The announcement that Jeff Townsend would become principal of the KHS class of 2016 in March left an empty desk in the athletics director’s office.
Just one month later a name was recommended at a Kirkwood School District Board of Education meeting to fill the vacated position. The name suggested was Corey Nesslage, the Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS) athletics director.
“Kirkwood is a school district that a lot of people envy that are on the outside looking in,” Nesslage, who also held a position as an assistant varsity football coach and physical education teacher at MICDS, said. “When Kirkwood became available, I felt extremely fortunate to be able to get an interview.”
The district would later award Nesslage the job of KHS head athletics director, making him responsible for 24 different sports programs, approximately 125 coaches and more than 600 athletes in his first fall sports season.
When Nesslage arrived at KHS for his interview, he was impressed by the fact kids were already greeting him. Nesslage left a lasting impression during the interview on KHS Principal Dr. Michael Havener.
“He is academically based in his thoughts. Academics come first, while his love for sports is right there,” Havener said.
Havener praised Nesslage’s charismatic personality, which he believes is important for a man of his physical stature.
“He’s probably 6’5,” Havener said. “When you look at him you go ‘Holy cow that’s a big guy right there’ but his personality is inviting to talk to. He’s friendly. He listens. I think you have to have all those traits to be an athletics director or administrator or teacher.”
Another trait that impressed the district was Nesslage’s background in both education and athletics.
Before MICDS, Nesslage worked at St. Charles High School, the school he attended. He played football, basketball and baseball at St. Charles and went on to play football and baseball at Lindenwood University. During his nine years working at St. Charles High School, he taught business and also served as varsity head football coach and varsity head girls’ basketball coach.
Havener said other applicants do not usually have these credentials.
“Usually when we interview people they have a background in a certain area and they are very versed in that area,” Havener said. “He has a background that is a wide array of experiences and sometimes you don’t find that in applicants. He has all of those experiences in one person.”
Nesslage had no doubt in his mind Kirkwood was where he wanted to be. It was an easy decision for him to accept the job.
“The one thing that really excites me most about Kirkwood is that it’s one community, one high school,” Nesslage said. “And I know there’s a tremendous amount of support from the community in regards to the athletic program.”
He appreciates how much the community means to the athletic department and the students who participate in it.
“The one thing that really stands out to me is that the kids have so much pride in the school,” Nesslage said. “I think one of the reasons they have so much pride is that they understand what they are representing, and that’s the community of Kirkwood.”
One of the teams Nesslage will be overseeing this year is the varsity football team, coached by Matt Irvin, who attended St. Charles High School with Nesslage. Nesslage and Irvin were reunited in 2007 when they both served on the MICDS varsity football staff.
After decades of knowing each other, Irvin said Nesslage will be a great fit at KHS.
“He’s very professional and organized,” Irvin said. “He definitely has a plan for our athletes and what we can and want to accomplish with our program here.”
Nesslage describes this plan is plain and simple: provide leadership for the coaches and athletes.
“I want to help our coaches, making their jobs as efficient as possible,” Nesslage said. “I want to support them as much as I can. I want them to know that I’m here for them if there is ever an issue they need help in dealing with.”
In the month and a half he has worked for KHS, Nesslage has been learning about the traditions and culture of the school. He is looking forward to his first Turkey Day game and watching the athletes work hard during the day and then perform on the athletic fields in the afternoon.
“He has bought into everything about Kirkwood and you can see that as he’s walking around campus and he’s loving every second of it,” Havener said. “I think he’s going to be a great addition to the team, to the school and the community.”
Havener said once students get to know Nesslage, they will love his company.
“We’re excited to have him,” Havener said. “If students can stop and say ‘Hi’, introduce themselves, make him feel welcomed, they’ll enjoy the experience. He’s an interesting person. He’s a happy person. Kids will really like him.”
