By John Rohlf
The Message Assistant Editor
Mater Dei High School selected alumnus Sam Fleming to serve as the school’s next Athletic Director.
Fleming is appointed to serve as the school’s Athletic Director, effective April 1. Fleming will replace Joe Herrmann, who is retiring after spending over 20 years in the role.
A 2009 graduate of Evansville’s Mater Dei High School, Fleming will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Mater Dei’s athletic program, which comprises 19 varsity sports. They have earned 23 team Indiana High School Athletics Association (IHSAA) state championships and 38 individual IHSAA state championships.
Fleming said Mater Dei athletics always played a big role in his life.
“As an alum, the motto “Enter to learn, go forth to serve” helped guide me to success in life after my time at Mater Dei,” Fleming said. “I am excited to come back and serve Mater Dei as a leader for our student athletes and coaches to aid them in carrying out the mission of the school. My mission is to find the best people to prepare our student athletes on and off the field to succeed in their next steps in life.”
Fleming was a member of the baseball and football teams at Mater Dei. After graduating from Mater Dei in 2009, Fleming earned a Bachelor of Science in sports management from the University of Southern Indiana. Fleming also possesses coaching experience. He was an assistant baseball coach for Mater Dei from 2012-2016.
“We are delighted to welcome Sam Fleming back to Mater Dei High School as our new Athletic Director," Mater Dei Principal Darin Knight said through the school’s press release. “His combination of experience, leadership and passion for our school's mission makes him the perfect choice to guide our student athletes to success both on and off the field. We look forward to a new era of excellence under his direction."
Fleming will come to Mater Dei after most recently serving as the Athletic Coordinator for the Boys and Girls Club in Evansville.
Herrmann recently announced he is retiring as Mater Dei’s Athletic Director after serving in the role for the past 21 years. Herrmann will stay on for several months to help train Fleming before his retirement.
Herrmann said he “thoroughly enjoyed” the past 25 years he has spent at Mater Dei.
“I have been fortunate to work with some really great people that have truly become like family to me,” Herrmann said. “We are blessed to have such outstanding teachers and coaches to work with our students. … They (the students) have made this one of the most enjoyable places anyone could work. I am thankful for all the coaches that I was able to work with and all the championships I was allowed to be a part of. I will miss a lot of it but I am looking forward to the next challenge life brings me."