By Zach Jensen,
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Decorah Community Schools’ Activities Director and Associate Principal Adam Riley has been named the 2024-25 Northeast District High School Activities Director of the Year for the second time by the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association. While Riley said the accolade is appreciated, he insisted he couldn’t do it alone.
“There’s an office staff here that makes things happen,” Riley said. “Our activities department doesn’t run on the shoulders of just one person.”
Specifically, Riley referred to Activities Manager Jackie Hoyme and administrative assistant Denise Gulrud as two people “who probably deserve a little more street cred.”
“They make this building run,” Riley said. “They’re great communicators and excellent organizers. Just for one event, there’s a lot that has to happen, and they play a massive role in that. They do outstanding work.”
Decorah High School Principal Brad Hurst said the recent award opened the door for Riley and his staff to compete for the state-wide Iowa High School Athletic Director of the Year Award. Hurst said Decorah’s faculty, staff and students “celebrate this well-deserved recognition and the lasting positive impact he continues to have on Decorah High School.”
Hurst described Riley, who is now in his 24th year at DHS, as a pillar of the community, having served as a social studies teacher, coach, activities director and associate principal.
“His tireless dedication to ensuring that Decorah’s athletic and extracurricular programs run smoothly has profoundly impacted Decorah High School and the Decorah community,” Hurst said. “From scheduling events and lining up officials to helping maintain equipment and solving last-minute issues behind the scenes, Adam’s attention to the countless small details keeps everything operating seamlessly.”
Riley said, to become an award-winning department and school district, a few key ingredients are required.
“There is a lot of pride in this community, which is good, and the expectations here are high,” he said. “There’s also a sense of service. You don’t get into the world of coaching and teaching unless you’re ready to give your total self to the kids. And, we have a lot of staff who want to do everything they can to help our students achieve their goals.”
Riley said, if a student wants to be a mechanic, a pilot or a doctor, the Decorah Community School District does an excellent job of setting them up for success so they can pursue their chosen vocational paths.
“The record speaks for itself,” he said. “We have students who are flying F-35s, we’ve got kids who are Navy SEALs, we’ve got kids who are doctors and we’ve got kids who serve in the education field. If they want to achieve it, we want to be able to set them up to do that.”
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