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Karen Leinaar recently retired as Bear Lake's athletic director, capping nearly a 40-year career in athletic administration. (Courtesy photo)
Karen Leinaar recently retired as Bear Lake's athletic director, capping nearly a 40-year career in athletic administration. (Courtesy photo)
Karen Leinaar recently retired as Bear Lake's athletic director, capping nearly a 40-year career in athletic administration. (Courtesy photo)
Karen Leinaar recently retired as Bear Lake's athletic director, capping nearly a 40-year career in athletic administration. (Courtesy photo)
A lot changes over the course of four decades, no matter what you're measuring. And high school sports is no exception.
Karen Leinaar has witnessed this firsthand, having been at the pulse of prep athletics in Michigan for 39 years. During her tenure, though, one thing has remained consistent.
"Watching kids grow through athletics has not changed," she said. "I’ve met a number of young students through the years who have become coaches, teachers, principals, superintendents...
"And to see their growth has been amazing."
With plans to remain active in the local and statewide sports scene, Leinaar recently retired as athletic director for Bear Lake Schools, capping a long, accomplished career in athletic administration.
"I think you always know when it’s time," she said of retirement, "and it’s time for me to step away and let someone else come in and have their hand in what’s going on at Bear Lake."
Ty Shafer has assumed that role at the school and inherits the legacy that Leinaar left behind.
Leinaar took the reins of the Lakers athletic department in 2010. She began her career at Delton-Kellogg, where she also taught physical education. Before landing at Bear Lake, she was the athletic director at Gaylord (1999-2002) and Benzie Central (2002-2010).
Over the years, Leinaar has seen a drastic evolution in athletic administration.
"The internet has definitely been the biggest change," she said. "In some cases, it’s taken away the development of face-to-face relationships, but in other ways it’s added to the job. When I started 40 years ago, a lot of the things we deal with now weren't quite on the radar. With email, social media, you almost have to respond instantaneously to any situation.
"Back then, if there was a rainout or cancellation because of road conditions, you would have to make that call by 2 o’clock," Leinaar explained. "You would start by calling the school, then the officials, then transportation, and then you would call the media. ... There was a process, and it was done in a timely manner, but nowadays people expect those things even quicker.
"I also remember having relationships with people and companies that you would purchase equipment or uniforms through. Today, a lot of that’s done via the internet too. It's all those types of things that are a little bit different now."
Leinaar said the general expansion of opportunities for student-athletes has been a welcome change over the past few decades.
"The advent of more sports," she said. "We’ve added so many opportunities for kids to participate in, and that’s probably been the best part of those 40 years."
That's certainly been the case at Bear Lake during Leinaar's tenure. Over the past 10 years, the Lakers have started their very first football program, reinstated both baseball and cheerleading, and entered into a co-op in girls soccer.
"We've had great seasons, wonderful coaching staffs, great individual performances from athletes, some who have gone on to play in college," Leinaar said. "It’s been a wonderful experience. And in a small school, to watch the successes, has been a lot of fun and very rewarding.
"That’s probably the best part of the whole job, being able to watch kids grow up and overcome obstacles," she added, "when they hit a goal, to see their excitement and be a part of that. A long time ago, I had a mentor tell me: 'don’t ever forget those little things,' because in many cases that’s what will change a student’s life."
While Leinaar has stepped away from the fulltime position, she continues to be very much a part of the sports landscape, both locally and statewide.
Leinaar will remain secretary of the West Michigan D League and plans to see out her term (through 2021) as a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association Representative Council. She will also continue to serve as executive director of the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, a position she's had since 2019.
"It's something I'm not ready to totally step away from," she said, "but to be able to slow down a little bit will be nice. I'll miss that day-to-day interaction with kids, but I'll be around."
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January 31, 2021 at 04:15AM
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Leinaar leaves lasting impact on Bear Lake athletics, sports statewide - Manistee News Advocate
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