Office adorned with team photos on Wheaties boxes, championship winning basketballs and cards from students there is no denying the pride Duane Herr, Anne Arundel Community College’s new athletic director and alumni, has for AACC.

“My roots are here,” said Herr.

A former AACC interim coordinator of athletics, Herr jokes, “I told my boss he’d have to kick me out the door.”

Herr originally attended school for Finance and after an epiphany said, “Why not continue what I love to do?”

He left Towson University with a bachelors degree in sports management, and received an internship within AACC’s Athletics Department.

Herr’s main goals are to provide exposure for the student athletes and teams amongst the faculty and community.

Already Herr has worked with local restaurants to spread awareness for the teams, held a student athlete orientation and regularly communicates with faculty teaching student athletes. He has unveiled a website for AACC sports teams that includes rosters, player stats, and game schedules.

Herr, who played baseball for both AACC and Towson, is well aware of the pressures of being a student athlete.

“It’s like having two full-time jobs,” he said.

Herr uses his own experience as a student athlete to make their transitions to a four-year school, and beyond, smoother.

“It’s all about them,” said Herr. “We do all we can to help them have a good experience while here.”

Flexibility, sportsmanship and teamwork are the most important values he stresses to the athletes.

“Sportsmanship relates to the world more than winning any championship,” he said.

Herr is replacing Bruce Springer, who retired this June after 45 years.
“I still communicate with him,” says Herr, “he’s the epitome of the department. He’s got big shoes to fill but I learned everything I know from him.”

In his final statement Herr smiled and said, “games are free, come hang out with us.”