Adams resigns as NHS principal

Friday, March 18, 2005

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

It's been 20 years and a lot of ups and downs but Dave Adams is getting ready to leave the school district where he went from a health teacher and head basketball coach to the principal of the high school.

"This is one of the hardest decisions of my life," Adams said. "I've really enjoyed the last 20 years. I'm happy about what lies ahead but I'll always cherish what we've done here in Nevada."

Adams has taken a job in the Blue Springs school district as principal of the Blue Springs High School.

The school has an enrollment of 1,700 students in grades 10 to 12.

"They called me about a month ago, they had some changes in their administration and that led to an eventual job offer," Adams said. "Like in 'The Godfather' they made me an offer I couldn't refuse."

R-5 Superintendent Ted Davis said Adams presided over the high school at a time when the district was receiving the state's highest praise. "Mr. Adams was principal during the time when our high school has performed at the very highest levels," Davis said. "Only a few high schools in the state perform at that level. Obviously there were a lot of great teachers involved in achieving that but that doesn't happen by accident, it wouldn't happen without great leadership."

Adams is unique in the history of Nevada sports, as basketball coach he holds the record for the worst season as well as holding the record for the best season. "I'd just like to point out that the worst season was toward the beginning of my coaching and the best season was at the end, so I went out winning," Adams joked. "You be sure and tell Ralph that." Nevada Daily Mail photographer Ralph Pokorny had called attention to Adams' having achieved that peculiar distinction.

Adams began his career in the R5- school district in 1985 as a health and physical education teacher and head basketball coach.

In 1995 he was the middle school principal and basketball coach. The next year he dropped the coaching and for the next three years was the middle school principal before taking on the position as high school principal which he has held since then.

Adams married the former Shelly Smith, daughter of insurer Ron Smith, and has reared two children in Nevada. "We've spent our entire married life in Nevada," Adams said. "Our son Ryan is 21 and in his third year at Pittsburg State. Hillary is a senior this year and will be starting at Truman State next year."

Several things came together to induce Adams to consider changing positions.

"The timing of the move is pure chance," Adams said. "There were lots of factors that contributed to the decision. Shelly's job changing at the fee office and Hillary graduating. This was a good time to make a change."

Adams said that he and his wife still had lots of family in the area so there would be lots of visiting.

"We're not going cross-country," Adams said. "It's not that far to Blue Springs. We're going to stay in contact, all of our family is in this area."

The prospect of leaving Nevada had a visible effect on Adams. "I can't say enough how much Nevada means to me, and how much I've enjoyed the last 20 years," Adams said. "Nevada holds a lot of happy memories for me."

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: