North Hills Athletic Director: 'Just Felt Time was Right' to Step Down

Dan Cardone, who announced Monday he was stepping down after more than 20 years as North Hills Director of Athletics and Activities, was asked by North Hills Patch to reflect on his long and successful career.

Looking back:
North Hills has a long standing tradition of success in athletics. They have had great leaders in athletic directors and coaches prior to my arrival. Our football stadium and baseball fields are named after Mario Martorelli and Guy Guadagnino. I just felt it was my responsibility and honor to be a caretaker of what occurred here.

I could not help but to achieve some level of success as an athletic administrator because we have such great community who respects the value of hard work. This is coupled with an appreciation of the great coaches at North Hills who have gone on to mold their children through athletics. 

I believe that the position of athletic director in any school community is an important one. They are part of the fabric of the community, so I think it is important that they have a vested interest in it. I chose to live here because I believed it was a special place. Both of my daughters graduated from North Hills and received a great education here.

Some see it as a downside because it is such a visible position, but being in the district helped me immensely. I understood and listened to the perspective of others, and learned how to be a good decision maker. I was also fortunate to be permitted to undertake roles of leadership in district and state organizations, which helped me to see the larger picture of the facilitation of interscholastic sports on a broader scale. 

What would you tell your successor?

Being successful coming into this position will just require having that caretaker attitude, working to establish relationships with those who help you accomplish your goals, and being someone who is invested in North Hills.

What's Next?

I was taught by my parents that you do something as well as you can for as long as you can. My energy level is the same today as it was when I began at North Hills. I am very passionate about giving the necessary effort toward helping our student athletes achieve success.

There is a saying that “when you are done climbing one mountain, attempt to climb 
another.” I am certain there will be another challenge for me, and when that presents itself I will put all of my effort into that endeavor. It might not be one of the mountains in the Laurel Highlands, but Thompson Drive in my neighborhood - North Hills Estates. 

What would you say is your biggest accomplishment? 

Two things that were important to me.

1. Teambuilding. Successful teams are able to get everyone to row in the same direction to accomplish their goals. We worked hard to build a team of those involved in athletics here at North Hills. The awesome support we received from the custodians, maintenance, secretaries, teachers, coaches, and our office staff cannot be overlooked. If something needed to be done, they were always there. I can remember one night where there were basketball playoff games at North Allegheny and the power went out. Tim O’Malley called me that night and asked me what I was doing. Why? The power went out at NA and we have two games to get in. Our folks here made that happen while a parade of cars were headed down route 19 to North Hills.
2. Teaching sportsmanship and leadership. I always felt is was important to identify traits in athletes who demonstrated respect and were leaders and then give them strategies to take those qualities and bring them out. The WPIAL Student Athlete Leadership Academy (SALA) and the WPIAL Sportsmanship Summit are two examples of how we try to make that happen on a yearly basis.

What would you say is your favorite memory?

North Hills Community First Class
My memories go to the appreciation that this community has for the effort that goes into athletes competing during their high school careers.

In 2003, North Hills and Woodland Hills played at Martorelli Stadium. Ryan Mundy who played for the Steelers, made a diving catch in the end zone for a touchdown early in the game. North Hills fought back to make it 7-6 and Bill Lamb almost made a miraculous catch to win the game for us. The North Hills fans applauded both teams for their tremendous effort. Those same two teams went to the WPIAL Championship that year.

Great North Hills Families 
We have great families like the Yokitis, McIntyre, Patton, Bergman, and Franks whose children just made themselves into good athletes. This is typical of North Hills because our parents instill in them a great work ethic. I can remember them telling me that if their kids are not playing or starting, it is because they are not working hard enough! Our parent’s help their kids take with them throughout their life that “If it is to be, it is up to me.”

2010 WPIAL Championships
We had three cross country runners who finished first, second, and third. It was the first time in WPIAL history that three runners from the same school accomplished that feat. No one realizes how much effort went into that moment on that day when Zach Hebda, Juris Silenieks, and Joe Kush crossed the finish line.

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