Hempfield athletic director Brandon Rapp resigns

Brandon Rapp is leaving Hempfield after nearly seven years as athletic director.

He would only say the move is for personal reasons.

“It has been a great six-plus years,” he said. “I am looking forward to the next chapter, whatever that might be.”

Rapp sent a message to Spartans coaches Monday to inform them of his decision.

A well-respected administrator in Westmoreland County and around the WPIAL, Rapp was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association Region IV Athletic Director of the Year in the spring.

In his time as AD, Hempfield won multiple WPIAL and PIAA championships in softball and competitive spirit and has crowned numerous individual champions.

The district added girls wrestling, girls lacrosse, girls golf and unified bocce and unified track and field on his watch.

In addition, he oversaw stadium and field house renovation projects and a current plan that will give Hempfield five artificial turf fields, including baseball and softball.

He was instrumental in the hiring of champion softball coach Tina Madison and winning boys basketball coach Austin Butler.

“I will miss the people the most,” Rapp said. “The student-athletes, the coaches, the staff. All of the individual champions. The (Judge) Driscoll winners. The scholarships.”

Rapp acknowledged his former staffers Tyler Warden, the assistant AD; event coordinator Tom Evans; and athletic secretary Christina More.

“None of this happens without the whole team,” Rapp said.

Rapp also was AD at Norwin — his home district — for seven years and at Derry for three years.

A Keystone High School and Slippery Rock University grad, he also was a football coach at Redbank Valley.

He served as president of the Western Area Athletic Directors Association and the Big 5/6 Conference, positions he will abdicate.