Ray Zepeda, the newly named Cy-Fair ISD athletic director, took over his post just prior to the 2016-17 school year. Zepeda previously served as the assistant athletic director and has coached football for more than two decades.

How has the transition been from associate athletic director to athletic director?

The transition has been very positive for me. We have a fantastic staff of athletic department administrators and coaches. They have all been a tremendous resource for me as I have become acclimated to my new duties and responsibilities. The biggest difference between the two positions is that I was making a lot of suggestions before, and now I am making more final decisions. I have enjoyed my new role and am aware of the tremendous amount of responsibility involved in this position and the decisions that come across my desk each day.

Is there anything that has come up since taking on the job that you did not initially expect?

No, not really. Our previous athletic director, Ed Warken, did a great job of preparing me for this role and involving me in many of the key processes involved with running our department. I was fortunate to have a great mentor that took his responsibility of preparing me for the future very seriously. This has allowed me to adapt to the challenges and rigors of this job successfully.

What would you like to see happen in your first year in the job?

We have several large construction projects coming on line this year with the opening of a renovated Ken Pridgeon Stadium, our new district natatorium and Bridgeland [High School]. I would like to see us successfully open these facilities this year to the benefit of our community and kids. The projects have been a large undertaking, but we have a great facilities staff that have been extremely supportive and helpful throughout the entire process. I would also like to see our collective staff and programs continue to make strides towards growth and improvement.

CFISD schools are being split into two different divisions by the University Interscholastic League by 2018. How are you preparing for this? What does the split mean for the future of athletics at CFISD?

I think more than anything we are just trying to get communication out that a split is coming in the 2018-19 school year. We are also working as hard as we can between now and then to try to make as many of our programs competitive, so that they can take advantage of what we feel will be a tremendous opportunity for all for increased success. The 2018-19 school year will be the first time in many years that we [have] to compete with other schools outside of our districts for postseason honors. This will be a big adjustment for all concerned, but we feel that it will be very positive for our district.

Which is your favorite sport to watch?

Before getting involved with athletic administration at the district level, I would have said football. I coached football for over 20 years and have had an extreme passion for the sport. However, being involved in the athletic department has given me great appreciation for all sports. I really enjoy watching our kids and coaches compete as we move through our academic calendar each year. I have found that each sport is unique and that this offers all kids a chance to find something that they can be a part of and learn from.