Meet Hartland Consolidated Schools' next athletic director Brian Hassler

HARTLAND TWP. — Hartland Consolidated Schools will soon have a new athletic director.

Following a vote Monday, June 26, Brian Hassler is slated to become the district's new athletic director July 5. He currently serves as the athletic director at Rochester Adams High School.

The position opened up after JD Wheeler announced his resignation in late May. Wheeler, athletic director for the past eight years, will leave the post June 30 to become an assistant principal.

More: Hartland athletic director JD Wheeler changing roles at school

"It's kind of a weird coincidence, JD grew up in Pigeon, Michigan. I grew up in Sandusky, Michigan, so we're both 'thumb-ites,' if that's the word, so we kind of had that connection," Hassler told The Daily. "I'm very familiar with that area and those schools."

Growing up, Hassler played basketball, baseball, track and field, and football.

"Strong students academically and athletically, that was a huge draw for going out to Hartland," Hassler said. "(And) the new facilities they're putting in with the football field. Coming from Rochester, we're in like a three-school district, so I wanted to make draws to go into a one-school district. I have some really great colleagues here in Rochester, but I love that small town community feel."

Hassler has a bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit Mercy. In 2019, he received his master's degree at Concordia University with a major in coaching and athletic administration.

During his first 18 years in the field, Hassler was an athletic trainer at Bishop Foley. He later became athletic director.

"Those 18 years on the sideline as an athletic trainer offered me a great opportunity to see so many different coaching styles and approaches and to have communication with those coaches and student athletes," he said. "I think it gave me a fresh perspective on what works, what gets kids motivated, what gets you the most out of your team, your student athlete."

Hassler has served as athletic director at Rochester Adams High School since November 2020.

"One of our baseball teams won the state title. We've had four state championships since I've been here, multiple state finalists and, to me, my job as an AD is really about writing the story of the student athletes and the coaches," he said. "It's not necessarily about me."

School officials approve two-year contract

The Hartland Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to hire Hassler, offering a two-year administrative contract upon the recommendation of the superintendent, at a salary of $101,000.

“I know JD probably won’t say it, but he’s done a phenomenal job here," Hassler told school officials. "He set a high standard for this position ... I take great responsibility taking on his position. Phenomenal student athletes, phenomenal community and I look forward to serving."

Wheeler told school officials at Monday's meeting he's "pleased."

"We're very, very pleased to have Brian here taking over the athletic department," he said. "He very, very successfully captained that ship at Rochester Adams for three years. ... When Brian came through and we put him in the short stack, I knew he was going to be somebody that we really needed to take a look at."

In his role as Hartland’s athletic director, Wheeler spent countless hours watching thousands of other parents’ children compete in sports. And while he loved every moment of it, he's looking forward to having the flexibility to watch his own children participate.

“I’m super glad I get to stay in Hartland,” he told The Daily in May. “I’m right down the hallway."

“This has been such a great role and such a great athletic department to be in charge of."

Wheeler has led Hartland’s athletic program during a time of unprecedented success. The Eagles have won six state championships in four different sports during his eight seasons, after winning only four in the preceding 90 years. The Eagles also had four other teams finish as state runners-up.

“It’s been great, it really has,” he said. “I got to experience so many great things and watch kids and coaches have so much success. My favorite part of the job is watching kids succeed."

— Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. Contact reporter Patricia Alvord at palvord@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Meet Hartland's next athletic director Brian Hassler