When you talk to Andrew Klein about North Side High School athletics, it's all about connecting the past, present and future.
"There's so much history that goes through this school, and so many important people who have gone to school here," Klein, the Legends' new athletic director, tells ParkviewSportsMedicine.com. "From mayors to superindentents to doctors. Just helping our students live up to that legacy of North Side."
That legacy of North Side is something that Klein knows a lot about.
Klein, a 2002 alumnus of North Side, earned 12 varsity letters in five sports--track & field, cross country, swimming and soccer. He still holds the record in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in track and as a member of the 200-meter freestyle relay in swimming.
After graduating, Klein spent five years in the U.S. Navy. He returned home, and began coaching track & field and cross country at North Side from 2008 to 2014, then track, boys basketball and girls soccer at his middle school alma mater, Northwood.
In 2012, he coached the 1600-meter relay team of Mohammed Bangura, Tyvon Kelley, Ed Benson and Kersten Barnfield to the state championship.
"That was a very special moment for me. Winning it for North Side with North Side was awesome," Klein reflects. "One thing I think of often is how North Side is bigger than just me. I grew up so closed to North Side on Lillian Avenue. Living up to what North Side means is important to me."
Klein took over as athletic director on an interim basis in October of 2019, so had nearly a full year before before having the interim tag removed in July. He describes longtime for North Side athletic director Dale Doerffler as a mentor, and cites North Side's tradition as motivation for all Legends.
"I want to run us out of hallway space in our Wall of Fame. We have championships that go back to 1931. Rolla Chambers is up on our wall 20+ times. By Hey is up there 15 times or more. Just creating that legacy of putting championship pictures up on our Wall of Fame."
North Side is one of 26 high schools that partner with Parkview Sports Medicine for athletic training, sports performance, nutrition, athletic rehab and other sports medicine services for Legend student-athletes. Learn more at www.parkviewsportsmedicine.com.
