Altendorf new Cary-Grove AD

From one Cary-Grove grad to another.

That’s how the torch of leadership in the Cary-Grove High School athletic department will be passed at the end of the school year when retiring Athletic Director Bruce Kay will hand over the reins to his longtime assistant, Jim Altendorf.

“It’s been about nine years in the making,” Altendorf said Wednesday. “As soon as I became an assistant AD, becoming the AD when Bruce retired became a goal for me.”

Altendorf is a 1985 Cary-Grove graduate and, like Kay, has worked at the school ever since graduating from college. An Illinois State University product, Altendorf lives just two blocks from high school alma mater. He spent nine years as the Trojans’ head girls basketball coach and has coached basketball at Cary-Grove, boys and girls combined, for 19 years. He also teaches Driver’s Education and is an assistant boys golf coach.

Following in Kay’s footsteps in anything will be tough at Cary-Grove but Altendorf believes he’s ready.

“There’s always things you worry about, but I’ve had some pretty good mentors here,” said Altendorf, 44. “Bruce has been a real good mentor and Don Sutherland will still be here with all of his experience.

“Cary-Grove has had some real good leaders over the years.”