Hutto ISD Superintendent Doug Killian announced April 30 the selection of Steven Van Meter as the district's first athletics director.

Van Meter, who formerly served as athletics director and head football coach at Friendswood ISD and Friendswood High School, respectively, in suburban Houston, is scheduled to be formally recommended to the Hutto ISD board of trustees at a special meeting May 1.

"Hiring Steve Van Meter is an incredible opportunity for Hutto ISD," Killian said. "He is a legendary coach who will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our athletic programs. He also has the exceptional character and integrity we strive to model for our students."

Van Meter retired from his coaching and athletics director positions at Friendswood in 2012 following a 20-year tenure at both jobs. Van Meter retired with 15 trips to the state playoffs and a career coaching record of 148 wins, 81 losses and one tie.

"I'm not just an old coach coming out of retirement," Van Meter said. "Taking a year off was very refreshing for me and allowed my wife and I to spend time doing things we haven't been able to do in 30 years of coaching.

"I'm excited to be a part of the Hutto community. I love kids, I love to compete and I love teaching them the right way to do everything—with character. I think Hutto shares the same vision that I have, and I'm looking forward to what is next."

Van Meter will replace Steve Hale, a former Hutto High School football coach and HISD boys athletic coordinator, who resigned April 3 to take the athletics director position at Medina Valley ISD outside of San Antonio.

Hutto ISD is replacing its former system of separate boys and girls athletics coordinators with a single districtwide head athletics director and assistant athletics director.

According to the district, Van Meter was selected from a pool of more than 80 candidates who showed interest in the position.

"The selection of Van Meter reinforces our commitment to hire the best possible candidate—whether internal or external—that will move all of our programs, not just athletics, towards statewide recognition," Killian said.