J. Wilder Adams is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Notre Dame Preparatory for AZPreps365.com.

 

The 2022-23 school year is young, but the chemistry in the new athletic director staff of Notre Dame Preparatory is finding chemistry and nfireworks so far. 

“Chris (Guyll) and Jason (Levine) honestly are some of the best people I’ve ever worked with.” Ann Williams said. 

Notre Dame Prep’s athletic director staff is entirely new this school year.

Jason Levine is the athletic director, Christopher Guyll is the assistant athletic director of boys sports, and Ann Williams is the assistant athletic director of girls sports.

While these three are new members of the Notre Dame Prep athletic administration, they are all coming from diverse backgrounds. 

Levine recently moved from Belmont, California, where he spent 22 years (12 as the athletic director) at Notre Dame-Belmont High School.

Guyll was an athletic director at BASIS Phoenix, and Williams was a teacher at Royal Plum Middle School. 

A big reason for why the vibe has been kumbaya so early is the freedom and flexibility Levine has allowed for all parties. 

Guyll is aspiring to become the athletic director of a major program, and he is appreciative of that liberty.

“Levine has given me the ability to still lead and be an athletic director and how to use awesome resources, while still taking an active role and being a huge resource to me.” Guyll said.

Levine, Guyll, and Williams are all former high school athletes, and creating a competitive environment is another reason why the transition has been smooth.

“Growing up an athlete, once you leave high school or college… you never get to compete again for something truly meaningful.” Guyll said. “Still being in an environment where we’re competing, we’re trying to foster great young men and women through sports, it’s really cool.”

Chris Cochran reciprocates that belief.

Cochran has been the equipment manager of Notre Dame Prep for the past decade. Guyll described the culture as competitive. Cochran views it as team driven. 

“The goal we set out at the start…. let’s work as a team.” Cochran said. ”That’s what we’re trying to do, be one solid team.”

During Levine’s time working with Guyll and Williams, what really stands out to him is their optimism working with others. 

“They have great energy," Levine said. "They work with coaches well. They work with faculty and staff well. And they really do a good job with our student athletes.” 

Inevitably, when everybody is going through change at once, there is a transition phase to the new environment. 

“The hardest part (of leaving Royal Plum) was leaving my kids at my last school.” Williams said. ”I got to teach the same group of kids for three years.”

For Guyll, he is still discovering the boundaries of his role.

“Coming from a school where I was an athletic director…. trying to learn what I really can do, what I cannot do. Relearning the role from a different perspective.” Guyll said. 

Now that Levine, Guyll, and Williams have become more established within the Notre Dame Prep community, being a part of that student environment has been especially fulfilling.

“We are starting to get to that point where kids will just drop in to say ‘hi,’ which is the highlight of my day.” Williams said.