LYNN — At 4:30 a.m. on a Monday, while most people are still asleep, Josh Mower, the athletic director of Lynn Classical High School, is already ironing his shirt for the day. Coffee thermos in hand, Mower heads out the door for a 45-minute commute to lead a physical education class. Balancing the role of teacher and athletic director is no small feat, but with 35 years of experience at Lynn schools, Mower says every day is worth it.
“I’ve found that walking the walk, it helps in evaluating myself,” he said. “If I’m asking my physical education teachers to do something, then it’s something that I should also be willing to do.”
Despite the demanding schedule, Mower says he feels gratified watching student-athletes excel.
“There is a lot to do every day, but there is definitely a sense of job satisfaction when I watch our athletes give their all and amaze themselves out on the field or court,” he said.
Mower’s career at Lynn Classical started in 1995 as an English substitute teacher. Over 35 years, he has taught mathematics and physical education, coached track and field, and served in administrative leadership roles, including being program specialist for Data and Assessment. Yet, he describes his current position as athletic director as his favorite one yet.
“It’s the most fulfilling job, because you see directly the impact you have,” Mower said. “It’s not just my program, but I take it personally. It’s been nothing but a positive experience.”
Mower assumed the role of athletic director and physical education teacher in 2024 from Bill Devin.
“It’s all a perfect fit,” Mower said. “Keeps me grounded and connected to the students.”
A significant part of Mower’s success comes from learning from veteran coaches and teachers. He credits them with giving him confidence to push forward, especially during his first fall season as athletic director.
“Our coaches definitely helped ease me into it,”he said. “I’ve thanked them several times for starting me off right.”
Under Mower’s leadership, Lynn Classical teams have already achieved notable success. The girls volleyball team won the Greater Boston League (GBL) championship, with captain Amanda Hughes earning GBL MVP for the second consecutive year. The team also advanced to the Division 3 round of 16. Meanwhile, the girls soccer team finished in second place among the GBL, while the boys soccer team delivered a solid season as well.
“I am proud of the way our teams compete and of the quality of coaches that we have for our athletes,” he said.
As he navigates his first spring season as athletic director, Mower emphasized the importance of structure, organization, and planning ahead. While his prior leadership experience as a program specialist gave him some preparation, stepping into this higher role was initially daunting, he said. But, Mower says he believes in collaborative decision-making.
“I don’t make any tough decisions by myself and I don’t think any leader should,” Mower said.
His leadership philosophy – “Look, Listen, Learn, and Lead” – guides him daily. Whether coordinating schedules for practices and games, posting updates on social media, or teaching classes, Mower approaches tasks with a team-oriented mindset.
“When the teams have success, then I’ll have success,” Mower said.
Since taking on his role at the start of the academic year, Mower has already implemented systems to improve operations for future seasons, including a brand new website for the community to keep track of game-times, live scores, and updates. With one fall season under his belt and the winter season nearing its end, he feels more confident going into the 2025 athletic seasons.
Each morning begins again at 4:30 a.m. with his thermos ready and ironing board set up for another day. He doesn’t mind waking up. For Mower, these early starts are part of his commitment to Lynn Classical Athletics.
“Classical Athletics owes it to our athletes to make sure they are prepared to be successful at the college level,” he said. “That’s one of the things I am most looking forward to as athletic director; following those college-bound and more, knowing that Classical had a big part in helping those athletes go further.”
Lucy Kratman is a student at Endicott College studying journalism
