Brad Costa, a former three-sport athlete hailing from a small town near Buffalo, New York, had an unwavering aspiration to embark on a career in sports. Now, he has seized the opportunity to fulfill that dream as the new director of athletics at Eastern Alamance High School.

Brad Costa's Ascent in the World of Athletics

Early Aspirations and Realizations

Initially, Costa envisioned a career in professional football. However, his stint as his high school's quarterback was less than impressive, leading him to realize that pursuing professional sports might not be a viable path. Yet, his competitive spirit remained intact. "I'm the type of person who detests losing more than I relish winning," Costa shared. "Having a purpose and a common goal is of utmost importance to me as a human being. Nowhere else do you find such a sense of purpose as in athletics."During his early days at Eastern Alamance High School, Costa started as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team in 2015. Under the guidance of head coach Jay McPherson, the all-time wins leader at the school, Costa began to learn and grow. "We achieved a great deal of success," Costa remarked. "And it wasn't because of me; it was due to the exceptional talent of our players."

Challenges and Adversity

In 2020, when McPherson stepped down as head coach, Costa took on the leadership role. This period was marked by the challenges posed by COVID-19 shutdowns, canceled workouts, and less successful seasons compared to previous years. Despite the setbacks, Costa persevered and was appointed as an assistant athletics director in 2023. Soon after, a life-altering opportunity presented itself.Eastern's 15-year athletic director, John Kirby, decided to retire this spring, and Costa was given the chance to succeed him. "I never wanted him to retire," Costa expressed. "My plan was to learn from him as an assistant athletics director for as long as possible."

Taking on the New Role

After officially starting in August, Costa quickly realized the magnitude of the task at hand. His daily responsibilities involve ensuring that athletes remain eligible to compete, meeting the North Carolina threshold for grades, and completing proper medical forms. He also spends a significant amount of time supervising the school's athletic facilities and coordinating transportation for all sports. With approximately 200 student-athletes, this requires constant communication."I had no idea how much goes into this job," Costa admitted. "I'm constantly in touch with radio crews setting up for Friday night games and reporters trying to get interviews with our football coach."

Giving Back to the Community

For Costa, this new job means more than just a career advancement. It feels like a place where he belongs. "Eastern Alamance is like a second home to me," Costa said. "I have no desire to go anywhere else. We live just a few minutes away, and it's a great way to integrate my family and daughter into the school and the community."As he and his family continue to settle in Mebane, Costa is eager to give back to a community that has shown so much support. "Mebane is a small town, and for a long time, Eastern Alamance has been the guiding light," Costa emphasized. "This community has an incredible passion for athletics."On one of his first days at Eastern Alamance, Costa was on morning parking lot duty and was amazed to see the number of cars driving down to the football field. "People were setting up chairs as early as 7:30 in the morning to watch the Friday night football game. They've been doing this for the past 20 or 30 years. It perfectly illustrates the significance of sports to this community."The Mebane community has raised approximately one million dollars to fund Eastern's new fieldhouse, and Costa hopes to inspire similar community efforts. "I'm extremely grateful to be part of this community," Costa said. "I'm thankful to be in a place that has cared for me."