Glenwood Springs Names Jordan DeCrow New Athletic Director

Jordan DeCrow stands in the hallway of Glenwood Springs High School, surrounded by photos of Demon athletes past and present, a sense of pride and responsibility etched on her face. She's just been named the new athletic director, taking over for Craig Denney, who's retiring after 34 years of dedication to the Roaring Fork School District. As a third-generation GSHS alum, DeCrow knows the community inside and out - her mom, Sandy, was a teacher and administrator in the district for over 20 years, and her grandpa graduated from the school.

If you've been paying attention, you know that DeCrow's rise to this position hasn't been sudden - she's been working under Denney's guidance for six years, learning the ins and outs of the job. Denney's endorsement of DeCrow is unequivocal: "She's ready," he says. "It's been really great, and we just couldn't have found a better person to carry the torch." He praises her ability to take in a lot of information and put it into place quickly and correctly, but what really sets her apart is the way she deals with people. That's the kind of thing that makes a big difference in a small town like Glenwood Springs, where everyone knows each other's names.

DeCrow's own story is a testament to the power of community - she played Division III basketball at Luther College in Iowa, but returned to Glenwood Springs after graduating in 2019. She started out as the Demons girls basketball assistant coach, and was hired as the assistant athletic director in January 2020, just six weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The pandemic turned her first year on the job into a kind of internship, she says - nobody knew what to do, and it gave her time to study the complexities of the role. She even got her master's in sports administration during that time, which gave her a chance to really dig into the bylaws and regulations that govern high school athletics.

Ask any parent in the district, and they'll tell you that DeCrow's appointment is a welcome one - she's already proven herself as a talented coach, leading the girls basketball team to the playoffs in back-to-back years. But it's not just about winning games - it's about building a sense of community and pride in the school. DeCrow says she's excited to give back to the culture and community that raised her, and to build on the foundation that Denney has laid. As she puts it, "This school offered me so many opportunities, and I feel like I was given a lot - I'm just really excited to give back."

The transition from Denney to DeCrow won't be seamless, of course - there will be challenges ahead, from navigating the complexities of CHSAA regulations to managing the budget and scheduling for the district's sports teams. But DeCrow is undaunted - she's been preparing for this moment for years, and she's got the support of the community behind her. As she looks to the future, she's focused on building on the strengths of the program, and finding new ways to support the athletes and coaches in the district.

You've seen the crowds at Demon games, cheering on the teams with spirit and enthusiasm - that's the kind of energy that DeCrow wants to build on. She knows that sports are about more than just winning - they're about building character, and learning valuable lessons about teamwork and perseverance. As she takes the reins as athletic director, she's committed to fostering a sense of community and pride in the school, and to giving back to the district that has given her so much. On Monday morning, DeCrow will be back in the office, getting to work on the next chapter in the story of Glenwood Springs athletics - and the community will be watching, eager to see what the future holds.