Komanecky eager to get started as new Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics

Christopher Sciria
AECSD Public Information Specialist

Steve Komanecky grew up in Auburn and proudly wore maroon as a four-year member of the varsity hockey and baseball teams in the late 2000s, and he was a part of the 2010 Section III champion baseball team.

Now, Komanecky returns to Auburn as the district’s new Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics. After graduating from Auburn High School, Komanecky earned his bachelor’s and master's degrees from SUNY Cortland while playing baseball. He earned an administrative degree from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He taught and coached in the Homer, Peru, and Saranac school districts. He was athletic director in Camden and an assistant principal and athletic director in Pulaski before returning to Auburn.

Coming home to Auburn means a lot to Komanecky because of what this community means to him.

“It's pretty surreal, I feel like I just finished college last year, and to think about where I've been in the last 10 years, and to be back in my hometown in this role means a lot to me,” he said. “I grew up highly involved in the community. My father, who was a director at the YMCA for a long time, was very involved in the community, and I volunteered in a lot of events with him - the Great Race, the Downtown Mile, you name it, we were there. As a kid, I had great experiences growing up here. I'm so thankful to be able to be back and be a small part of giving back to the kids today and help provide them the same opportunities that I was fortunate enough to have. It's a full circle moment for me.”

Komanecky wants the athletics program to be competitive but inviting so a larger number of students can enjoy the benefits of sports.

“I want to see all of our programs do well, not just the wins and losses. At the end of the day, winning and losing is not what it's all about,” he said. “It's about getting kids involved in the program. I really want to see as many kids as possible take advantage of the opportunities we offer here, use our great facilities, and have those positive experiences.” 

Building a successful athletic program means everyone – coaches, players, youth programs – is working toward a common goal.

“Ultimately, I'm a competitor, I want to win too,” Komanecky said, “having a cohesive program where we're working together, where we're getting involved with the youth programs in the area. We have a lot of great things going on in Auburn. I'm a team player, so I think that if we all work together, we can continue to do some great things here.” 

Komanecky said his career experiences as a coach and administrator in other districts have prepared him for being Auburn’s athletic director. Coaching modified football, a sport he did not have extensive experience in, helped his development.

“I remember the first day I was there - I went right to practice. I knew if I came in with some enthusiasm and intensity, that would help,” he said. “Throughout that season, I learned a lot about creating relationships with kids and understanding that a lot of these kids don't have the support they need at home; it's important to be there, to listen, to push them to be the best they can be and make sure that they're doing the right things on and off the field. That was a great learning experience for me.” 

As he progressed as a coach, creating relationships with players, their families, and the community became an important part of Komanecky’s philosophy.

“It takes a lot to run a program, and when you have the parents buy in, when you have the community buy in, it makes things much better for the kids,” he said. “The common theme over my experiences: it all comes down to the relationships. Kids doing the right thing, learning how to handle adversity, competition, and helping kids have a plan of what they want to do in life. What is it that they like to do that makes them happy? That's been my philosophy as I've gone on.”

In addition to being athletic director, Komanecky is also in charge of the district’s health and physical education classes.

“I think sometimes it can get looked over. We're not just talking about athletes, we want to have a program where we're offering enough opportunities, activities for the kids that maybe aren't as into athletics,” he said. “I love the outdoor education and project adventure model, and I know our teachers already do a great job of incorporating some of those things into the curriculum. There's really no limit to what we can teach. We want to give our kids the knowledge and skills they need to live healthy lifestyles. Ultimately, I want to promote a healthier community. I think there's a lot of good things already going on, but it all starts with educating our kids how to be physically literate individuals.” 

Komanecky is excited to start in his hometown and make a difference in our community.

“I've had the opportunity to work with kids from so many different backgrounds and so many families from different backgrounds, with a lot of different personalities, and it's really opened my eyes as to what's out there,” he said. “How can I take all these things I've learned back into my hometown where I'm familiar with the community. Everywhere I've worked, I walked in without knowing anybody. I knew I had to get out in the community. While I know people here already, I want to get out and reintroduce myself to the community and partner with all of our stakeholders. We're all a team here in Auburn, and I look forward to helping create positive experiences for our kids. Let's do what it takes to make that happen.”