By Don Ketchum

It is an understatement to say that Charlie Ragle is busy at this time of year, guiding the football program at Scottsdale Chaparral.

Now his plate is piled higher with additional duties as the school’s athletic director.

Yes, you read it right . . . Ragle, the emotional, intense guy who led the Firebirds to back-to-back Class 5A Division II state championships and has a 49-6 overall record since taking over the football program in 2007, is the captain of the big ship.

In truth, he is the co-captain. Sam Messina, who led Chaparral to the 5A-II baseball title in his first year as coach earlier this spring, will share some of the duties.

The AD job opened up at the end of the 2010-11 school year when Corey Newland accepted the post as district athletic director for the nearby Paradise Valley School District.

“It’s kind of a joint venture,’’ Ragle said. “Sam and I were both in the right place at the right time. Chaparral is a very good school in both academics and athletics. We are very serious about this.’’

In past years, Ragle had been in charge of attendance and discipline for the sophomore and junior classes. He said that being an athletic director “was something that had been in the back of my mind, potentially something full-time down the road.’’

The road came at him pretty fast.

During the football season, he will handle the administrative duties during the day and Messina will help facilitate events during the late afternoons and evenings.

The two men will meet at the beginning of each week to discuss that week’s schedules, setting up the games, make sure game/meet officials are in place, and arrange for transportation. They also make sure the athletes have athletics participation packets in hand and that they are on target for their physical exams.

Ragle said he has gained a greater appreciation for the AD role. It is much more than sitting behind a desk and pushing papers around.

“No question. When you’re in it, you have a different view, a different appreciation for what is going on,’’ Ragle said.

As for what is going on on the football field, Ragle’s team will get an early start. It plays in the second of two games in the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s annual Sollenberger Classic on Saturday, Aug. 20 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, signaling the beginning of the season. Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas, Nev., will serve as the opponent.

On Wednesday, Aug. 10, the Firebirds will travel to Ahwatukee to face Phoenix Desert Vista in a scrimmage at 7 p.m. Desert Vista opens its season one night earlier than Chaparral, on Friday, Aug. 19 against visiting Phoenix Maryvale.

Ragle’s roster is loaded with talent, including versatile receiver-defensive back Davonte Neal and quarterback Connor Brewer, but the coach is being cautiously optimistic about the scrimmage.

Chaparral participated in a recent pre-season camp in Flagstaff.

“Now we will have live competition,’’ he said. “We will see if we have that fire against another team. We’re going to be looking at some guys who haven’t been tested, haven’t been through the fire. We want to see how they react.’’