San Ramon Valley High is advertising for an athletic director.
John Raynor has been the AD there and has nearly 40 years of experience as a teacher/coach/athletic director.
John Raynor, after 28 years as the athletic director at San Ramon Valley High, is retiring as AD after this school year, he said via email.
He will be taking on what he calls a “reduced role” at the high school where he also formerly served as the boys’ basketball coach for 27 years.
In all, Raynor has been in education for 40 years (29 at San Ramon Valley) and was also the athletic director for two years at Lick Wilmerding in San Francisco.
“(I’m) not retiring, just moving on from the AD role,” Raynor told prep2prep via email. “I have been an D for 30 years … just time to change my lifestyle.”
The school is now advertising for a new AD to replace Raynor who will vacate the position in July. The veteran educator also recently addressed the San Ramon Valley faculty and school officials:
"During my 40 years in education (29 at SRV), I have had the opportunity to work as a teacher, coach, special assignment assistant principal, and 28 years as the athletic director at San Ramon Valley High School. I am very grateful to all the people who believed in me and gave me a variety of opportunities to teach, work, and lead at San Ramon Valley High School. The steadfast support I have received in my roles (teacher, varsity basketball coach, and athletic director) both at our school and at the district level has been exceptional.
It has been a tremendous honor serving San Ramon Valley High School, a school I love so much, our coaches and staff and, most importantly, our student-athletes. I am proud of what has been accomplished here during my past 29 years at SRV.
I look forward to finishing out this academic year as athletic director as this will be my last year in this role. I plan to have a reduce(d) work load status for next year. With heartfelt appreciation and continued success to all.”
Wrote MaxPreps' widely respected Mitch Stephens in a column after Raynor retired from coaching in 2014: "He's a man who seeps integrity, loyalty and strength. He's exactly the kind of person you want around teen-agers. Fair, thoughtful and convicted. And whip smart."
San Ramon Valley principal Ruth Steele is also a Raynor admirer.
“It has been my privilege to work alongside you for the last four years,” Steele wrote in a message to Raynor. “Thank you for your wisdom, guidance and support.
It is going to be very difficult to find a new athletic director who will bring the same level of knowledge, professionalism and commitment to this position as you have done.
Thank you for everything you have done in support of our students, parents, staff, coaches and athletic programs.
Your leadership has defined what it means to be a part of the "Home of Champions.”
Also expressing her sentiments to Raynor was Mary Shelton, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District Superintendent: “It has been my honor to work with you. You are the consummate professional, an exceptional educator and an outstanding athletic director and coach. You set the bar very high for your colleagues and successor. Wish you the very best.”
As a coach Raynor was stellar, winning consecutive CIF-State Northern California titles in 1991 and ’92.
Before arriving at San Ramon Valley, Raynor coached in Colorado where his teams won multiple state titles; at Archbishop Mitty; and he also did a stint as a grad assistant at San Jose State.
Among Raynor’s success stories was former Stanford star Mark Madsen, who later earned a World Championship ring and showed off his “dance moves” with the Los Angeles Lakers, infamously boogying in front of the masses on stage at the tail end of a Laker victory parade.
Now those parades are held 6-7 hours to the north in the East Bay, the general area where Raynor achieved his greatest successes.
