Tom McKinnon is excited to lead athletics in Akron Public Schools

Tom McKinnon is the new Akron Public Schools Coordinator of Athletics after being approved by the Board of Education on Dec. 8. His first day on the job was Dec. 9.

McKinnon, 53, returns to Akron Public Schools after previously teaching at Goodrich Middle School and serving as the football coach at Kenmore High School. He spent four and a half years as the Willoughby South athletic director.

Prior to that, McKinnon was Revere's athletic director for five years (2016-2021) and Waterloo's dean of students and athletic director for three years (2013-2016).

"I will promise you that every decision I make will be kid-centered," McKinnon said at the board meeting. "Every decision I make as an athletic director is what's best for kids, and it always will be. That is how I base myself. I want to thank the board, I would like to thank the superintendent and I would like to thank the hiring committee.

"I can tell you this, my father [James McKinnon] was the athletic director at Akron Kenmore. He was a biology teacher and retired out at Kenmore. My mom [Marilyn McKinnon] finished her career at Garfield [as a teacher]. As a small boy, I remember working the [football] games at Kenmore [Stadium] selling programs. My mother was up in the press box running the clock and my dad was managing the game. 

"I grew up a Kenmore Cardinal. Akron Public Schools has always had a dear place in my heart. It means a tremendous deal to me that I am going to finish my career and make sure athletics are strong here, build up our student-athletes, and I use that word, student and athlete together, because that is an important piece as well. 

"I just look forward to serving the board, this community and our student-athletes in the best possible way that I can. I can't tell you how grateful I am for this opportunity and I look forward to working with everybody in this room." 

McKinnon grew up in Norton, graduated from Archbishop Hoban High School in 1990 and Indiana University in 1994. He tossed the shot put and discus in track and field and started as an offensive lineman on Hoban's football team. He earned All-Ohio, All-Northeast Inland District and All-Akron Beacon Journal honors in football. He played as an offensive lineman and tight end on Indiana's football team, lettering four years and starting in 34 games.

McKinnon taught for 16 years in the Canton, Green, Akron, North Canton, Loudonville and Waterloo districts.

McKinnon also was a football coach for 16 years with stints as a head coach at Loudonville in 2004 and 2005 and at Kenmore in 2008 and 2009. He was also as an assistant coach at Green, Louisville, Canton McKinley, Loudonville, Waterloo, Canton South and Hoban. He helped Louisville compile a 10-0 regular season in 2002 and finish 11-1 as a Division II playoff participant.

McKinnon lives in Copley with his wife, Mandy, a special education coordinator in Akron Public Schools. Their sons Carter and Jefferson graduated from Revere High School in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Both played sports in high school and Jefferson is on the Eastern Illinois University football team.

McKinnon takes over the APS athletics department with Joe Vassalotti set to retire as Coordinator of Athletics on Dec. 30. Vassalotti is retiring after 10½ years in the position and "34.31 years in education."

"It has been a good experience working with Joe," McKinnon said to the Akron Beacon Journal on Dec. 10. "It is extremely helpful having Joe there so he can show me the different systems and the different procedures that Akron uses. It is very similar to what I have done before, but you always have different softwares and scheduling. It has been nice having Joe there. He has been super helpful in the transition. I really do appreciate everything he is doing for me.

"... We are collaborating right now and sharing information. Anything that is coming across, we discuss. It has been very helpful."

McKinnon said he has known Vassalotti for many years.

"I first met Joe when I was an assistant coach at Green and he was the head coach at Tallmadge," McKinnon said. "I have known Joe for a lot of years. We coached against each other a long, long time ago. It is funny how everything circles back around eventually.

"... I enjoyed Willoughby South. The kids were great, the parents were great, the community was great, everything was great. I just felt like the opportunity to come back to APS was exciting. I am truly excited to be back in APS. They have so many amazing things going on in the district. I just really wanted to be a part of it. It is exciting."

APS school board member Summer Hall encouraged McKinnon to make sure his decisions "are fair for our students."

"I just pray that you continue to move in the right direction for our students," Hall said. "We can’t say DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] anymore, but please make sure that all your decisions are equitable. Please make sure that you are making decisions for our children and not based off of other things, and that all of our children have a fair chance and that each school and each sport has the same opportunity as everyone else.”

Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at [email protected]. Akron Beacon Journal education writer Kelli Weir can be reached by email at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Tom McKinnon is the new Akron Public Schools athletics director