Dover tabs new athletic director
DOVER – The athletic director at West Holmes High School is turning in his red, white and royal blue Knights gear for Dover’s crimson and gray.
The Dover Board of Education is expected to approve Adam Brately as the district’s new athletic director on Monday.
Brately has been the athletic director at West Holmes for the past nine years. He will replace Tim McCrate, who announced his retirement late last year.
Dover Superintendent Karie McCrate says Brately’s experience in the Ohio Cardinal Conference helped him stand out among more than 20 candidates for the position.
Brately will start in Dover this summer. He has degrees from Kent State and Walsh. In a statement, he said he, his wife and two children are excited to become part of the Dover community. Dover plays West Holmes in and OCC boys basketball on Monday.
PRESS RELEASE FROM DOVER CITY SCHOOLS
Adam Brately is slated to serve as the Crimson Tornadoes’ next Athletic Director. The Board of Education will be asked to approve his hire at its February 9th meeting.
Brately, an experienced administrator with a track record of growth and success, joins Dover after serving as the Athletic Director at West Holmes Schools for the past nine years and at Liberty Union High School for the three years prior.
“Adam brings a blend of media expertise and leadership experience. He has demonstrated an ability to grow an athletic program through strategic communication, creative fundraising and community engagement,” said Karie McCrate, superintendent. “Mr. Brately balances the demands of school-based athletics with a commitment to student well-being, reflecting the values and vision of Dover Schools.”
During his time at West Holmes, Brately was instrumental in expanding athletic opportunities, implementing new programs in boys’ and girls’ bowling, girls’ golf and middle school soccer. He has served in leadership roles within the Ohio Cardinal Conference and was the 2024 recipient of the EOIAAA Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Brately to our team,” said Brooke Grafe, Dover High School principal. “His emphasis on building relationships with students is clear. By maintaining strong communication with parents, staff and our community, Adam will ensure our athletic department remains a source of pride for the Crimson Tornado community.”
Brately holds a Master’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management from Kent State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and English from Walsh University, where he was an NAIA Academic All-American soccer student-athlete .
“This position offers an incredible opportunity for me and my family, and I am honored and grateful for the chance to serve as the athletic director at Dover City Schools,” said Brately. “Dover has a storied tradition of success in both athletics and academics that I am excited to be a part of. I look forward to working closely with our student-athletes, coaches, administration, and the Dover community to support programs that emphasize growth, character, and school pride.”
Brately, his wife Jayna, and their two children are excited to become part of the Dover community. He will officially begin his duties following his transition from West Holmes at the end of the school year.