Dwight MacDonald - AGHS Athletic Director

Posted by Anita Shower 
 
Dwight MacDonald is the Athletic Director at Arroyo Grande Senior High School. He was with the high school as the Athletic Director from 1990 to 1998 and then took a short break from A.G. to be the Athletic Director for Nipomo High School from 2004 to 2008. Dwight returned to Arroyo Grande High School in 2008. The athletic department at AG High School serves 775 athletes; there are 51 different teams; 22 are in varsity sports, and the department pushes academics right along with athletics.
 

When a student wants to participate in athletics at the school there are encouraged to focus on academics, their family, and their commitment to the other programs at the school. If a student wants to participate the student has to be a good role model to others on campus as the faculty and staff want to make sure that the student when leaving the school and enters the work force does so with class and dignity.

There are 85 coaches at the school. They enjoy the challenges and work for very little (pay). The school's athletic department is big in the Pac 7 Conference league with 22 championships in the league. Of that number,  A.G. won ten! 

Dwight feels the school is fortunate because of an outstanding staff and the coaches as collectively they all equate to a positive attitude. The athletes are encouraged to play multiple sports. The success of the athletics' program may be attributed to the team work of the coaches and the commitment of the family and administrators and all the member's of the school's Booster Club.

The state's budget crisis also affects the school. Dwight believes the school has to remain grateful and proceed on a positive note. The Boosters make it possible, by fundraising to raise money for the athletes.

There have been many highlights of the job for Dwight:  1990 was an exciting year for their football team but football always is the top sport and football questions are the first questions asked by people. Dwight feels the football program at the high school is successful because the community cares about it and the team. Obviously the community cares about the high school and all the different teams and Dwight wanted all of us to know that the school teaches the students great life lessons.