Next year Paint Branch will be without a very valuable staff member; a person who is synonymous with Paint Branch.  When students return in August for the 2015 school year, Mr. Walter Hardy will – for the first time in over 20 years – not be in the building.

In 2015, Mr. Hardy – Coach Hardy as he is known to most – will take over the Athletic Director job at John F. Kennedy High School. This is no small task for Hardy, though. As a 1985 graduate of PB and one who has spent 23 years coaching at Paint Branch, the move is bittersweet.

Mr. Hardy has been the boys’ varsity basketball coach for 17 years and coached junior varsity for 6 years. Along with coaching basketball, Hardy also spent 17 seasons coaching boys’ volleyball in the spring. Hardy has a very impressive resume as a varsity basketball head coach, including an overall record of 255-135, a state championship in 2000, All-Met Coach-of-the-Year in 2000, and is a six time division champion.

Hardy has definitely left his mark on Paint Branch throughout the years and is ready to take on the tough task of improving the athletics program over at Kennedy. According to Hardy, he will have to overcome many challenges, including learning a new position in a school he has not yet experienced. Hardy says the hardest challenges will be moving to a community where he does not know anyone, but he feels it will be a fun experience.

Since Hardy will become the Athletic Director, that means he has to give up coaching and most teaching responsibilities. However, he feels he is ready to let go of both of these duties. Hardy says the toughest parts about coaching and teaching is always planning and constantly being busy with teaching, coaching, and family so he has little free time.

Hardy’s desire to move to the position as Athletic Director next year include his love of sports, the fact it will be fun, is a great opportunity for him and he’s ready to take on the challenge. Regarding what he is most looking forward to at Kennedy, Hardy jokingly responds, with “beating Paint Branch.” However, he notes that, in all seriousness, the real challenge will be building up an athletic program as successful as the one we have here at Paint Branch.

As many people know, Paint Branch and Kennedy play each other in most sports every year since they’re in the same division. Hardy says he’s going to expect close games against Paint Branch and that he’ll enjoy being the villain for once. Even though we’ll be rooting against Hardy’s teams in the years to come, Paint Branch will miss him dearly and wishes him the best of luck at Kennedy.