Austin Hemmingson | Daily Press New Gladstone athletic director David Lindbeck sits at his desk Tuesday morning at Gladstone High School. Lindbeck, who grew up in West Iron County, is returning from Wisconsin to the U.P. to take his first A.D. job at Gladstone.

GLADSTONE — Originally from West Iron County, David Lindbeck has made his way back to the Upper Peninsula. Lindbeck officially took over as the new athletic director at Gladstone Monday after Andy Jacques moved up to principal.

“I’m excited .. I can’t sleep at night,” Lindbeck said. “My first days are now. I want to get to know the coaches. I’m really excited about it with the history of our programs here, to find out where I can best serve them as well. Those are the areas I’m going to focus on. I’m going to be at every game, especially early on. I want to be very visible, and meet with all the coaches at the beginning of next month, especially the fall coaches.”

Lindbeck began his coaching and teaching career 15 years ago at Waterford Union High School in Wisconsin, approximately 10-20 miles from Milwaukee. Then, five years ago he and his family moved further North to Wausaukee, where he began coaching football and started a power lifting team right away. He also spent the last three years as the varsity boys’ basketball coach there.

“It will be a little change now, not coaching, but being involved with all the sports,” he said.

Lindbeck, who finished his administrative licensing a few years ago, said he was told about the job at Gladstone by his brother-in-law at the end of May.

“I got my stuff together (to apply) about a day or two before it was due,” he said. “I’m really excited because I’m originally from West Iron. I played basketball over here against them back when I was in high school, I ran track against Gladstone, I’ve had friends from Gladstone, I know Gladstone and the history of the quality people that come out of here.”

He said meeting Jacques made it feel like an instant fit.

“Meeting Andy was fantastic. It just felt like an opportunity and a relationship already developing,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a great transition. I’m excited for this and for him, and I’m looking forward to working with him and getting to know him and the community.”

Lindbeck, who got his bachelor’s degree at Northern Michigan University, also said a big part of the decision to move here was for his family. He has two daughters — 10-year old Jocelyn and six-year old Mari, who is turning seven in two weeks.

“This is also where I want my kids to go. That’s the biggest thing — where do I want my kids to be and my family to be? This is a community that will definitely support that,” he said. “My youngest daughter’s favorite color is actually purple.”

Lindbeck has spent the majority of his career teaching special education, and said he specializes in motivating people.

“That’s been kind of who I am — motivating people and getting them involved,” he said. “Helping kids find a way, establishing resilience and celebrating success. That’s more of my DNA, in a way. When I’ve coached sports, I’ve helped kids establish what their goals are, and I’ve helped them accomplish those benchmark goals step-by-step, rather than looking at the big picture and the major outcome.”

He also talked about some of the things he hopes to accomplish at Gladstone, specifically talking about multi-sport athletes.

“This year, I know Andy has a path established, and I’m going to continue where he left off,” Lindbeck said. “I’m just starting to get to know the coaching staffs. Obviously, expanding the programs and getting more kids involved is an idea I want to continue to push. I want to continue the idea that the more you’re involved, the better you’re going to be as a person, and the more diverse you’re going to be as somebody that posts secondary goals.

“I like to see kids in three sports. It’s not that you have to do it, but I’ve seen a lot of focus to specialize on a sport. When talking with colleges over the course of my 15-plus years of coaching, scouts have told me they want to see recruits as a multi-sport athlete as well. I want to see the effort on the floor and in the classroom, and that goes back to character. I want our varsity athletes to be mentors to the younger kids.”

Jacques gave a couple comments on his three-year stint as the A.D., which began in the 2016-17 school year.

“I had such a great experience the last three years,” he said. “The coaching staff made my job so easy because they kept a lot of stuff off my plate. They do such a good job of being positive role models for our students, and they make sure that they have high standards for the students. I can’t thank them enough.”