Fuller takes over as WHS athletic director

Will remain the Bulldogs head volleyball coach

WHITEFISH - Longtime Whitefish High School teacher and coach Jackie Fuller was hired earlier this week as the school's athletic director.

Fuller, who has led the Bulldog volleyball team to three straight Class A state championships - and to five of the last seven state championships - will start her new job next fall.

To answer two of the top questions - she will continue to coach and she will still teach some classes.

"I get the best of all the world I want," she said.

She will also pursue her administrative degree, most likely at the University of Montana.

"I will spend this spring working with Meg (Olson, current Whitefish AD). I'll just be kind of learning from her and following along," Fuller said.

"Meg wanted to go back in the classroom. That will be good for her with her young family," Fuller said.

"This is going to be really special to me. I'm lucky. I have (WHS principal) Kent Paulson and (WHS assistant principal) Jeff Peck. I'm just a little part of their team.

"I'm really excited to be working with these coaches at Whitefish. They are amazing," Fuller said.

"I'll be excited to work with her," said Whitefish head track coach Derek Schulz.

"I'm really happy for her and I think she'll do an awesome job.

"It's a great thing for Jackie. She will, I'm sure, bring different ideas. It'll be fun to work with her," Schulz added.

The only reservation Fuller had about becoming athletic director was the effect the job change will have on her family.

"I wanted to get the backing of my family, knowing (son) Conor will be at Glacier (High School), knowing I won't be around much," she said.

But the rest of the Fullers "gave the old thumbs up," she said.

"Without my base of family and friends and the administration and the kids and coaches, there's no way I could do this," she said.

"I've got a great family base and a great friend base.

"There's been a lot of support. Meg has been wonderful in supporting me and helping me," she added.

One of the first orders of business this spring is to hire a new boys basketball coach and a new head wresting coach.

"There are things that will have to be done, but they'll be done under Meg's direction," Fuller said.

"My job for the next three months is just to learn and I've got great teachers.

"I'm losing a big part in losing one of my big supporters in Julio Delgado. He's the one who really encouraged me to take a look at this," Fuller said.

Fuller says she will be part of Whitefish for a long time to come.

"I get in that gym and I look around and I know that's my home. That's my place to be. Until my career is done, I will be green and gold."