Northwestern AD Jason Zimmerman named new District 11 chairman

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER Jason Zimmerman got teary-eyed when it was mentioned how proud his father would be of him. Dale Zimmerman was a well-respected athletic director at Parkland. He died way too soon in 1988 at the age of 43. But his legacy continues through Jason, who has done an exceptional job at Northwestern Lehigh as athletic director and who on Wednesday was elected as the new District 11 chairman, replacing the retiring Jack Wabby. Wabby and PIAA executive director Brad Cashman both were honored at a meeting/banquet held at the Pottsville Club. After those two were honored, District 11 got started with the future and held a private meeting and vote and selected Zimmerman, who has been Northwestern's athletic director since 2001. He takes over effective July 1. I did the story on Zimmerman when he was hired at Northwestern in 2001 and he said back then: "Thanks to my father, I knew at an early age what I wanted to do. I grew up going to events with him. I was always running around the gym. I was a ball boy for different teams, I handed the checks to the officials. Man, I thought I was a big shot." Now, he truly is a big shot, although he vowed not to act the part. He realizes that running the District 11 athletic progam is,much like the district championship teams, all about teamwork. "This is no different than any other organization; you're only as strong as your weakest link," Zimmerman said. "The beauty of our committee is that we can fight like brothers and sisters, but in the end, we get it right for kids, or at least we try real hard to get it right. That's the ultimate goal. "We'll have a good, honest conversation about things and we'll argue, but if you still can't walk away as friends and colleagues after the discussion, then maybe you don't belong." Zimmerman, a Northwestern High and Bloomburg University graduate, said that he's ready for the vast challenges facing high school sports, not only in District 11 but also as a new representative to the PIAA Board of Control. "I've got a great support system and some great people who I can turn to like Jack Wabby and [former Northwestern principal and District11 committee member] Dennis Nemes and Ed Hauck who know the history," Zimmerman said. "We also have a lot of athletic administrators and principals who have some great ideas for the future. If you combine the two, we'll be able to make changes while also respecting the history and become even stronger in this region." Zimmerman, 37, said he has always been proud to represent District 11 at state events, and that feeling of pride will only grow stronger in his new role. "We've got great, hard-working kids and I just want to provide those kids with the best opportunity they can possibly have," Zimmerman said. "My best events as a student-athlete growing up in Northwestern Lehigh were the district events that I was privileged enough to partake in. The medals hang on the wall and those were memories I will never forget. "Everybody is critical of athletics in a tough economy. We've got be sensitive to that and make things work for schools and our members. I want the kids to have the same opportunities I had growing up."