By Morgan Rode sports@newmedia-wi.com
Christine Nier
For the first time in 17 years, Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School has a new athletic director.
Tina Bacon recently resigned from the position, and Christine Nier was hired as the new athletic director.
“My overall goal is to ensure that things run smoothly in terms of athletics,” Nier said of her plans moving forward. “I have had a ton to learn and still have much more. So for right now, my plans are to learn the position of athletic director and do my very best at keeping things organized and running like they should.
“The biggest issue facing athletics is the lack of coaches and refs. It is extremely difficult to find both and neither get the credit they deserve for the huge amount of time and effort they put into it.”
Nier has been involved with Witt-Birn athletics dating back to 1997, when she coached the volleyball C-team. In 2005, she made the transition to the varsity volleyball coach and held the position until 2016.
During this past fall season, Nier coached the volleyball C-team again, filling in for a coach that went on medical leave. Along with learning the job duties of an athletic director, Nier plans to also become an assistant varsity volleyball coach next fall.
Nier has also helped run the clock for girls basketball games, keep score for boys basketball games and helped with the track timing system. She also helped coordinate the school’s strength and conditioning program, which several Chargers’ coaches have lauded for their team’s success.
Nier started working as the AD temporarily on Nov. 6 and now holds the permanent position. While working temporarily, Nier was aided by Bacon.
“Tina and I are good friends, and she has gone above and beyond to help me understand the position,” Nier said. “We don’t have any shared planning time, so it can be difficult, but she is always willing to help when I need it.”
In looking back on her time as the athletic director, Bacon was pleased with the progress that had been made and the athletes and families she had become so close with over her tenure.
“During the time I have been AD, the athletes and the coaches achievements are what I am most proud of,” Bacon said. “I would do anything for the athletes, which included acknowledging them in their events… .”
Bacon went on to describe her love of taking photos at athletic events in a way to promote the teams both online and in local papers. She also was on the WIAA Sports Advisory Board and was a District 2 Gender Rep.
“To me, this job was about the athletes at WB,” Bacon said. “I started the Charger Athletic Club from the ground up 10 years ago, and the motto for the club is, “Giving back to others” — and the student athletes volunteer to give back to school and community in many different ways. At the present time, I am still the advisor of the club and very proud of the students in it every day. I promoted multi-sport athletes and recognize any athlete who participated in three sports a year at the end of the year… .”
One of the challenging aspects of the job for Bacon was the amount of work that needed to be done per week.
She said she often was working on Sundays to make sure things were laid out for the following week and that she tried to attend as many of the school’s home events as possible. Her philosophy included always trying to welcome the visiting team to the school and promoting Chargers’ athletics to the best of her abilities.
“Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School has had some fantastic sports teams under Tina Bacon’s direction, and I can only hope the same will happen while I am the AD,” Nier said.
Bacon will continue to serve as an advisor for the Athletic Club and continue to teach physical education at the high school.