By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Every spring, Bedford North Lawrence’s Renaissance Club hosts the annual Mr. BNL fundraiser event, a parody of beauty contests where contestants display a fitness routine, wear a costume representing their club or sport, perform a unique talent and answer a question on stage.
With all due respect to the Renaissance, which promotes academic achievements and student involvement, the title of Mr. BNL should be permanently awarded to the man who had dedicated his student and professional life to the school he loves and represents with so much passion and professionalism.
Jeff Callahan is undoubtedly Mr. BNL. He has left his fingerprints on every aspect of the institution – student, athlete, teacher, coach and athletic director. It’s hard to imagine BNL without his presence, although that inevitable day fast approaches. Callahan, who has announced his retirement at the conclusion of this school year, will be honored during ceremonies at halftime of Saturday’s basketball games. It’s also the day he will celebrate his 55th birthday.
If that seems a little young to step away from his career in education, he’s not exactly ready for a rocking chair on the front porch, nor is he seeking membership among the old-timers who gather each morning at Otis Park or local breakfast establishments. After more than three decades in the school system that spawned him, including the last 21 years in charge of the athletic programs, he sensed the time for a change.
“A lot of people have asked,” Callahan said. “It’s not a true retirement. I wlll find something else. It’s not walking away and going to play golf. I just think it’s time. I’ve always heard you would know when it’s time, and it’s a good time for some new ideas and new things.”
The question is not what Callahan will do without BNL, it’s what BNL will do without him.
His journey started as a student-athlete. He was a starting quarterback under football coach Terry Willoughby, a baseball star for Mike Short. Callahan was named baseball All-State in 1986 and selected for the South All-Star team as a senior in 1987. He later played baseball for Vanderbilt, graduating college in 1991.
That’s also where he met his wife Paige, a city girl from Atlanta. After he left Nashville, he taught one year in Atlanta. But when the young couple decided to locate somewhere more conducive to a family, home beckoned. “It was up to Paige, and she made the plunge,” Callahan said. The rest is history.
Callahan returned to BNL in 1992 as a history teacher, in addition to coaching freshman football, freshman basketball and junior varsity baseball. He worked his way up the ranks, taking over as head football coach in 1998, and he guided the Stars for five seasons.
After one year as an assistant AD, Callahan took over the entire athletics program in 2003. He was only the fourth AD in school history, following Gil Fey, Ray Manis and Short. Those were giant footsteps.
“They did a great job of laying a good foundation,” Callahan said. “I hope I’ve done a good job of being the good steward for the next person to take over. There’s a big difference when you move over that one seat, it’s a whole different ballgame. It’s been a learning experience.”
He leaned on a lot of people over the 21 years. His peers at conference and local schools helped guide him. His assistants in the office (Cathy Goodin, Kim Arthur and Tammy Bailey) have been invaluable. His assistants at events (currently D.J. Horton and Adam Yates) have done a lot of work. Overseeing all the sports (currently 21, with boys volleyball and girls wrestling soon to be officially added by the IHSAA) is a daunting task.
His job description includes reviewing coaches, hiring officials, setting schedules, arranging transportation, getting workers for home events, attending meetings and making sure all the IHSAA requirements for eligibility are satisfied. And for the last 11 years, he has doubled as the head baseball coach and won a sectional in 2017. Lately, he made it a point to attend a practice session (and even participate in some) for each sport. He had his fingers on the pulse of the school.
He’s either devoted or insane. Perhaps he’s just proud of his school and wants to cast its reputation in the best possible way. His contemporaries use words like “class”, or “integrity”, or “character”, and “dignity” when praising him, strong commendations.
“I love this community, I love this school,” Callahan said. “I played sports here, I played for Mike Short and Terry Willoughby, guys that engrained BNL into me. I just wanted to do the same, both in teaching and coaching, to have the same effect for kids in the future.
