FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Loch Raven High School's David Hoch to be Honored as Eastern District Athletic Director of the Year

RESTON, VA, March 13, 2009 – Fallston resident David Hoch, Ed.D., will be honored as the Eastern District Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) during its national convention in Tampa, Florida, March 30 - April 4. The Eastern District represents 12 states from Maryland to Maine.

         At the convention Hoch, who has served as director of athletics for Loch Raven High School for six years and nine years at Eastern Tech, will vie with five other district winners from around the country for the "National Athletic Director of the Year Award." Begun over 34 years ago, the purpose of the program is to give recognition to athletic administrators around the country who exemplify the highest standards of their profession. The award plaques are provided by Herff-Jones.

         The National Athletic Director of the Year Award recipient will be announced on Friday, April 3, at the NASPE Hall of Fame Banquet. Olympic softball gold medalist Dot Richardson, M.D. will be inducted that evening into the NASPE Hall of Fame.

         According to NASPE President Fran Cleland of West Chester University of Pennsylvania, "By making a significant impact on the lives of the students, David Hoch has made an outstanding contribution to his school and community. He is also recognized as an administrator of an exemplary athletic program and educator who keeps athletics an integral part of the total education program."

         President of Maryland State Athletic Directors Association, Karl Heimbach, CMAA, said "David Hoch's tremendous efforts at the national, state and local level over the past 30 years has improved the athletic experience of athletes, parents, coaches and athletic directors in a positive way. His willingness to get involved in countless projects and organizations while always doing so in a positive and professional manner speaks volumes."

         Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Hoch has instituted a highly successful MSADA New Athletic Directors Workshop which was featured in an Interscholastic Athletic Administrator article. He was also one of the co-founders of the Maryland State Coaches Association, which is one of only seven in the nation with dual membership with the NFHS Coaches Association. While at Eastern Tech, Dr. Hoch initiated several new sports, created an Athletic Hall of Fame, refurbished the gym and weight-training facility and established a sports booster club. Not only that, he has published 275 articles in professional magazines and journals and is considered one of the most recognized voices of high school athletics in the country.

         Among his most recent professional awards, he received the MSADA Athletic Director of the Year Award, the NIAAA Maryland State Award of Merit, the Maryland District 6 Athletic Director of the Year and the NIAAA Distinguished Service Award.

         His professional affiliations and activities include the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), the Maryland State Athletic Directors Association, the Maryland State Coaches Association, the NFHS Coaches Association, and the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers. He is currently a Past-President of the Maryland State Athletic Directors Association and the Executive Director of the Maryland State Coaches Association. Dr. Hoch received his undergraduate degree from Grove City College, master's degree from the College of New Jersey, and his doctorate from Temple University. In addition, he is only the second person in the state of Maryland to earn a CMAA-Certified Master Athletic Administrator designation.

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Contact:
Paula Keyes Kun
pkun@aahperd.org
703-476-3461

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

AAHPERD, an alliance of five national associations, six district associations, and a Research Consortium, provides its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support, and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. It is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, recreation, fitness, dance, health promotion and all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. AAHPERD serves 20,000 members and has its headquarters in Reston, Virginia, 25 miles west of Washington DC. To learn more, visit www.aahperd.org.