TACOMA – Charles Wright Academy is pleased to announce that current Lower School fitness teacher and Assistant Athletic Director Tyler Francis has been named the school’s next athletic director. Mr. Francis will succeed current athletic director and Head of Upper School Bill White on July 1. Mr. White will remain Upper School head moving forward.
Tyler Francis. Photo by Amy Senftleben.
“Tyler has served for the last six years as assistant athletic director and has worked at Charles Wright for more than 20 years,” says Headmaster Rob Camner. “He has coached multiple sports, including leading the Tarrier boys basketball team to a state championship. He has the rare gift of being equally adept at working with high school seniors and with 4-year-olds in junior kindergarten.”
The national search process began with 50 applicants—many of whom were current athletic directors—and eventually narrowed to five finalists who underwent an extensive on-campus interview process with administrators, coaches, teachers, students, and parents. “The search committee was unanimous in its recommendation to me that Tyler was best suited to take on the role of athletic director at this time,” says Mr. Camner. “I am grateful for the time and care that the members of the search committee put into the process, and I am equally grateful to those members of the CWA community who took the time to provide feedback about the candidates they met with.”
In addition to his current role as assistant athletic director and fitness teacher, Mr. Francis has also coached basketball, baseball, football, and soccer. The CWA Parent Association honored Mr. Francis with the Inspirational Faculty Award in 2009. He highlights working with students across all grade levels as a favorite part of his current role and looks forward to strengthening relationships with students, parents, and coaches as the athletic director. “Athletics has been a big part of my life, and I want to have the opportunity to help others find their passion in sports,” Mr. Francis says. “I want to make a difference working with athletes and coaches across all Tarrier sports. It’s a new challenge I feel ready for.”
Mr. Francis will be succeeding Mr. White, who has served in his dual roles of head of Upper School and athletic director for six years. “Bill is an indefatigable worker and a highly experienced and very knowledgeable multiple-sport coach,” Mr. Camner says. “During his tenure as athletic director the quality of Tarrier athletics has improved both in quality and in consistency, and he hands to his successor a very strong program well poised to continue its growth trajectory.”
The announcement about CWA’s new athletic director comes on the heels of the school’s news that it has named a new Head of School, Matt Culberson, who will also be assuming his new role on July 1 along with Mr. Francis. Both are looking forward to building relationships within the CWA community as well as the greater South Sound community.
“Tyler has been a steady presence and a phenomenal organizer and worker with all aspects of Tarrier athletics,” Mr. Camner says. “He will put that experience and deep knowledge to good use in his new role.”