“This community is very youth oriented. Sports oriented, but it goes outside of sports, how supportive they are, whether it’s coming out as fans, donating contributions to help groups. It’s tight knit, small but you can have opportunities. It’s a great place to live and raise a family.
“And I couldn’t have done this job without the support of my wife and three kids (Brandt, Whitt and Merritt).”
The term “pay it forward” comes to mind. Think of sports as a drive-thru. Somebody paid for him, and he has spent 30-plus years paying for someone else to have the same memories.
“The IHSAA promotes education-based athletics,” Callahan said. “What I had here was a great experience. In football we didn’t win very many games, but I still had a great experience as a player. In baseball we had more success, but I had great experiences as a student-athlete, in the classroom and on the playing field.
“As an athletic director, I hoped that all kids, when they leave BNL, have that experience. Now I know that doesn’t always happen, which is disappointing, but that’s part of life.”
His successor, whoever that will be, has a huge void to fill. Not because Callahan is a presence at almost every home event, working the crowd like a carnival barker with his wireless microphone during basketball games, or sitting in the press box and announcing track results. Because he has made BNL a place known for its hosting hospitality and willingness to go the extra mile. “I’ve always told the commissioner we would host any and all events,” Callahan said. And he’s done that to benefit his teams when possible.
His advice to the next person in that office? Don’t go it alone.
“There are a lot of great people out there that will help,” Callahan said. “When I got into the conference, other guys were invaluable. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I will be around, as available as needed. I want to help the next person get off to a good start, because this job can be a little overwhelming. I look it as a great opportunity for the next person to come in and have ideas of where they want to take BNL athletics.”
BNL has upgraded its facilities (turfed football, softball and baseball fields plus the construction of additional tennis courts), added to its trophy cases and hung banners (three girls basketball state titles, plus championships for Unified flag football and Unified track) under his watch. He hopes to collect a few more before his last baseball season finally ends in June.
“That’s been a challenge a times, but I’ve had great support and help,” Callahan said. “It’s a juggling act, but it can be done. It’s flown by. It’s hard to believe I’ve been in education for 33 years. It’s gone fast.”
Callahan’s Contemporaries
Here’s what his peers in the profession said about BNL’s Jeff Callahan:
“Jeff has been a phenomenal athletic director his entire career at Bedford North Lawrence and has been known as one of the best in the state. He’s hosted so many state tournament events over the years on behalf of the IHSAA and takes great pride in doing it the right way. He’s been a great ambassador for both BNL and education-based athletics.”
IHSAA Commissioner Paul Neidig
“Jeff Callahan epitomizes what education-based athletics is all about. He is a man of integrity and character who has spent every day of his career with a student-athlete centered approach. The Hoosier Hills Conference has been fortunate to have his leadership.”
New Albany’s Don Unruh
“Jeff has been a professional in every sense of the word. Dealing with Jeff as an opposing coach and fellow AD, it was obvious everything he does, he does it with class. He’s an AD’s AD. When the opportunity came for me to return to my alma mater and be AD, Jeff was one of the first people I called because I knew he was living the same job, with the same advantages and disadvantages that come with returning to your alma mater. It comes with extra pressure and extra pride in the programs and facilities.
He has handled all of that pressure with class and dignity and definitely left his mark at BNL. He is definitely not the person you want to follow in that position because BNL will never replace Jeff Callahan.”
Charlestown’s Chad Gilbert
“He’s worked extremely hard and I wish him luck and hope he enjoys his retirement. He’s earned it! Jeff and I talked early about being AD and coaching a major sport. I wish him the best in whatever he decides to do after all these years in education. Good job!
Bloomington South’s J.R. Holmes
“I played against Jeff when he was a player at BNL. He was a great player! Jeff has been incredibly helpful to me and someone I can always rely on for advice as it pertains to our jobs. I am so appreciative of his guidance as our HHC Chair and of his friendship. I wish him the very best in any and all future endeavors.”
Jeffersonville’s Larry Owens
