The soon-to-be former superintendent of Washington Community School District is being recognized by the Iowa High School Athletic Association for his role in providing extracurricular activities for students. Dr. Mike Jorgensen is one of six former or soon-to-be retired Iowa school administrators who will receive the IHSAA School Administrator Award tomorrow at halftime of the Class 3A boys’ basketball State Championship game.

Jorgensen says his career in education started by pursing a passion in athletics, “I really wanted to be an NCAA basketball coach and it was the main reason I got into the teaching profession.” Jorgensen said, “I have coached a variety of sports over the years, and have had some pretty good success. ”

Jorgensen’s coaching career was wide ranging prior to coming to Washington in 2010. He served as a head coach in girls’ and boys’ basketball, softball, and was a girls swimming coach, earning numerous District Coach of the Year and Conference Sportsmanship awards at Marshalltown, Perry, and Southeast Webster-Grand High Schools.

A 1978 graduate of Marshalltown High School, Jorgensen was a two-time high school State Champion in track and field. He continued to run track in college Drake University, where he became a four-year letter winner and team captain or indoor and outdoor track while earning NCAA Division I All-American honors.

Jorgensen announced in September that he would retire at the end of the school year. On the PM Sports page Wednesday evening, he said he was exploring a chance to coach once again, this time on the collegiate level. “It has always been an interest of mine; I have turned down four opportunities.” Jorgensen said, “I have a daughter that is involved in collegiate basketball and I said if she ever became a head coach, I would become her assistant.”

You can listen to the full interview with Jorgensen on this week’s PM Sports Page, found On Demand at KCIIRadio.com.