Garis leaves Sierra Vista to become new CCSD athletic director

Adam Candee

Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003 | 9:50 a.m.

A nationwide search led Clark County School District administrators right into their own back yard to find a new athletics director.

Bill Garis will step down Friday as Sierra Vista High School principal to take over the CCSD athletics and activities office starting next week. Garis will replace longtime CCSD administrator Larry McKay, who retired in June after six years in the post and 30 years in the district.

Augustin Orci, deputy superintendent of instruction for the district, said that Garis' experience and character distinguished him in a pool of more than 20 applicants.

"He has a very nice demeanor. He is very focused, and he has been very fair in his past dealings with high school issues," Orci said.

The president of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association's Board of Control for the past five years, Garis brings an extensive athletics background to the position. With experience as a principal, an athletic administrator and a coach, Garis feels he understands what it takes to run sports programs at every level.

"I think I bring a perspective that's needed in that department," Garis said.

Garis, 50, opened Sierra Vista in 2001 after serving as principal of Boulder City High School for more than seven years. He ran Indian Springs High School for a year before that.

That diversity of experience in varied Clark County schools enticed district officials.

"We liked the idea of the larger school and smaller school (experience)," Orci said.

Entering his 19th year in CCSD, Garis is looking forward to thoroughly reviewing every aspect of the athletic department.

"There are going to be some immediate issues that are going to be very challenging," Garis said.

His list of priorities includes revising the district's substance abuse policy, reviewing the policy on athletic transfers and evaluating the viability of junior high school sports.

State funding deficiencies forced the district to make major budget cuts before the current school year. While athletics largely avoided those reductions, Garis said he will look for areas of fat in his budget.

"(We'll) go through the rest of it with a fine-tooth comb, just as you would your own school budget," Garis said.

While he was happy at Sierra Vista, Garis could not ignore the overtures of district officials for a job he feels is a natural fit.

"The people at the district level put the word out that they were in interested in me," Garis said.

Garis will earn $87,000 as district athletics director, roughly the same salary he received at Sierra Vista and near the top of the salary range for the AD position.com