June 2, 2026
St. Vincent-St. Mary High School has officially named veteran administrator Mark Hassman as its new athletic director, ushering in a premier era for the Fighting Irish athletic department.
School administration announced the hiring on Tuesday morning, solidifying a proven leader to helm one of Ohio’s most storied high school sports programs.
Hassman brings over three decades of educational and athletic expertise to Akron. He is a deeply familiar face in Northeast Ohio high school sports, having served as the athletic director at rival Walsh Jesuit High School from 2017 to 2025. Hassman also spent 11 years as the principal at Walsh Jesuit, giving him a unique, holistic view of the student-athlete experience.
STVM President Dave Vitatoe expressed immense confidence in Hassman’s ability to uphold the school’s championship tradition while fostering personal growth.
“Mark Hassman is a proven leader of high character and integrity,” Vitatoe said in a statement. “His extensive background in both athletics and school administration makes him the ideal person to guide our programs. Most importantly, Mark is dedicated to building strong relationships and helping our student-athletes succeed both on the field and in life.”
Hassman steps into the role following the departure of Kyle Sasala, who stepped down in May to accept the athletic director position at GlenOak High School. Sasala had led the Fighting Irish department since 2022.
Hassman inherits an athletic department with a rich history of state and national success, most notably its powerhouse basketball, football, and track programs. His immediate focus will center on staff alignment, facility optimization, and maintaining the competitive edge of STVM’s 23 varsity sports.
