Weakland Named New State College Area Athletic Director

When Peg Pennepacker retires as State College Area School District Athletic Director at the end of this school year, a familiar face in the district is set to step into the role.

Chris Weakland, currently assistant principal at State College Area High School, will make a short move from the State High South Building to his new office at the North Building Gym when he becomes athletic director on July 1.

The State College Area School Board on Monday unanimously approved his appointment to succeed Pennepacker, who is retiring after six years in the position.

“I’m excited about it,” Weakland said. “This has been a long-time goal of mine. It’s not something that just happened over the last couple weeks. I’ve had my eye on this position for many years. All the way back to Tom Wallace and Ron Pavlechco and obviously now with Peg Pennepacker, we’ve had a long-standing tradition of excellence in athletics and I hope to carry that tradition on and move it forward in the years to come.”

A State College native and 1984 graduate of State High, Weakland attended and played baseball at Millersville University before transferring to and graduating from Penn State. He joined the State High faculty as an English teacher in 1990 and taught until 2013 when he became dean of students.

‘As a State College alumnus, athletics has been in my DNA for many years, not only as coach, but as a player and a parent of student-athletes’ Weakland said. ‘I can’t think of a more exciting place for me to be right now than to be our athletic director.’

Weakland has been a coach for the Little Lions varsity and junior varsity football teams, as well as the middle school and ninth grade programs. He also has coached for the State High baseball team.

‘Chris Weakland has been a high-performing teacher, coach and administrator for many years, and our district’s student-athletes will benefit from his leadership of our athletics programs,’ said Superintendent Bob O’Donnell in a release.

Weakland said he will look to foster positive experiences and relationships for student-athletes. He said he will work with ‘relentless effort’ to always do the right thing and to do his job with kindness and compassion.

‘We are here for the kids,’ he said. ‘This is their experience and they only get one chance at it. We can never lose sight of that. We are guests, guides, coaches and mentors for their journey.’

State High Principal Curtis Johnson said Weakland will bring a dedication for students to his new role.

‘I’m eager to see him apply his ability and knowledge as a coach to develop and grow our coaches here at the high school, and for his passion and enthusiasm for the position to carry over to our students and staff,’ Johnson said.

Video by Nabil K. Mark/SCASD