Tim Feigh gets A.D. Hall of Fame call

ELMHURST – Winning an award is nothing new for Tim Feigh, who compiled a long list of achievements during nearly a quarter-century as a high school athletic administrator.

But the Elmhurst resident, and former athletic director at York High School, Morton and Hinsdale South, certainly feels honored to receive his latest recognition.

Feigh will be inducted into the Illinois Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame on May 2.

"It's a great honor," said Feigh, who is in his third year of retirement and and was voted in unanimously in his first year on the ballot. "It's a nice reward after 24 years of being an athletic administrator."

Hinsdale South baseball coach and assistant athletic director Paul Hoel was hired three different times by Feigh, both at his current school and at York.

"I was fortunate to have a friend like that," Hoel said. "He hired me at York, he came here [Hinsdale South] and hired me, and when I got out he gave me another opportunity to get back in.

"Tim was great and fun to work with. He's a great guy and a friend and just a tireless worker. He deserves that honor. No one works harder than Tim Feigh."

Hoel added that Feigh's attention to detail stood out.

"There was no stone unturned," he said. "We never had an official [miss a game]. He was always here to greet people. Scheduling – meticulous. Double check, triple check. He was always on top of everything. He was one of the most organized people I've ever met, almost to a fault, where he would double check and triple check everything, but that was why we never had a mistake with him."

Feigh's life these days is a little bit more laid-back, though he still officiates high school varsity football in the fall and worked one of the state championship games last season.

He has also lent a hand to Riverside Brookfield athletic director Art Ostrow, helping out at the Bulldogs' Thanksgiving and Christmas basketball tournaments, and has had get-togethers with other former ADs. Those personal relationships is what he misses most about the job.

"That was my work family. You spend six days a week with them, 10-12 hours a day," Feigh said. "Sure you had your differences, but we were a family. ... You miss the camaraderie."

As for what he is most proud of looking back at his career, Feigh said that was a tough question.

"I guess that I was a coach's AD, to be honest with you," he said. "When you surround yourself with good people, it makes your job a heck of a lot easier. And I was fortunate with each school and the great people I worked with.

"And I was fortunate that at every place I went, the principals allowed me to work with the academic chairs and allowed me to hire not only great coaches but great people. Mentoring young coaches and seeing them grow, that's what it is all about, and also seeing the kids grow."

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Tim Feigh info box

Professional experience:

• Hinsdale South athletic director 1994-2012

• York athletic director 1990-94

• Morton athletic director/department chair for health, physical and driver education 1988-90

Honors:

• Illinois Athletic Directors Association AA Athletic Administrator of the Year (2003-04)

• Illinois Wrestling Coach's & Officials Association Class AA Athletic Director of the Year (2006)

• National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association State Award of Merit (2006)