Nick Rathmann first came to Blake 21 years ago as the ninth grade basketball coach. “Blake is an awesome place,” said Rathmann, who, after eight years of having various roles such as JV baseball and Varsity football coach, Middle School lunchroom supervisor, 6th grade social studies teacher, finally became the athletic director.
His vision for Blake has consistently stayed the same: “dials and buckets”
“I try to look at everything we do and say, where can we turn the dial a little bit? Where can we make things a little better?” reflects Rathmann. During his time at Blake, he implemented the turf on Aamoth and the ice arena, made major changes to tennis courts and baseball fields, updated the gym, and started new programs like Ultimate Frisbee, among many others.
“We did significant multimillion dollar enhancements to a lot of facilities that our kids get to use. We have some of the best facilities in the state,” said Rathmann. “We’ve really tried to make the incredible work that students do in the classroom with all of our amazing teachers and do the same in a different way with athletics.”
Despite all of his physical achievements, Rathmann firmly states, “It’s not me. It’s a team of people always, and there’s really talented people here at Blake: 3 awesome assistant ADS. 144 amazing coaches…Anne Stavney, Maren Anderson, all the deans, college counseling, admissions, transportation, security, billings and grounds…we work with every department…we’re part of a bigger team at Blake.”
Rathmann continues, “All the coaches that we’ve worked with have given me so much good growth…you learn a little bit from every person you interact with, and we interact with a lot of people.”
His deep appreciation for the people around him was greatly influenced by the late Rod Anderson, former 40 year social studies teacher at the Upper School and “legendary hockey coach.”
“I had lunch with him every Wednesday at the Upper School, and he would just tell me stories about how things were…and he taught me about people.” While winning state titles is always a joy, Rathmann says “it’s [about] the other moments that I get to see that no one else sees. [Those] are the [memories] I remember the most.”
Rathmann sees athletes succeed at their sport after Blake. Rathmann sees alumni take the next chapters of their lives–weddings, birth announcements, or job changes. Rathmann sees growth.
“My favorite things have always been the kids, the student athletes.” Rathmann says with a huge smile. “It’s knowing people’s names, the high-fives, cheering them on, the fist pumps, and being there for the moment.”
A moment that’s been precious to him is the last moment. Rathmann says, “when [the] last match is over as a senior, it’s hard to watch, but [I] watch kids cry…that just means it was all worth it. I get excited about that [because it] means we did our job. It was worth it…that experience is special.”
