Not goodbye — See you later: School board trustees, students and staff recognize departing athletic director

Not goodbye — See you later: School board trustees, students and staff recognize departing athletic director Image

• Cumby Collegiate ISD Board of Trustees President Jason Hudson and Superintendent Shelly Slaughter present departing Athletic Director Tom Dracos with an award of appreciationg commemorating Dracos’ nine years in the position. Staff Photo by Tammy Vinson

Tammy Vinson Wed, 05/29/2024 - 07:08 Body

Cumby Collegiate ISD recently marked the emotional end — for now — of athletic director Tom Dracos.

Dracos stepped down from his athletic director role in order to fulfill a different one — that of dad. Dracos’ daughter will begin her senior year of high school this fall, and Dracos wanted to be able to focus on her and her activities over the coming school year.

Students and staff members bid emotional farewells to Dracos at the May Board of Trustees meeting.

Superintendent Shelly Slaughter said Dracos “is the longest reigning athletic director we’ve ever had, and he’s been dedicated to our students, staff and community. He even left and then came back to us — that’s how dedicated he was. He’s been very steadfast and unwavering in his leadership and unconditional commitment to Cumby. We appreciate you very much, and you will be missed. We love you.”

Freshman Gunner Campbell said, “I got the honor of being coached by this man. He’s shown me work ethic and so many other things. I don’t really know where I’d be without this man. He’s done many things for me. He loves every student here, undeniably. He will do anything for this school. So, Coach Dracos, thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Thank you for just loving us and never giving up.”

Other students described Dracos as “more than a coach to me” and “a second father.”

One Cumby coach said Dracos “genuinely cares so much about who kids become, not only as athletes, but as people. He cares that they break records, but also that they break generational curses of their families. He cares that they don’t miss reps, but also that they don’t miss opportunities to learn about Christ and why it matters that we put our faith in Him. [Dracos] cares that they win both on the court and on the field, but, most importantly, that they win at life and set themselves up to be successful.”

“We both know that you will never be everyone’s cup of tea,” another faculty member said. “You are, in fact, very few people’s cup of tea. You’re incredibly stubborn, exceedingly sarcastic and ridiculously tall. You see the world and you walk through life with a perspective most people don’t understand. You are so much more than most people know. You have walked alongside, and sometimes even carried, my kids through these last two years, believed in them even when they didn’t believe in themselves. You have pushed them to keep going, even when they didn’t want to. You have lived out your calling in the lives of my children, along with countless others. Thank you will never, ever be enough, but thank you is all that I have. So thank you, to you and to your family, for the sacrifices made, and the differences made.”

Dracos and his family plan to remain in the area.