NEW ULM — First-year New Ulm High School Activities Director Stef Dietz said that her first few weeks have been a case of getting her feet wet.

“I have been working with my coaches,” she said. “I sat down and had meetings with all of them last week and learned about them and their programs — how it has been going — scheduling. Some schedules have been finalized for the fall. There are still a few things we need to add for the winter sports and we will finalize next spring’s schedule also in a couple of months.”

Dietz did say that she has received help transitioning into her new job from out-going Activities Director Troy Guentzel, who will remain at New Ulm High School as an Assistant Principal.

“Troy really had a lot of things set up for me.” she said. “I have had help from Troy, from Principal Mark Bergmann and from Superintendent Jeff Bertrang, along with some of the other Activities Directors in the area. If I have questions, I can go to these individuals.”

Dietz said that as an incoming new AD, she is not one who is trying to re-invent the wheel.

“I am not looking to change things, but obviously we want to get more kids involved or (get) different equipment — things like that,” she said. “I really just want to make sure that I am working with our coaches and advisors to give them the opportunities so they can give our kids the opportunities to participate and do well.”

Dietz said that one of her goals is to let all the students know that there are opportunities within the school district.

“And not just in athletics,” she said. “We offer Knowledge Bowl, Robotics, the play, a musical and then all of our athletics. We want to try and find ways to get our students into different things at the middle school level so then they can transition into the high school and we can have more students involved and keep them involved.”

Dietz said that she is seeing New Ulm High School improving overall, being competitive and doing well in the Big South Conference.

“It is not always about the wins but how are we doing on and off of the field,” Dietz said.

Dietz said that by being a former head coach, she knows that there are a lot of moving parts as a coach but there are also moving part as an AD.

“Answering questions about policies, procedures — the rule of the Minnesota State High School League — those are the little things that are also involved,” she said. “I want to be involved as much as possible — get to practices and watch our coaches and athletes work. I want to get to as many activities as I can. I want to be there to support.”