Airport athletic director Chris Napier
There is a saying in West Virginia, according to new Airport athletic director and football coach Chris Napier, that big jobs take two hands. That’s to say he believes his role will take a two-pronged approach.
“There is the athletic side in helping coaches in leadership and helping them get where they want to go in a wide range of sports from boys and girls volleyball to the basketball team,” Napier said. “There are a lot of different variations in there, but I think the best leaders build relationships, they’re organized, and they are good communicators.
“On the administrative side, going back to the organization and communication pieces, if you are going to be a school administrator, no matter what it is, you have to be organized, you have to be able to communicate, and you have to build relationships not just with the coaches, but with the student athletes.”
Napier brings an abundance of experience with him. In football, he’s coached on many levels from middle school head coach to high school offensive coordinator to Arena and college football. He’s coached with Matt Mumme, son of former University of Kentucky football coach Hal Mumme, and had a strong connection with the late Mike Leach.
He’s also worked at the South Carolina Department of Education and was an assistant principal at Newberry High School.
Napier becomes the fourth different athletic director and football coach at Airport in five seasons.
“We’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing,” Napier said. “It’s such a blessing to work with the kids now and show them this is bigger than athletics. We want to help them become better citizens out in the community. We’re not just here for the wins and losses on a scoreboard. We really want to pour into them that they can take life lessons from this and take it past high school. We’re focused on us being here right now. I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to meet these kids and coaches and be as genuine as I can with them beyond athletics.”
While Napier was hired in mid-May, he wasn’t able to start until June 2, meaning he’s had limited time with the student athletes and the coaches. Despite that, Napier has met with the football players and coaches. He tried to retain coaches, and he was able to bring on some new coaches.
He hasn’t limited his time to just the football program. He’s called, texted, and met with other coaches and assistant coaches at Airport. He credits principal Matt Schilit with helping to facilitate some of those conversations.
Napier’s time on campus has also allowed him to see the state of the Airport athletic department.
“There has been an excellent foundation set with the overall athletic department,” Napier said. “The former AD and Lexington Two have really committed to the facilities at Airport. In the few days I’ve been here, they’ve resurfaced the tennis court and there is a brand new field turf going in the football stadium.”
Napier wants to help the athletes at Airport continue to grow while trying to show the community that Airport is heading in the right direction.
“It’s a great community,” Napier said. “They have a lot of tradition. Airport High School is important to this community. They have some established traditions here. There is a good culture here.”
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