Comstock Park — During his high school years, Mitchell Gabriele knew he always wanted to help people. Passionate about sports and the belief that athletics can help people develop their ability to prosper in their own ways, Gabriele became an athletic director.
“I want to cultivate relationships,” said Gabriele, who is the new AD at Comstock Park. “I really want people to know it’s ‘we,’ not ‘me.’ I want to be a slingshot supporter, so I’m able to help take (someone’s) vision and their ideas and help slingshot them forward.”
Why did you decide to come to Comstock Park? “I’ve heard nothing but great things,” Gabriele said, noting he especially appreciated that several district administrators have served as athletic directors.
“A lot of people feel as though an athletic director prints off rosters and eats free food out of the concession stand and watches games. … There’s way more that goes into it. We’re an event manager, we’re health and safety, we’re facilities, we’re networking, fellowship, leadership. … Having that experience within my administration and someone to also lean on in areas (where) I may need another perspective, that means a lot.”
‘This is not work. This is my life. This is my passion.’
— Athletic Director Mitchell Gabriele
What is your education background? Gabriele is a graduate of Hillsdale Public Schools, where he helped the baseball team win a state championship, and Adrian College, where he was a starter on the football team and helped bring home a 2012 conference championship.
He coached for 18 seasons at his alma mater, Hillsdale, and then served as the associate athletic director for Grand Haven Area Public Schools. While there, he earned a master’s degree in athletic administration and officiated basketball.
He later moved from the OK Red Conference in Grand Haven to eight-man football at Martin Public Schools. In the two years Gabriele spent at Martin, the football team won back-to-back state championships.
What’s your favorite food at the concession stand? Gabriele admitted he eats too many hot dogs and loves his fruity candies such as Skittles or Starburst. He also strongly believes all good concession stands need great popcorn.
What type of student were you in elementary school? “I was a kid that never missed a day of school, K-12. School was the best place.
“I was the kid that liked to talk a lot, but it’s also because I feel as though I’m pretty good at my networking abilities and just being able to reach out to people and have that confidence, and that’s kind of where it all started.”
If you could, what grade would you return to? Gabriele said he’d pick fourth or fifth grade because of his teacher at the time, former Hillsdale superintendent Shawn Vondra.
“(Vondra) was so great that he made me change … what team I was cheering for. I was a Michigan State fan that year because he was, and he was the person I looked up to.
“But now I’m, of course, a Michigan fan, because that’s what I’ve always been. One of my middle names is Bo after (football coach) Bo Schembechler.”
What would you like to share about your family? Gabriele lives in Holland with his wife, Alyssa, who works for the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce. He has a three-month old daughter, Ava Rose, and a mini goldendoodle named Duke.
“We golf a lot and we play tennis a lot, but we also love to engulf ourselves in family.”
Something unique about me is… After graduating from Adrian, he backpacked alone around Europe for two months. Part of that time was spent in Manoppello, Italy, visiting extended family who spoke limited English.
“(The experience) really made me recognize … if you truly love and care for somebody, that communication will only play a small role, because it’s the actions, it’s the emotions, it’s the body language, it’s how you express yourself without words.”
What is the biggest lesson you have learned from the students you have worked with? “Every day is different, but in a good way. I love the ‘aha’ moment … that those kids will remember for the rest of their lives. They’re gonna look back and be like, ‘Wow,I learned that here. I learned that in the classroom or on quiz bowl or in band or in choir or in educational athletics.’ Those moments continue to drive me, continue to keep me fueled and ready to go for another day. And I love it. This is not work. This is my life. This is my passion.”
Read more from Comstock Park:
• Punt, pass and kick: fourth-graders learn geography from NFL
• For first time, Comstock Park inducts two ‘powerhouse’ teams into Hall of Fame
