University High School’S Bill Ames Honored As State Prep Athletic Director

Pioneer work in a high school drug and alcohol program and sportsmanship awareness has earned Bill Ames an award as Washington state prep athletic director of the year.

But Ames, for 29 years a teacher, coach and administrator at University High School, deferred credit for the honor.

He considers himself merely a point man for the accomplishments of others.

“Personally, I don’t like this kind of stuff,” he said. “I’m just the guy out front who tries to work with the kids and programs.”

Having good people and successful kids at the school are real reasons for the award, he said. “Those things happen with that success,” said Ames.

The feeling was reciprocal in the case of at least one athlete when Ames coached Titan track.

A first-place state medal hangs from the wall of his office, presented to him by 1977 school high jump record holder and state champion Jeff Barrett, who credited Ames with keeping him involved athletically and helping him graduate.

Recalled Ames, “He said, ‘I don’t deserve this, you do.’ And I have the medal hanging on my wall to this day.”

That kind of closeness to students prompted Ames to pilot a drug and alcohol education program that won a National Education Association award presented at a conference in Atlanta in 1983.

“All through the 1970s we as coaches struggled with kids who were using and abusing,” said Ames. “This really hounded me.”

When he was passed over as head basketball coach, he decided to go in another direction.

“I thought this was an opportunity for me to make a difference with more kids than just athletes,” he said.

Three years ago, embarrassed by fan behavior at athletic events, he started a sportsmanship program for parents and students.

“Something had to change,” said Ames. “Basically I went to the kids.”

Each August, selected seniors attend a three-day leadership retreat and determine ways for their school to be thought of positively at the end of the year.

The last two summers, Central Valley High has been involved.

During home games, warning cards are given to unruly students. Medallions are awarded to an opposing player and T-shirts to adults who exhibit proper sportsmanship. A plaque is given out at the end of each year to a U-Hi parent for year-around support.

“What we try to do is not showcase the program, but set an example as to how we want the school to act. It has been really positive,” said Ames.

Those two programs and the Barrett vignette were among the long list of accolades on the District 8 nomination of Ames for the state award.

He has been on numerous state committees. He has been director for 42 district, 9 regional and 16 state tournaments, including seven volleyball state events in the old Coliseum and the new Arena.

Ames spent 11 years as U-Hi head track coach, assisted for five years in football and 14 years in basketball.

During the last 12 years as athletic director, University has finished second seven times for the GSL All-Sports Trophy that honors overall athletic excellence.

His two children were University High athletes and graduates.

“This school has been great not only to myself, but to my family,” he said.

Today there are more than 100 U-Hi students whose parents he either coached or taught during nearly three decades as a Titan. Next year will be Ames’s last in education.

He’s staying one more year for the very reason he was named one of two Washington athletic directors of the year, because of the coaching staff and senior class.

“It’s going to be a real good year,” he said. “There’s great leadership in the senior class.”

In fitting conclusion to what he called a great 30-year run.