Democrat File Photo Harold Fried is the new interim athletic director at Fallsburg High School. He served in a similar capacity at Pine Bush for 14 years and is excited about the chance to work at a smaller school where he can develop stronger relationships with the student athletes. The only downside for Fried so far is that he had to curtail his time as a ballroom dance instructor, a true passion of his.

Bult bolts;
Fried fills in

Staff Report
FALLSBURG — September 13, 2013 — Harold Fried has come out of retirement to become the interim athletic director at Fallsburg High School. Fried is filling in for Tim Bult, who moved on to take the athletic director’s position at Minisink Valley.
For both Fried and Bult, their new positions present welcome opportunities.
“When I graduated college I imagined living in a small town as a teacher and coach and developing an intimate relationship with the school community and student athletes,” said Fried who was previously athletic director at Pine Bush from 1997 to 2011 before his position was ultimately eliminated due to budget cuts.
“As employment opportunities arose, they were always in large school districts. This interim position gives me the opportunity to have a small school experience albeit under a different lens. As a teacher and coach the students and parents really have the opportunity to get to know who you really are. As an administrator it becomes a different type of relationship.”
Bult, on the other hand, was eager to go to a larger school.
“Professionally it is a wonderful opportunity to work with a large school district [athletically, Minisink is a Class AA district] that has shown excellence with their teams, coaching staff and academics,” said Bult, who also admitted the move brings him closer geographically to his fiance.
“Moving on to a larger school district is a wonderful opportunity and one that I feel fortunate to have. I enjoyed 17 years in Sullivan County as an athletic administrator (12 in Liberty and five at Fallsburg) and now look forward to working at a school district that features competition at the largest level (AA classification) in New York State.
In addition to athletic director, Bult will serve as Minisink’s Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics. As he points out “the number of athletic teams, coaches, Health and PE teaching staff members and students is significantly larger at Minisink and my duties and responsibilities are now focused on those departments.”
He said he will miss coaching the wrestling team at Fallsburg he helped start, but will still keep an active hand in Section IX athletics as a Section IX Football Committee representative, OCIAA Football Chairman, OCIAA Baseball Committee representative and OCIAA Safety Committee Chairman.
Fried said he has been impressed with the Fallsburg administration, staff and students and “would welcome the opportunity to apply for the full-time position when it is posted.”
His biggest priority right now is filling coaching positions and motivating more students to become a part of the athletic program.
“We did not field several teams this fall due to low numbers and had to scramble to cover the teams we have with coaches,” said Fried. “I will concentrate my efforts on getting the coaches in place for the winter and fall seasons, as well as, try to get more students involved. About 25 percent of the student body is active in the athletic program. But to fill all of the slots for all of our athletic programs we need more two or three sport athletes or we need a higher percentage of students involved.”
The only downside for Fried so far is that he had to curtail his time as a ballroom dance instructor, a true passion of his.