Forest Hills Eastern (FHE) takes pride in its passionate, competitive, and dominant sports programs. Students and staff pour countless hours into athletics to deliver the best product possible. However, many don’t consider how practices, games, buses, and concessions are required to make the games work. FHE welcomed the perfect person to fulfill these tasks this year, Athletic Director (AD) Robert Hull. With his extensive experience from all around the sports world, specifically working for professional sports institutions and the AD of Milan High School near Ann Arbor, Mr. Hull is well-equipped to lead and enhance our sports programs at FHE.
From a young age, Mr. Hull knew he wanted to work in sports. He credits his AD in high school with allowing him to work on different tasks and igniting his passion for working with students. After attending Eastern Michigan University, Mr. Hull worked in many sports-related jobs. He coached downhill skiing, worked as an umpire, wrote college football stories, interned for the Philadelphia 76ers, worked in media relations for Eastern Michigan University, coached tennis, and then served as the AD for Bryon Area Schools and Milan High School. This impressive group of jobs stresses Mr. Hull’s passion and devotion to sports and students. In fact, he mentions he prefers his career in high school to his 76ers job because working in high school is “more rewarding” and because of his “genuine love of the game of sports.” This dedication to students and sports programs is precisely how culture is built and sustained. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Hull won the MHSAA Michigan Athletic Director of the Year. When asked about the most significant accomplishment of his career, Mr. Hull doesn’t mention this award; instead, he discusses the relationships he’s built and the impact he hopes he has on students. Once again, bonds, culture, and community are at the forefront of Mr. Hull’s goals at FHE.
As Mr. Hull transitions from Milan High School to FHE, he faces both familiar and new challenges. He describes the work as quite similar, emphasizing the culture and passion already displayed at FHE. He enjoys seeing the large group of self-motivated students grow as athletes and learners. However, not everything has come easy to Mr. Hull. He describes the housing market as ‘challenging.’ Forest Hills is an excellent area to start a family, so finding suitable housing remains a bit problematic for many. Despite these difficulties, Mr. Hull’s commitment to his role as AD at FHE remains unwavering.
The start of the school year is often highlighted by the beginning of football season. Under Mr. Hull’s leadership, the excitement and energy around each game and practice are palpable, as he works tirelessly to ensure they are executed with precision and passion. Mr. Hull describes the job as primarily logistics. For example, he is responsible for referees at home games, finding volunteers to help at the concession stand, and providing transportation to every away game. He describes his role as one that “People don’t know what I do until its not done”. This powerful message displays the importance of Mr. Hull’s responsibilities. Furthermore, he is responsible for scheduling games and practices for every sport. This is a tall task with dozens of sports at FHE, but the staff and athletes here at FHE are lucky to have such a determined AD. It’s important to remember that Mr. Hull’s work is only possible with the support of the entire FHE community. Our boosters and parents’ involvement and support are crucial in ensuring the success of our sports programs.
While Athletic Directors may not always receive the recognition they deserve, Mr. Hull’s work has been instrumental in the success and growth of our FHE sports programs. His tireless efforts and continual dedication have allowed our students to thrive in their athletic endeavors.
