John Appelgate announced that he will be leaving his post as the Redmond High School (RHS) athletic director after this year and will be replaced by Dan Pudwill, the school’s baseball and boys golf coach.

Appelgate, who took over the RHS athletic director role in 2007, is departing to become the athletics and Title IX specialist for the Lake Washington School District (LWSD).

“Dan will bring many years of coaching experience, a commitment to students, tremendous organization skills and a quiet, calm and confident demeanor to the job. RHS athletics will be in great hands under his leadership,” Appelgate said.

Pudwill said he’s excited for the new challenge.

“I have always been passionate about athletics and the role they can play in young people’s lives. Now it is an opportunity to extend my role beyond baseball and golf and support all the coaches in our building,” Pudwill said. “When I first got the baseball job, it was stressed to me that it is more about the whole (Redmond athletics) and that baseball is a part of the whole.”

Pudwill said he hopes to continue the work Appelgate has built in maintaining a strong athletics program with quality coaches who are teaching their sports and life skills to student-athletes.

Appelgate’s upcoming LWSD position is a newly created post, according to Kathryn Reith, the school district’s communications director.

“It was created to increase the level of support for our growing district for athletics and Title IX,” said Reith, adding that Appelgate brings a wealth of experience to the job, in which he will monitor equity compliance for athletic programs; support the athletic programs with compliance with district and state policies; and enhance the athletic program capacity in respect to student-athlete learning, development and safety.

Appelgate earned his Certified Athletic Administrator accreditation last year and was recognized in 2015 as Kingco Athletic Director of the Year and Sea-King District 2 Athletic Director of the Year.