Sports aren't new to Havre High's new AD Brian Kessler

The year of 2020 has been a wild ride for many. And at Havre High School, there have been many changes seen to its athletics. Not only have new coaches for sports programs throughout the year been approved and implemented, but the Blue Ponies have a new athletic director, as well. Brian Kessler, who will serve as the activities director and assistant principal, now a combined position, will be a part of the Havre staff.

Coming from Helena High School, where he served six years as one of the assistant principals, as well as coaching basketball and track for five years, Kessler’s time at Helena has played a big part in his professional career.

Now, Kessler will be working hard in the crown jewel of the Hi-Line.

And Kessler is glad to have found the opportunity to be a part of the tradition of excellence at Havre High.

“With kind of some declining enrollment with East Helena opening up their school, we were losing an admin position,” Kessler said. “I had a look around and found this position up in Havre to be the assistant principal and athletic director. Being an athletic director has been a goal my entire life, so I was excited to get an opportunity to be up here and be a part of it. There are great things going on here in the community and at the high school. I’ve been involved with athletics as much as possible throughout my professional career.”

As for sports, Kessler has seen them as a constant throughout his life. He participated in basketball and track throughout his high school career, as well as having involvement in sports in his college career on the sideline. After his time in college, Kessler would go on to coach basketball and track at Bozeman High, Livingston High and Helena High School as a part of his professional career.

Kessler’s journey in his college years played a big part in getting to where he is now, even to the point where he has worked alongside local alumni.

“I was a student manager for the Montana State men’s basketball team, so I spent two years around those coaches, and Coach (Brad) Huse was the coach there at that point,” Kessler said. “It was fun and eye-opening to what working with student-athletes is really like. From Montana State, I have a bachelors in health enhancement k-12 and a bachelors in social studies broadfield, as well as a masters in educational leadership.”

There will be lot on Kessler’s plate for the 2020-2021 school year, as holding both the assistant principal and athletic director positions will be a combo that requires plenty of hard work. But, Kessler will be prepared for anything that comes his way. After all, he has been working alongside student-athletes for a long time, even if his youth may make it seem otherwise. At the end of the day, Kessler is ready to make the most of his new combined position for the Blue Ponies.

Kessler will constantly be working with students and student-athletes at Havre High, which is something that he is looking forward to since he was appointed to the position.

“The big thing for me is meeting new kids,” Kessler said. “I love kids and I want kids to be successful, attempt a skill, compete in it and find success in the classroom, especially in certain subjects where they may have struggled with before. But when that light finally clicks on, I love seeing that. I’m excited to see and work with a new group of kids to help them reach those goals. As far as athletic director goes, I know that Havre has always had a tradition of excellence. They love their sports up here and they support them very well. It’s going to be exciting to work with the coaches and the student-athletes we have here to keep moving Havre High forward to be one of the best school in the Class A in everything we do.”

With those goals in mind, Kessler will be looking forward to the new opportunities and moments that await him as the new athletic director and assistant principal for Havre High School. Kessler has been dreaming of working in a position like this, where he is able to work with student-athletes to help their dreams come true, too. Kessler has a lot ahead of him, but the Ponies will be in good hands going forward.