End of a THS era

Published 10:57 am Friday, December 9, 2005

THOMASVILLE — When Margie York was named Thomasville High School athletic director in 1996, she became the first female AD in school history. She also was the first female AD in Southwest Georgia.

Following this school year, her groundbreaking era will come to an end.

York has announced she is resigning as AD. She will remain as a physical education teacher.

Thomasville assistant principal Bill Settle will be York’s replacement.

“He and I have been talking about it all year,” York said. “I had a few health problems, and I gave up coaching basketball. I found out stress and anxiety can do some crazy things to you.

“I feel a whole lot better now that I made this decision.”

Settle says York has been grooming him for the job the entire year.

“She’s done wonders for Thomasville athletics for the past 10 years or so,” he said. “She has taught me some things, and she will still be a great resource because she’ll be right down the hall. That makes it easier.”

York contemplated resigning following last school year due to undisclosed health issues and the death of her father. After weighing her options, she decided to remain as AD and relinquish her girls head basketball coaching duties.

But once the school year started, she realized being an AD was still too draining.

“When I do something, I give it all I have,” York said. “Whether I’m doing one or 10 things, I’m going 90 miles per hour. It was just time to back off and give it a rest.”

While York was AD and basketball coach, she only taught two physical education classes. Now, she is looking forward to teaching the full slate of five.

“I think it will be fun to have a closer relationship with the kids,” York said. “I was able to do that as a coach, but now I’m going to be able to deal with a lot more kids.”

York led the Thomasville Lady Bulldogs’ basketball team to back-to-back state championships in 1997 and 1998. She also led them to the state quarterfinals in 1996 and to the semifinals in 2004. In her 13-year Thomasville coaching career, she amassed 260 victories.

Off the court, she oversaw the renovations of the school’s baseball field and gym. She has won numerous awards, including Region Athletic Director of the Year in 1997, 1998 and 1999. She was also the State Class AA Athletic Director of the Year in 1998. In 2000, she was inducted into the Thomasville-Thomas County Sports Hall of Fame.

“A lot of that has to do with the support of the (school) board members,” York said. “They understand the importance of athletics at Thomasville and have supported us.”

She also helped pave the way for other women to become athletic directors. But York is humbled at the thought of being a trail blazer for women in high school athletics.

“The athletic programs have always been strong, and they will continue to be strong,” she said. “I don’t really get into that being a pioneer stuff.”