Albert Chen ’23
After 33 years as athletic director, Gina Buggy is retiring and handing over the reins to Todd Fairlie, head football coach, and assistant athletic director.
T.J. Locke, Greville Haslam Head of School, describes the search process that landed on Fairlie. “We got into a resume process and got about a hundred resumes. We did about two dozen interviews to get it down to twelve or fifteen. Did more interviews, got it down to seven. Then we did a third round of interviews and got it down to our one … After eleven hours in the board room one day, interviewing seven candidates with a great committee of people, the committee was unanimous that [Todd Fairlie] was the clear choice, and I think we made a great choice.”
Fairlie credited his experiences as a coach and an athlete for his poise during the selection process. “I always communicate with my athletes about focusing on what you can control. So that eliminates a lot of stress…if I wasn’t the right person, I trusted our leadership would have picked a really good candidate.”
As for what ultimately landed Fairley the job Locke credited his student first mindset, “He put students first with every one of his answers.”
Locke elaborated on the importance and responsibilities of the athletic director saying, “It is making sure that all the logistics of our entire program run on time. It involves schedules and referees and uniforms and organizing all these teams and practice schedules as well as the monetary aspect of the athletic department…The athletic part of our school’s a huge part of our history and of our kids’ experience now. So making sure that experience is phenomenal, that it is truly an educational experience for kids, that we integrate the understanding of our bodies throughout the whole curriculum. So the athletic director has a huge impact on our school as a whole.”
Fairlie laid out his large scale goals as athletic director saying, “I’m not going to say win this many championships … because I think the process of competing, the preparation, the planning, the teamwork, and facing adversity are ultimately what our kids are going to benefit from. If we’re just focused on [winning], we’re really short-sighted and narrow-minded for the holistic and overall experience that we can present our student body … If you’re doing everything right, winning takes care of itself.”
Fairlie also acknowledges that replacing Buggy will be a tough ask. “Filling a role that Ms. Buggy held for so long and did a great job at creates such big shoes to fill in terms of just her leadership and direction.” However, Maurcus McDaniel, quarterback of the football team, is confident that Fairlie is up to the challenge. “Coach Buggy has done a phenomenal job representing our school, and I feel Coach has the familiarity within the program as well as connections with many other programs to keep that leadership going. He already treats everyone with respect, kindness, and his level of selflessness is unmatched. So I know he will do a great job bringing in kids, developing the community, and representing the athletic department.”
Assistant football coach Ryan Klein also praised Fairlie’s leadership style commenting, “The game of football teaches you so many lessons that are applicable to life, so it is great to have a leader who exemplifies all those lessons for our guys. In addition to being a leader for the players, Coach Fairlie does a great job of trusting his assistants, like Coach Y and myself, to get the job done. We are able to be true to who we are and coach our positions in the ways we believe are best for the team.” Currently, Fairlie has not decided who will be the new assistant athletic director, but he plans to go through his own selection process with the help of the administrative leadership and have someone selected for the next school year.