Dr. Matthew Baltz
Director of Athletics
The Easton Area School District views extracurricular activities, including sports, as an extension of the classroom and our students’ education. With nearly 1 out of 3 (approximately 1500+) students in grades 7 through 12 participating in sports, the Athletic Department is one of the largest “classrooms” in the district.
The Easton Area School District Athletic Department operates as an autonomous portion of the district’s variety of academic and extracurricular programs. Currently, the Athletic Department consists of one full-time athletic director, two part-time assistant athletic directors, one full-time administrative professional, and one part-time administrative professional. The department employs 75 professional coaches and another 80+ volunteer coaches (attend daily practices, B.O.E. approved), as well as 2 equipment managers. Our athletic teams are served by a team of 5 athletic trainers (combined EASD & St. Luke’s). The athletic department manages a budget of approximately $1.2 million annually, which equates to less than 1% of the Easton Area School District’s annual operating budget.
Amongst the wide range of responsibilities that fall under the Athletic Department (officials, site preparation and management, spectator supervision, transportation, etc.) is the scheduling of over 1000 athletic events yearly. The Easton Athletic Department assists in the responsibility for scheduling all indoor athletic facilities as well as outdoor athletic fields for not only the school district, but also the local groups and organizations who apply for the use of those buildings and grounds.
As an extension of the classroom, the Athletic Department strictly adheres to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association regulations for weekly monitoring of academic eligibility for every student-athlete. If a student fails to pass the P.I.A.A. required major courses in any one given week, the student is rendered ineligible for the next week of athletic activities. Students are also required to pass a set number of major subjects per P.I.A.A. during each quarterly report period. Failure to do so renders them athletically ineligible for the next fifteen school days of a succeeding marking period. Over the years, collegiate recruiters have found Easton to be fertile ground for high-quality student-athletes and people of character for their programs. Many of our graduating senior student-athletes continue their academic and athletic careers throughout the numerous divisions of intercollegiate athletics.
Sponsoring sixty (60) athletic teams from grades seven through twelve, the Easton Area School District provides a diverse variety of athletic opportunities for our students. The offerings include 32 boys’ teams and 28 girls’ teams. Specifically at the varsity level, there are 13 boys’ teams and 13 girls’ teams. Easton sponsors 34 teams on the sub-varsity level, including teams that compete in the junior varsity, junior high, and middle school divisions. Easton’s teams compete in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and are members of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (P.I.A.A.) District XI, which includes all or portions of seven counties in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Over the years, Easton has committed itself to providing student-athletes with the best coaching, facilities, and equipment possible. Much of the success our programs have experienced is a direct result of the quality of coaches we have been able to attract, as well as the priority that is given to extracurricular activities by Central Administration, the Board of Education, and the greater Easton community.
The Easton Area School District and Easton community take immense pride in the athletic history of Red Rover teams and athletes. This history is filled with quality competition, outstanding success, unparalleled environments, and integrity. Easton Athletics have always sought to and been proud of the combination of athletic accomplishments and academic successes.
I am unbelievably humbled to serve as Director of Athletics for the Easton Area School District. Rover PRIDE is something I will work to uphold and elevate during my tenure!
#RoverPRIDE
PREPARATION * RESPECT * INTEGRITY * DEDICATION * EFFORT |
