Tatiana Martinez is an ASU Cronkite Student of Journalism student assigned to cover Greenway for AZPreps365.com

At the heart of every thriving high school athletic program, lies an athletic director, who not only champions student athletes but also unites the school community through the power of sports and leadership. 

At Greenway High School, athletic director Jeff Feldman’s role goes far beyond managing sports programs. It is complex, and has responsibilities that shape the entire athletic and academic environment. With over 22 years in the position, Feldman plays a pivotal role in creating a lively sports culture that supports both student-athletes and coaches.

"My role has many different levels and responsibilities, I oversee both girls’ and boys’ sports across all seasons, fall, winter, and spring. This includes scheduling games, hiring coaches, and managing uniforms,” Feldman said. 

Feldmans responsibilities don’t just involve athletics, but also involve being in charge of various clubs and organizations on campus. 

“I’m also in charge of clubs, organizations, transportation, facilities, and the entire school budget,” Feldman said. Fundraising is a crucial part of this role. “We rely on fundraising to provide resources for our programs.”

A challenge that goes along with this job is budget allocation. Each year the school receives a budget from the district and fundraising helps to supplement the budget. The budget is to get things essential for sports programs as well as other supplies needed for the school.

“Fundraising is essential for meeting the diverse needs of all sports,” Feldman said. Fairness in resource distribution is a priority and Feldman's implements a rotation for uniforms to ensure that all sports are treated equally. 

To make sure that fairness is met, Feldman gets input from coaches asking different budget needs of the individual sports. By getting coaches input it allows accommodation on certain items and then fundraising would go on from there.

Sarah Peterson, head coach of girls volleyball at Greenway, and Tatum Peterson senior girls volleyball player, underscores the significance of athletic directors in running effective programs. 

“It is important to have support at the highest level so we can concentrate on coaching our individual sport. Jeff does all of these things without me even asking. He goes beyond what his job requires,” Sarah Peterson said. 

The students at Greenway are fond of Feldman, as they know they can go to him when and if they need to, Tatum Peterson explains. 

One of the toughest aspects of the role involves personnel changes. As an athletic director it is hard to remove people from certain positions as, “you build relationships over time, and it’s hard to make decisions that may negatively impact someone’s career. But sometimes the good of the program must take priority,” Feldman said. 

Peterson is a long time coach at Greenway and expresses her love for the athletic program. Peterson explained how athletic directors are crucial and he takes time to build relationships with everyone he meets. 

“He attends almost every event on campus and supports the coaches, sponsors, and players. I have been coaching here for 23 years... Jeff is the major reason for that,” Sarah Peterson said. 

One of the director's standout fundraisers is “Hoopin’ It Up At The Arena,” an event that collaborates with the Phoenix Suns. This event is fantastic as it unites the community and supports Greenway student athletes.

Despite the challenges, Felman takes pride in supporting student-athletes beyond sports. Greenway conducts weekly grade checks during their seasons to ensure players remain eligible. 

Along with this, teachers are incredibly supportive and are always willing to help students who need the extra assistance. In this position it is important to build trust between coaches and athletes.

The school also provides access to a social worker if needed further enhancing emotional support for students as it is crucial for the students to know they have resources if needed. 

With a focus on long-term goals, Feldman remains committed to enhancing the experience for Greenway student-athletes. “I want to make being a Greenway Demon the best experience possible. It’s about hard work, creativity, and building connections among students, staff, and coaches.”

The role of the athletic director at Greenway High School is about more than managing sports programs, it’s about building a community where student-athletes can thrive both on and off the field. 

With passion and dedication,  he is shaping the future of Greenway’s athletic programs, ensuring that the experience for student-athletes is one of a kind.