nearer children Emma, 7, and Peter, 5.
"I'm very, very appreciative of Aurora Central," he said. "It was going home again. Growing up in a Catholic school in Rockford, to be back in that environment was a wonderful thing. I'm blessed to have that opportunity but on the other hand, I'll be working in my hometown, and close to my family."