No Off Season For An Athletic Director - Part III

Grayslake Central Athletic Director Tom Kim’s work goes well beyond the athletic fields of competition. He is actively involved in many of the academic aspects of the school, as well. Patch got the inside scoop on Kim from several school administrators.

"He is an integral part of every curriculum discussion we have. I know that Syd Klocke, our principal, relies on him a great deal for advice and counsel for a whole host of things," said Associate Principal John Bolger.

Dan Landry, also an associate principal, said, "Tom has made it his mission to get to know the coaching staff and to share the philosophies of the growing number of successful athletic programs with the other up and coming ones. Tom is an integral part of our school’s decision making because he has the ability to look at an issue from many different perspectives."

Corey Schwalb, the assistant athletic director, said he has worked closely with Kim for four years at .

"Tom Kim lives and breathes Grayslake Central Athletics. He puts his heart and soul into insuring the health, welfare and safety of all students at GCHS on and off the field," said Schwalb. "I am starting my fourth year working with him and he has always made every day about the students."

Central Principal Syd Klocke echoed those sentiments.

"I often say that Tom Kim is an ‘Athletic Director extraordinaire.’ He laughs every time I say that and then says not to say it anymore. But that doesn’t stop me because I believe it and his actions support it," Klocke said. "He provides great leadership to our student athletes, coaches and the entire athletic program. He is an advocate in every aspect of his job responsibilities that include programs, staffing, facilities and equipment. I couldn’t ask for a more dedicated, student-centered administrator than what we have in Tom Kim."

Bolger agreed. "He is one of the pillars here at GCHS. If there were a Mt. Rushmore at Central, Tom would be at the center of it," Bolger said. "And that would be well, well deserved."

Kim, with typical modesty, points to other people for the athletic successes at Central. "I work with a fantastic assistant AD in Corey Schwalb who helps me with scheduling events and supervision at those events," he said. "Laurel Karolczak, the athletic department administrative assistant, really runs the place. She is invaluable to what we do here. Additionally, working with our principal, Syd Klocke, and our district administration has allowed us to achieve one of the best facilities in Illinois. I really believe that. We have a great campus."

Kim’s modest persona is no act. He is genuinely an outgoing person who is uncomfortable with praise.

"He is truly, truly a very humble person and he always wants to give the credit for any success to someone else," Bolger said. "He does so much for so many at this school and he deserves any credit that comes his way."

Schwalb said, "Tom has empowered me throughout my tenure to schedule and supervise events, staff athletic workers, manage gate receipts, interview prospective coaches and a variety of other jobs too numerous to mention."

The Rams enjoyed a remarkable success in so many girls and boys sports last year with conference championships, trips down state, and deep runs into the playoffs.

"It is his motivation and skill that brings all of this talent to the forefront as is evidenced by our record breaking success in athletics last year," said Schwalb. "Success cannot be measured just by wins and losses. All you have to do is look around at the smiling faces of our students and staff to realize Tom Kim is doing things the R.A.M.S. way – Respect, Accountability, Mature and Safe!"

Kim notes that time is the most challenging part of his job. "This job takes you away from your personal life quite a bit. It’s a real challenge to prioritize your personal life with your work life. I’m here by 7 a.m. every day and can be here as late as 9:30 to 10 p.m. on a night with a basketball game or a tournament of some kind. Sometimes I don’t even get a chance to eat lunch."

Behind every great man, as we all know, is a great woman.

"I could not do what I do without the love and support of my wife, Megan. She understands the time demands of my job and how much I love doing what I do and she supports that. We have a great relationship and I am a very lucky man in so many ways."

Megan Kim gave birth in May of this year to their first child - a beautiful baby girl named Charissa.

A quote from the business world is "Don’t send your ducks to eagle school. Hire eagles."

Tom Kim is such an eagle. Klocke and the D127 school board obviously saw that when he interviewed for the position four years ago. If a school has a consistently strong athletic program, it is because the administration and school board have hired eagles in the athletic department on the coaching staffs. This is one reason the Grayslake Central Rams are now soaring to new heights in so many different sports.