Home » News » Waupaca News » Waupaca hires athletic director

Waupaca hires athletic director

Sbertoli comes from Amherst

By Robert Cloud


Sbertoli

The Waupaca School Board voted unanimously to hire Joe Sbertoli as its a new athletic director during an Aug. 19 meeting.

Sbertoli will replace Aaron Jenson, who will leave the district to become Waupaca’s city administrator.

The Waupaca Common Council approved hiring Jenson when it met on Aug. 13.

Although Jenson’s move to city hall was made public only weeks before the start of the school year, he notified the school administration as soon as he knew he was in the running for the job.

“Aaron, being the conscientious person he is, had collaborative conversations with administration and volunteered to identify and assist in recruiting candidates who met our profile for the position,” District Administrator Ron Saari said. “We knew that the timing was going to be a challenge, and that an expedited process would need to take place.”

Saari said Jenson helped the district identify candidates for recruitment. One of them was Sbertoli.

“Aaron did not know Joe on a personal level at that time,” Saari said. “Aaron discovered through professional interactions about his strong work ethic and high character.”

The district received 10 applicatios and interviewed two candidates.

“After the interviews, the hiring committee unanimously determined that Joe was the best fit for our organization,” Saari said. “This determination was based on his experience, temperament, attitude, philosophy and personal skill set.”

Sbertoli is currently coming to Waupaca a few hours per day to job shadow Jenson.

His official start day is Sept. 1.

Sbertoli’s experience

Sbertoli has worked as the athletic director, facilities coordinator and a physical education teacher for the Tomorrow River School District in Amherst since 2015.

Previously, Sbertoli worked as a physical education and wellness educator at schools in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, where he also held assistant coaching positions in football and basketball.

Sbertoli earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a coaching minor from the University of Minnesota – Minneapolis in 2010. He received a master’s degree in physical education from the University of Minnesota in 2011.

“The opportunity at Waupaca was exactly what I hoped to get at some point,” Sbertoli said.

In Amherst, Sbertoli is responsible for overseeing the district’s athletics, scheduling use of its facilities and teaching physical education classes.

He said he prefers to focus on the administrative level of athletics.

Sbertoli has completed five of five courses to be certified through the Wisconsin Athletic Director Association. He will take his final exam for certification in November.

In June, he began an educational leadership program at Viterbo University in La Crosse.

Local roots

Sbertoli is a 2006 graduate of Amherst High School.

As an Amherst student, he went to church in Waupaca, had friends who went to Waupaca High School and attended Waupaca games and concerts.

“I’ve always respected the strong tradition of Waupaca’s athletics and their clubs,” Sbertoli said.

His wife, Jessica Doll Sbertoli, works in Amherst as an elementary special education teacher.

Scroll to Top