By Town Crier Staff Report

St. Francis High announced last week that Tim Houlihan will takes over as the school’s athletic director on July 1.

Houlihan, the former director of development at St. Francis, replaces Steve Filios.

Houlihan first came to St. Francis in 1982 as a teacher and coach. He left the school last year for a job in the high-tech industry.

Houlihan held a wide variety of administrative roles in his 18 years at St. Francis, including director of student activities, assistant athletic director and dean of students.

“I and my entire family are very excited about the opportunity to return to the St. Francis community,” Houlihan said, “not only as athletic director, but as a teacher and coach.”

Houlihan will also be an assistant varsity football coach and teach classes.

Filios, who served as interim athletic director for the 2000-01 school year, will continue to coach boys varsity basketball and teach at St. Francis. Filios, who led the Lancers basketball team to the state title game this past season, has worked at the school for 23 years.

He recently won this year’s Moreau Leadership Award, an annual award given out by St. Francis principal Patricia Tennant.

“In one short year, Steve Filios has created a legacy in the athletic department,” Tennant said. “We were extremely fortunate that he was willing to take on this job in addition to his other duties at the school. I look forward to working with Tim Houlihan, who brings a wealth of administrative experience and passion for high school athletics to our program.”

Houlihan plans on having three associate athletic directors help him run the sports program: Kathy Lincoln, Mike Pilawski and Dave Osorio. Margareth Lund will return as athletic secretary.