Brian Neugebauer is enjoying his new role as the Firestone High School athletic director.
Neugebauer took over as Firestone's athletics leader this year after Brian Fuller retired from the position after 23 years in charge.
"I love it because this is home," said Neugebauer , a 1991 Firestone graduate. "This is where I am from and who I am. It is busy with 26 sports plus cheer. We schedule transportation for band, cheer and all of the sports, we get permits. It is a lot, but it is fun. I love sports."
Neugebauer was Fuller's assistant athletic director the past two years at Firestone and will be entering his third year as the Falcons boys basketball coach. Neugebauer is also an English teacher at Firestone.
" Firestone is going to be in good hands with Brian Neugebauer," Akron Public Schools Athletic Director Joe Vassalotti said. "He has been an athletic director before at Buchtel. He has experience coming in to fill those big shoes that Brian Fuller leaves behind."
Neugebauer , 51, played basketball under former Firestone coach Harvey Sims. Neugebauer said former Firestone coach Richard Rudgers encouraged him to get into coaching as an assistant for Tony Dickens, another former Falcons coach.
Neugebauer earned bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Akron in 1996 and 2006, respectively. He spent 19 seasons as a boys basketball assistant coach from 1993-2013 with stints at Firestone , CVCA, Central-Hower, Kenmore, Copley and Buchtel.
Neugebauer taught at Buchtel and compiled a record of 109-88 as the Buchtel girls basketball coach from the 2013-2014 season through the 2021-2022 season. He led the Griffins to a Division II district crown in 2019, five City Series regular-season championships and four league postseason titles.
"It’s tough following an AD or anyone in any profession that was so good, but Brian Fuller has been very helpful in my transition," Neugebauer said. "He’s an enormous help anytime I have questions or need help. I can only hope to be as on point as he’s been as an athletic director for so many years at our alma mater.
"Sports are amazing for so many reasons and do so much for so many people. I can only hope to continue to push sports and all of their positive attributes to our young people.”
Brian Fuller retires as Firestone's athletic director
Fuller , 59, is a 1984 Firestone graduate who competed in football and baseball. He served in the United States Army for three and a half years and graduated from the University of Akron in 1994.
Fuller is a social studies teacher at Firestone and in his 31st school year in the classroom. He was a Firestone assistant football coach under former Falcons coach Bob Black for 11 seasons and was the girls golf coach for two seasons.
"It's been great being the athletic director at Firestone ," Fuller said. "It is a very busy job. There is a lot of stress involved. There are a lot of things you have to monitor. The truth of it is, I have nothing but the greatest of memories. I have got nothing but love, joy and Falcon Pride when it comes right down to it.
" Firestone has been very good in athletics since the beginning of the school. That is because of the community, the school, the parents, the kids and the staff. It is everybody working together. That has been consistent over the years. I am happy that I have been able to add to it and continue to keep it going, and I think coach Neugebauer is going to keep it going, too.
"... I am thankful and grateful for the Akron Public Schools . I think the Akron Public Schools is a fantastic school district. We do a great job. It is more than just in the classroom. There are so many things that go on in this school district that people have no idea about."
Fuller retired as athletic director after Firestone won the City Series All-Sports Trophy for the third year in a row. The trophy was reintroduced in 2017 and Firestone won the award in the 2017-2018, 2019-2020, 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.
"Brian was one our of best ADs," Vassalotti said. "Very efficient. He ran a tight ship and did a great job overall with Firestone athletics. We will miss him."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'I love it': Brian Neugebauer happy in new role as Akron Firestone High School AD
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