Kathy Masterson Named Section XI Athletic Director of the Year

Athletic directors can have a profound impact on the lives of students. They can be seen guiding athletes through their high school journey, rooting for them along the way thereafter, fighting for their wants and needs and making positive experiences a priority. They can also improve their programs, bringing in the best role models to lead their teams, pushing for facility upgrades and providing new and necessary equipment.

It’s safe to say Kathy Masterson has done all of that and then some, as emphasized by her current and former colleagues, student-athletes and peers, and now has some new hardware to show for it, being named Section XI’s Athletic Director of the Year.

“It’s humbling, and an unbelievable honor to be recognized by the people that you work with on a day-to-day basis from Huntington to Montauk,” Masterson said. “I’m very proud of it, and I’m proud for the East Hampton School District and of the things we’re doing out here, but this award is attributed to both school districts and their belief in me and their support of me, and most importantly, our student-athletes.”

Masterson was hired as a physical education teacher for the Westhampton Beach School District in 1999 before being promoted to director of health, physical education and athletics in 2006. She left the district for the athletic director position in East Hampton last year.

“I am thrilled for Kathy,” Superintendent Adam Fine said. “In her short time at East Hampton, she has made an incredible impact on our student-athletes and our community. Her positive, proactive attitude and passion for the program is palpable. She has exceeded my expectations, and I look forward to the new and exciting initiatives she will bring.”

The Davis & Elkins College graduate began her career coaching field hockey, basketball and softball in the Southampton School District, her alma mater. She graduated from Southampton High School in 1987, having starred on the field hockey and softball teams there. She’s known current Mariners Athletic Director Darren Phillips, the 2021 Suffolk County Physical Education Director of the Year, for two decades. Phillips said he could immediately tell his colleague was the right person for the job.

“When I first met Kathy, I knew right away she was all about her student-athletes and her passion for athletics was obvious,” he said. “Kathy is so deserving of this award. She pours her heart and soul into everything she does, is a true professional in every way and is a proven leader in Section XI and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.”

Masterson is president of Section XI, the governing body of athletics in Suffolk County, which in turn makes her president of its Athletic Council. That commitment started four years ago, when she became the second vice president. She’s been working her way up the ladder by fulfilling each two-year position, and will remain president for one more year before serving two more as past-president. Masterson is also a member of Section XI’s eligibility, finance, seed and modified committees, the latter of which she is also a co-chair of, and has been the county’s boys volleyball chairperson for 15 years.

“From my first superintendent, Lynn Schwartz, to Adam Fine, they’ve all been very big proponents of being involved in your associations,” Masterson said. “The more involved you are in your associations, the better it’s going to be for your kids. If you want to have a voice for your kids, you have to get involved. I work for the East Hampton Union Free School District, but I also work for every student-athlete in Suffolk County. I want to be an advocate and a voice for them.”

Tom Combs, executive director of Section XI, said she’s done just that, along with always being the first person to step up when a need arises, and being a valuable resource and mentor to many new athletic directors.

“In the 20-plus years I have known Kathy, she is always outgoing and compassionate about the students and colleagues she works with,” he said. “Her work ethic is second to none, as evidenced by her membership on numerous committees in the section and state. Her leadership skills and commitment are a main reason Section XI continues to progress in all facets. As the president of Section XI, Kathy commands respect by her actions of caring and her expertise of knowledge of rules and policy.”

Masterson has served as a presenter at state and national conferences, sharing her knowledge with athletic directors across the country. She and Shelter Island Athletic Director Todd Gulluscio will be leading New York’s seminar this year, and Masterson will be hosting a women’s athletic director roundtable, which she ran seven years ago. She has presented twice at the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association conference, and will do so a third time next year in Orlando.

Masterson reiterated why she remains so heavily involved in all aspects of athletics.

“It’s not about reinventing the wheel — we’re all in this to help the kids, so if we could do things to better our student-athletes, that’s what we want to do,” she said.

East Hampton varsity field hockey and girls basketball coach, Samantha James, has already witnessed her new athletic director’s dedication.

“When I met her before our field hockey preseason, I knew she was a good fit for our district,” the coach said. “She is very positive and charismatic, which makes her a great leader. She is always doing what is right for our athletes, and makes sure they have more than enough support to achieve their goals.”

Westhampton Beach’s head varsity football coach, Bryan Schaumloffel, said his former athletic director and colleague has always been children-first, students-first and athletes-first. He saw that early on during his day job as a social studies teacher in the district.

“We love Kathy. We all have a great relationship with her,” he said. “Kathy was great in every aspect of her position, from getting us what we needed to going to bat for the coaches to being an advocate not just for football but for all the programs.”

The coach also knows Masterson as someone who just likes to have fun and bring smiles to the faces of students. He recalls the athletic director dressing up as a cheerleader for a homecoming pep rally one year, which he said was “a big hit.” He knew Masterson would be one when she was first appointed to the position.

“We all thought it was a fantastic move for the district,” Schaumloffel said. “She had an excellent rapport and relationship with all of the student-athletes, and she was an amazing person to work for. East Hampton got a quality athletic director, and I expect her to do wonderful things over there and move the positive things she did for Westhampton over there and continue those benefits that we’ve enjoyed for a long time.”

Former student-athlete Belle Smith can attest to the connections Masterson has made. The Division I lacrosse player for Boston College said she wasn’t surprised to hear Masterson was named Athletic Director of the Year.

“It’s safe to say that every player at Westhampton Beach felt like they had a special relationship with her. That’s just a testament to the type of person she is,” Smith said. “She’s always making each player feel valued and special, and it shows in her work. Athletic director isn’t just a job to her, it’s a lifestyle, and she loves what she does. Kathy loves sports and loves her players, and it’s tremendously evident in the way she’s always working to grow and support us players.”

It means even more to Smith because she’s known Masterson since she could remember. Her mother, Jen, grew up playing field hockey with her, so she was connected to the athletic director well before she propelled herself into the spotlight as a member of the district’s varsity lacrosse and basketball teams in seventh grade.

“To this day, she still reaches out to me constantly and is my number one supporter in all that I do,” Smith said. “I am forever grateful for what she’s done for me, and Westhampton Beach, and I can’t wait to continue to root for her in all that she does.”

Masterson said when thinking about why she’s committed herself to high school athletics, an old sports adage comes to mind: “There are over 400,000 NCAA student-athletes, and most of us will go pro in something other than sports.”

“To watch my student-athletes who have played for us find success in what they love to do — that’s what it’s all about,” Masterson said. “If I can play even a little part in that, that’s what I want to do.”