Physical Education and Athletics Departments to Merge

By Sofia Morais

For the better part of two years, the administration has been planning a merge between the Physical Education and Athletic Departments. Hilary Hall is currently Chair of the Physical Education Department, and David Hudson serves as Interim Director of Athletics. Peddie School Director of Athletics Jason Baseden will head this new department, serving in a new position.

Hudson noted the thought process behind the decision. “This was an administrative decision with the goal of best serving the entire program in terms of communication and decision-making,” he says. “The programs have a tremendous amount of overlap in areas such as facility use, curricular objectives, diploma requirements, budgeting, and scheduling.”

Hudson stressed that student experience underpins the administration’s thought process. “I am hopeful this will have a positive effect for the overall program and experience,” Hudson said. “I believe the administrative restructuring will lead to more efficient lines of communication, support, and program philosophy.” 

This merger will also end confusion regarding the titles of Athletics Department and the Department of Physical Education. “I just always called it the Athletic Division. I didn’t even know there were two departments,” senior Milo Walshe said.

Under this department merge, leadership positions and occupants will also change. Currently, Hall oversees Physical Education faculty and certain credit bearing programs, such as Junior Physical Education, commonly referred to as the Prep Program or Prep Spaz. Hudson, Director of Athletics, takes care of interscholastic sports teams, which also bear credit. He is further responsible for the coaches and trainers not part of the Phillips Exeter faculty.

Instead of two department chairs or directors, there will be one individual overseeing the new department. Baseden, who is currently Director of Athletics at the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, will assume this position. Baseden holds degrees from St. John’s and Ohio Universities and is Chief Marketing Officer of the International Association of Athletic Administrators and Coaches at present. He plans to step into the position in June.

This merge of departments is not new to the Academy. “This is actually how the programs were organized for a number of years until there was a decision to uncouple them in the early 2000’s,” Hudson said. 

The coronavirus will not affect the merge of departments, according to Hudson. “This decision has been under consideration for the better part of two years,” he said. “Obviously, there may be program considerations going forward, [but] I feel the new structure will be helpful to this process.” 

Hall, Hudson and the administration look forward to the shift in both departments and their leadership positions. They are eager to welcome Baseden to the Exeter community and will work with him to establish the strongest program possible.