Crisp named athletic director at Navajo Prep

FARMINGTON — Rainy Crisp added to her already long list of responsibilities at Navajo Prep after being named the school’s athletic director last month.

Crisp was named the interim athletic director in March and finished out the most recent school year in that role. Along with the new administrative position, Crisp is entering her 10th season as the school’s volleyball coach and 13th season as the girls basketball coach.

“It was really hectic,” Crisp said of taking over as AD for the final couple months of the school year. “I took over in the mix of everything, and was still teaching and coaching at the same time, but I think I handled it well. I was really excited to take on the position.”

After Crisp was named the interim AD, Prep advertised the position as open and drew a handful of applicants. But Sandra Westbrook, the school’s director of administration and public relations, said Crisp was the best option for the school.

"She has a strong foundation, not only in the Navajo Prep community, but in the entire Four Corners with all the work that she does," Westbrook said. "She really has been a model as far as promoting students first, athletes second."

Westbrook also said that there is not a concern about Crisp's new workload, and that other school administrators had to talk Crisp out of wanting to retain her role as an instructor at the school.

Crisp is a 1998 graduate of Navajo Prep and graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science with a minor in education. During her time as a head coach, she coached the Prep girls basketball team to the 2A state title game in 2008 and 2009, winning the title in 2009. As the volleyball coach, Crisp led Prep to the 2A state title match in 2007 and 2008, and the 3A state title match in 2014, losing to Texico in all three title appearances.

After being named the interim athletic director in the spring, Crisp said she was interested in the position without the interim tag, but had concerns about whether the job would allow her to remain in her coaching capacities. While trying to decide how the administrative role would fit into her coaching responsibilities, Crisp reached out to the athletic directors at Rehoboth Christian, Newcomb and Crownpoint for guidance.

“I talked to some of the athletic directors who were also coaching, and they were the ones who really gave me that push and encouragement that I can do this role,” she said. “But again, I’m just still learning, but I’m very happy.”

Karl Schneider is the sports editor for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4648.