Archbishop Molloy H.S., Briarwood, is known for its storied tradition of athletics. Starting this fall, there’s a new shepherd guiding the Stanner flock.
David Nurnberg started as Molloy’s new athletic director in August. He takes over for Mike McCleary, who held the position for 28 years. McCleary will remain the Stanners boys’ varsity basketball coach as well as a physical education teacher.
“David is an exceptional athletic director whose core values align with Molloy and the Marist tradition,” said Molloy President Richard Karsten, ’81. “He is a proud Catholic school educator, a respected leader, and an excellent communicator. In addition, he has a deep understanding of and reverence for our history, and he is committed to celebrating the legacy of our many proud alumni.”
A native of Columbus, Georgia, Nurnberg brings vast experience as a coach and athletics administrator to Queens and the Big Apple. He has begun to settle in nicely to his new role and is grateful for the support of the Molloy community.
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Nurnberg grew up playing football and baseball. He was a quarterback and catcher, respectively — both positions that usually bode well for a player looking to coach. When he was a student at Auburn University, he needed to pick up a minor to go along with his communications major. Auburn offered sport coaching as a minor, so he decided to pursue that career path.
He had a football coaching internship as a junior and, right out of college, got a job teaching and coaching football as an offensive coordinator in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2004. He quickly realized that teaching and coaching employed a similar skill set to have a positive impact on students.
“I started out thinking that teaching and coaching were two separate things,” Nurnberg said. “It really didn’t take long to realize that it’s the same thing, different field. The better you are at one, the better you are at the other.”
Nurnberg eventually rose up the ranks as a head football coach — with stops throughout Georgia and Alabama, while teaching English literature and physical education. As an administrator at high schools in Tennessee and Kentucky, he implemented a coaching mentor program that emphasized the development of students as well-rounded people, not just athletes.
“David is a leader who has championed the student-athlete approach to athletics,” said Molloy Principal Darius Penikas. “He has a history of driving programs that use participation and competition in sports to develop character, commitment, and faith in students. His programs have always prioritized academic and personal development, produced champions on the field, and empowered lifelong servant leaders in their communities.”
Most recently, Nurnberg served as athletic director at Lexington Catholic H.S. in Kentucky. Having a background working at Catholic schools has set him up well for his tenure at Molloy.
“It was transformational to be around some phenomenal educators and administrators,” Nurnberg said. “It opened my eyes to a new world.”
Before he set foot inside Molloy, Nurnberg had heard of the name Jack Curran, the Stanners’ late longtime legendary basketball and baseball coach. He’s eager to continue celebrating the traditions Curran established while carving out his own path alongside the Molloy faithful.
“The way you celebrate the legacy is to build off of the past successes, continue to honor the traditions that are in place at a school, and by finding new ways to excel,” Nurnberg said. “As athletic administrators, it’s humbling to be in a position to help carry things on. It’s an exciting opportunity.”
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Having McCleary in the building has been vital to Nurnberg’s transition. He’s also grateful for the support of Stephanie Staiano, a Molloy teacher and assistant varsity baseball coach who is now the school’s associate athletic director.
“The people are great,” Nurnberg said. “Everyone has been so welcoming, so helpful. It’s a great community here.”
Molloy unveiled new locker rooms and new athletic offices to start off the school year. Nurnberg’s primary focus has been meeting with school and CHSAA league officials to get a lay of the land as the fall sports season gets underway. He’s especially interested in understanding the perspective of the student-athletes during such a formative time in their lives.
“That’s the best part about what we do: connecting with the students,” Nurnberg said. “It’s where we feel the most pride in their success and advancement. So starting off, it’s all about getting to know everybody here, be around the programs, get to know some of the kids and watch them grow and develop, and see how they operate with all the things they do.”
Nurnberg’s arrival signals a new chapter in the anthology in Archbishop Molloy’s sports program. He’s fully prepared for the challenge and is ready to guide the Stanners to new heights.