Cory Schutz is leaving Wawasee after 17 years to take over as athletic director at Eastern (Greentown) High School. (File photo by Mike Deak)

SYRACUSE – Having served as an assistant athletic director for three years, Cory Schutz was given his chance to officially call the shots Tuesday evening.

Eastern (Greentown) High School’s school board officially approved Schutz to take over as its high school athletic director during a vote by the board Tuesday. Schutz served as Wawasee High School’s assistant athletic director under Steve Wiktorowski for two years. This will be Schutz’s first full-time athletic directing position.

“I’m a little nervous about just feeling comfortable there,” Schutz said Monday afternoon. Eastern is just east of Kokomo. “I’m anxious to begin the process. (Former athletic director) Brad (Wilson) was there for 17 years. I’m excited, but also pretty nervous for a new surrounding.”

Wilson retired this spring after serving Eastern for 17 years.

Schutz taught and coached at Wawasee over a span of 17 years. Primarily a softball coach, Schutz led Wawasee to 152 wins in 12 years and a sectional championship in 2010. The win total is more than double any other coach in program history. In the classroom, Schutz taught a freshman computer course as well as was an advisor for DECA.

“I got to know a lot of the kids in class before they played sports as freshmen,” Schutz said. “Just doing athletics will be tough for me to get to know some of the kids. I might have to stop by some practices, maybe a choir class or something to meet some of the kids. But I do feel academics are first, school is first. I want to get that across.”

Eastern is currently a Class 2-A school in the Mid-Indiana Conference, but the conference is set to dissolve after next year, with Eastern planning on joining the Hoosier Heartland Conference. Schutz is set to take over duties July 1.

“I’ve had a good run at Wawasee, and have made a lot of friends while I was there,” Schutz said.