Tom Dyer will become the new athletic director at Hamden, replacing Jeanne Cooper, who retired in June.
Dyer, 34, served as co-athletic facilitator at Hillhouse from 2007-13 and the head football coach the last six years, two of them culminating in Class M state football championships (2010 and 2012).
“I’m extremely excited about the new opportunity and looking forward to meeting all of the coaches and student-athletes,” Dyer said. “But I’m also sad about leaving a great program.”
Dyer went 51-17 in his six seasons for the Academics. He also served as an assistant coach at Hillhouse from 2001-06.
“We are very happy to have Tom Dyer in the district as athletic director,” Hamden principal Gary Highsmith said. “He has a great track record, is a successful coach, he’s very enthusiastic and he’s a winner. I think our superintendent (Fran Rabinowitz) made a very, very wise choice.”
Said Dyer: “It was a very tough decision to leave the Hillhouse football program and those kids.”
The Academics also appeared in the Class M semifinals in 2008.
“It’s wonderful for Tommy. Hamden got a quality guy,” New Haven citywide athletic director Joe Canzanella said. “He will do very well in Hamden.”
Canzanella said Reggie Lytle, an assistant on Dyer’s staff, was promoted to interim head coach Wednesday.
“The coaching staff will remain intact as we move forward. Our student-athletes are our No. 1 concern and it was very important to bring someone on board who the kids knew and trusted,” Canzanella said. “I’m excited for Tommy but I’m also excited for the Hillhouse football program as well. I consider Hillhouse one of the top 10 (football) jobs in the state and I believe the kids won’t miss a beat.”
Canzanella said the facilitator position will be filled by Bob Davis, who served in that position with Dyer, and others within the current staff.
Last season, Dyer served a two-day suspension as part of an alleged grade tampering situation that occurred at Hillhouse. Dyer declined to comment on the matter Wednesday.