NorthWood AD Roman Smith stepping down at end of month for new opportunity

NAPPANEE — Roman Smith knew he had a "selfless decision" to make. It wasn’t easy.

After seven years in athletic administration — the last two-and-a-half at NorthWood — Smith will step down as the school’s Athletic Director at the end of the month to take an undisclosed job outside of education.

“Administrators don’t step down in the middle of the year, but this job in the private sector presented itself a couple different times,” Smith told the Tribune Wednesday. “My level of intrigued raised, and I went through the process to learn more. It was incredible to meet the team of where I’m going and better understand what they do. What I do organically and naturally in my profession kind of aligns with that.”

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The 32-year-old Smith and his wife have a 3-month-old son. Being able to spend more time with his growing family influenced the decision.

Still, leaving NorthWood," is probably one of the most difficult decisions of my life,” Smith said.”

At NorthWood Smith oversaw 13 sectional championships, six regionals, two semistates, a football state runner-up showing this past fall and a boys basketball state championship last winter, the first in program history. The school also had two IHSAA Mental Attitude recipients in Cybil Stillson (girls golf 2021) and Ian Raasch (boys basketball 2023).

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“Our community is absolutely incredible, and I really believe there isn’t another one like it,” Smith said. “… Incredible coaches, incredible student-athletes. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of, and I’m just fortunate to have done it for three years at NorthWood.”

Smith served as the athletic director at Lakeland in LaGrange County from 2017-20 and as an assistant AD at Warsaw in the 2020-21 before arriving at NorthWood.

“I’ve been able to be kind of a trailblazer where I’ve been with what I do and how I do it,” Smith said. “I think I advanced the places I’ve been. I think I’m leaving NorthWood in a better place, which is the goal.”

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Smith shared one final message about his time in the athletic administration field.

“(I have) nothing but gratitude for the communities I’ve been able to serve, the administrators I’ve worked with, the coaches I’ve served and the student-athletes I’ve watched compete on some of the biggest stages,” Smith said. “It was a very difficult decision, but I’m just so grateful.”

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: NorthWood High School Athletic Director stepping down at end of month