Cisterna looks back on tenure at MHS

When Mark Cisterna accepted his position as district athletic director at Maricopa Unified School District three years ago, he said he expected to retire there.

“It was a very difficult decision because I really thought I would really end my career out here,” Cisterna said.

However, that was before he heard a different but familiar calling.

In early June, Cisterna resigned from his post at MUSD to become the athletic director at Notre Dame Preparatory, a private Catholic high school in Scottsdale.

Cisterna, a Catholic, said he had always wanted to work in a similar environment.

“I never have had the opportunity, and I kind of have looked at it from afar. And when this opportunity arose, it was a faith-based decision,” Cisterna said.

The seasoned AD will have similar duties at the prep school to those he had in Maricopa. Cisterna will work closely with athletes and coaches at the high school of about 900 kids.

Cisterna said he will miss mentoring coaches whom he built relationships with at MUSD.

“These coaches mean a lot to me,” he said. “That was probably one of the hardest things in the world for me to do, to leave these young coaches that I’ve committed some time to and ask them to commit back – so that was very hard.”

Cisterna said one of the biggest successes he and the coaching staff have had since his tenure was the growth of the athletic program.

“I’m not going to measure it by wins or losses, but I think that all of our programs have gotten better,” he said.

The athletic program has had its share of challenges. During Cisterna’s second year, the Arizona Interscholastic Association realigned how it classified school divisions. The result boosted Maricopa High School into a difficult division based on enrollment.

“We are getting better every day and – as with all competitive people – even if you are in a little bit tougher league, you find a way to rise. And our kids did do that and so did our coaches,” Cisterna said. “It was fun to see and I think in the years to come, it’s going to pay off.”

In July, current MHS Dean of Students Brian Winter will take over as district AD. The position is not entirely new to him, however. Winter was MHS athletic director in 2012.

Cisterna said Winter’s understanding of the district will be helpful to the position.

“He’ll step in and I don’t think there will be a missing of a beat at all. He’s got experience and he knows the school and he knows the community,” Cisterna said.

The former MUSD AD said although he is leaving, he will always care for the district and its athletic program.

“There is great family support out here and the community is lucky to have the quality of coaches that they have right now. I think Mr. Winter is going to step in and do a good job,” Cisterna said.