Fort Scott Community College has a new athletic director after the recent hiring of Luke Demko, a native of Gilford, N.H.
Demko's employment was among personnel items approved by the FSCC Board of Trustees during the board's Monday meeting. Demko replaces Tom Havron, who has transferred to the position of vice president of student affairs/foundation director.
"I'm excited about Luke and what he's going to do for athletics," Havron said during Monday's board meeting.
Demko, who started in the position Monday May 16th , said he comes from an athletic background. He worked for 3 ½ years as a pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the baseball program at FSCC.
"I loved my time here. I met my wife here and proposed here," he said during the meeting.
In Gilford, Demko was a three-sport athlete in baseball, basketball and soccer. He attended the University of Rhode Island on a baseball scholarship and was drafted in the 29th round by the San Francisco Giants.
When his playing days were over, Demko said he went on to work as the general manager of a baseball facility called the Alamo Academy in Corpus Christi, Texas.
"I then had a calling for college coaching," he told the Tribune. "I coached here at Fort Scott Community College where I was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. He then went on to coach at the University of Rhode Island.
"While working, I received my master's degree from Pittsburg State in sports management," he said.
Demko most recently served eight years with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, where he taught for the academy, worked on patrol, peer support, mental health, taught first aid, worked as a hostage negotiator and served as a board member of the Crisis Intervention team council.
Demko told the board he "decided to come back" to Fort Scott, and is "excited to come back as athletic director." He said he wants to put a focus on the mental health of student-athletes.
"Mental health is my passion," he said. "I want to bring that here, especially for student-athletes. When they're leaving school or home life for a long time, and in athletics and academics. I want to bring that aspect to athletics."
Demko and his wife, Kimberly, have two children, 6-year-old Coralen and 4-year-old Easton. He said his children will attend St. Mary's Catholic School.
FSCC officials commented on Demko's hiring and the process for filling the position.
"We had a very talented and qualified pool of candidates," FSCC President Alysia Johnston said. "Luke has great ideas concerning advancing student-athlete success in the classroom and supporting the athletic department and coaches in reaching their goals."
"There was a wonderful pool of candidates for the position, but Luke impressed everyone with his genuine compassion for student-athletes and his enthusiasm for FSCC," Havron said. "We are grateful to have him back in the community of Fort Scott and are excited about the future direction of the athletic department."
Jason E. Silvers
Staff Reporter
Fort Scott Tribune