When describing Valparaiso High School Athletic Director Herb Hofer, the terms "first-year" and "new" are mere technicalities. Although Hofer was officially hired in May to replace the retiring Mark Hoffman at the helm of the Valpo Athletic Department for the 2012-2013 school year, he is a familiar face around town and within VHS athletics. Hofer has served as an assistant athletic director for 13 years and has been employed by VHS for 20 years.
"It should be a seamless transition," Hofer said. "We're fortunate to be able to keep our athletic program moving in the correct direction, moving toward winning Duneland conference titles and hopefully getting back to winning all-conference for the boys and the girls."
Hofer has been attached to the city of Valpo since he started attending Valparaiso University in 1984. As a Crusader he wrestled all four years and played football for two, before sustaining an injury that sidelined him for his final two years of school. Hofer made the most of his unfortunate injury by entering the coaching ranks as an assistant at VU while still attending the university.
"I had some great coaches there, just a lot of positive people that were in my life that were coaches and teachers and I thought that I could take the same thing and be able to transfer that over as a teacher and coach," Hofer said.
After moving away for one year, Hofer returned to the city that he is proud to call home. Hofer coached football at Wawasee High School and middle school wrestling and track and field before landing his first job in the Valparaiso Community Schools district as a middle school teacher and coach at Thomas Jefferson.
"Back twenty something years ago when I was in college, I felt that I could help students," Hofer said. "I knew I could help students reach their potential."
Hofer continued his interaction with students as a freshman football coach and varsity line coach under Mark Hoffman. He decided to become an assistant athletic director in order to reach more students and continue to be a positive influence for a broader group of students. During his tenure working in the Athletic Department, Hofer has acquired many skills and tidbits of knowledge that he will apply now that he is in charge.
"The biggest thing is communication," he said. "Communication is key with all coaches and with parents. If they understand why you're doing something, it goes a long ways in making it a positive experience for the student athlete. The other thing that I've learned is that if you keep the students first, everything else falls into place."
The day-to-day duties of an athletic director include scheduling officials, setting games, supervising facilities, coordinating uniforms, keeping an eye on budgetary constraints and finances and overseeing personnel.
Hofer credits the parents, families and community members for playing a role in the success of the VHS Athletic Department.
"Our parents know what our kids are doing and they're very involved," he said. "The biggest thing is that we enjoy the parental support and the community support for the athletics here in Valparaiso."
Outside of his many duties as VHS Athletic Director, Hofer is involved with youth sports and activities with his two children. He also is active with his church and other groups within the city. Hofer's wife Tammy is a guidance counselor at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. She is very involved with the CASS (Create a Safe School) program.
Hofer has chosen to spend the bulk of his life in Valparaiso because of the people that call this city home.
"It's a very friendly place to be," he said. "You can walk down the street and people say hi. I was in Chicago a couple of weeks ago and walking there nobody says hi to you. Everyone just kind of minds their own business, where in Valpo people are friends and they want it to be that way."