Falcons’ new AD fond of area

Asbeck excited for opportunity as he prepares for transition to new post.

MIDDLETOWN — Transition is a major issue for Mike Asbeck these days.

The newly hired Fenwick High School athletic director plans to begin making the transition to his new position later this week, all the while helping his family prepare for the eventual move south from Columbus.

The transition process for Asbeck also includes helping his former employer — St. Francis DeSales High School — find his replacement.

“I’m very excited,” Asbeck said Tuesday, July 13, from his home in Columbus. “I had a great experience in my first interview and decided it was the right place and the right time, so I accepted the position.

“DeSales is my alma mater, so it is tough to leave,” he continued. “But the opportunity to move to an area we are fond of and to a school with so much growth opportunity just made it feel right.”

Asbeck has been the athletic director at DeSales for six years. Before that, he spent 12 years at Columbus Academy, where he was a teacher as well as a football, basketball and baseball coach.

“DeSales has been very competitive in all its athletic programs the last six years and has a strong history as well,” Fenwick Principal Mike Miller said. “He has a strong vision about what our program can be, and we’re looking forward to a great future.”

Miller said he received approximately 40 applications for the position, which was previously held by Jerry Kombrinck, who resigned at the end of the school year.

Miller said a 12-person committee made up of school administrators, teachers, coaches and booster members conducted several interviews before making its recommendation of Asbeck.

“He was our top choice, and we’re real happy to get him,” Miller said.

Asbeck’s hope is to be working on a regular basis at Fenwick by the first of August, although he will spend some time going back and forth until he can sell his Columbus home.

But the transition process doesn’t end there. Asbeck said much of his first year at Fenwick will be an “evaluation process.”

“To be part of the experience (at DeSales) is a great reward,” Asbeck said. “But sometimes you look for change and this was one of those opportunities. Fenwick has had some success and I want to continue that.”

Fenwick competes in the Greater Catholic League and the Girls Greater Cincinnati League.