Adams High School Athletic Director Resigns Amid Challenges

South Bend, July 24, 2025

News Summary

Dawn Huff has stepped down as athletic director at Adams High School, just two weeks before fall sports practices. Her resignation highlights ongoing staffing issues, as schools in South Bend lack assistant athletic directors. The absence of support has made it difficult to handle the workload, prompting her departure. As Huff transitions to a new role outside the district, uncertainties remain regarding the future leadership of Adams High School’s athletic programs amidst the approaching fall sports season.

South Bend – Adams High School’s athletic director, Dawn Huff, has officially resigned from her position after three years of service. This announcement comes at a critical time, just two weeks before the fall sports practices are scheduled to commence.

Huff’s resignation stems from the increasing challenges associated with managing the role of athletic director without the support of an assistant athletic director. The lack of additional staffing made it increasingly difficult for her to maintain a healthy work-life balance, leading to her decision to depart from the position.

Dawn Huff, a 1999 graduate of Adams High School, initially planned to dedicate herself for a longer duration before retiring at the institution where she began her professional career as a teacher and later as the head coach for girls basketball. However, the current structure in South Bend’s public high schools, which includes Adams, Riley, and Washington, does not provide any assistant athletic directors. This limitation places a significant burden on those filling these critical roles.

Compounding these challenges is the fact that South Bend schools only have an athletic secretary for support, drastically limiting assistance for athletic directors. Given the increasing demands placed on high school athletics today, the need for additional staffing in these roles has become increasingly urgent. Other high schools have started realizing the importance of having assistant athletic directors to help manage sports programs effectively and efficiently.

As Huff transitions to a new position outside the South Bend school district, she has expressed gratitude for her time at Adams High School. She notes that her experiences have not only shaped her as a coach and educator but also enriched her understanding of school athletics.

The upcoming 2025-26 IHSAA fall sports season will start practices on August 4, with non-football contests kicking off on August 16 and football contests beginning on August 22. Given the abrupt departure of the athletic director, it is still uncertain how Adams High School plans to proceed in terms of filling the position or if an interim director will be appointed. The administrative team will likely need to act quickly as the new sports season approaches.

The absence of a stable leadership structure at this time puts more pressure on the athletic programs and contributes to the ongoing discussion about the necessity for additional administrative support in South Bend’s high school sports programs.

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Key Features Summary

Feature	Description
Resignation	Dawn Huff resigns as athletic director at Adams High School.
Timing	Resignation occurs two weeks before fall sports practices begin.
Staffing Issues	Adams High School and other South Bend high schools lack assistant athletic directors.
Upcoming Practices	Fall sports practices start on August 4, with contests following soon after.
Future Steps	Uncertainty remains regarding the appointment of a new athletic director.

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Additional Resources

• South Bend Tribune: Assistant Athletic Director Issues
• South Bend Tribune: High School Football Schedules
• MSN: Top South Bend Area Football Prospect Transfer
• WNDU: High School Football Scores Week 11
• South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame Football Update