Viele to carry city's athletic torch

Nicole Viele throws like a girl.

A girl, that is, who plays competitive fast-pitch softball three nights a week, plus an extra night of slow-pitch for fun, and moonlights as a private pitching coach.

A girl who will soon call the shots for more than a softball game.

Next month, Viele, 31, starts as the Somerville school district's first female athletic director.

She has big cleats to fill. Viele takes over for Gerald Knight , 64, a 37-year Somerville schools veteran and alum who has led the district's athletic and physical education programs for 17 years.

He even chose the breed of his dog, a Scottish terrier, to honor the Somerville Highlanders.

``Gerry Knight will be missed immensely," says Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi . ``He knows everybody and everything about Somerville athletics."

The community's eyes will be on his replacement.

Despite several dismal football seasons, Somerville has a long and consistent sports tradition.

Viele's promotion, from health and physical education teacher at the high school, also comes only a year after the tumultuous tenure of former Patriots lineman John Hannah as high school football coach.

Hannah was criticized for his hard-driving style, and for allowing a student whose home address proved to be a laundromat to compete.

Football coach Harry Marchetti took over a year ago.

With Knight's voluntary retirement, the district has shuffled athletic responsibilities. Tim O'Keefe will supervise physical education and health, and Viele will oversee the competitive and intramural programs. Both will also teach two courses.

While Viele considers competition important, particularly at the varsity level, she places equal emphasis on teamwork, dedication, fitness, leadership, and representing the community.

``Athletics made me the goal-oriented person I am today," she says.

``The will to get things done -- that's what's important."

Growing up with three older brothers in South Glens Falls, N.Y., ``everything was a competition," she says wryly.

She played field hockey, softball, and a bit of basketball. (``I'm only 5-2 ; I didn't see a lot of playing time.") Her parents supported her interest in sports, though they overruled her bid to play Pop Warner football out of safety concerns.

Viele studied elementary education at Wheelock College.

``I was that teacher who couldn't wait for recess," she said.

She started a master's program in the subject at Springfield College .

She built her resume with coaching and administrative positions at Wheelock, the University of Hartford , Western New England College , and Lesley University , jobs that impressed the Somerville administration.

She joined the high school staff in February 2005 with ``every intention of applying for this position" when Knight retired.

Viele wants to ramp up the intramural options and get younger students more involved in sports.

Currently their only option is a grade 7-8 basketball program open to only 15 boys and 15 girls.

To prevent the residency issue in which Hannah got embroiled from recurring, coaches will sign an ethics form, and ``I will make sure I'm checking the eligibility and addresses of our student-athletes," Viele says.

Knight said the only piece of the job Viele will have to work on is her lack of experience with the city.

With no dedicated fields, tennis courts, or pools, the athletic director has to file numerous permits and share city space with community members.

Knight thinks she'll quickly manage that.

``She'll set her own agenda," he says. ``It's going to work out fine for her."

Viele says, ``Somerville has a longstanding, fantastic tradition and pride in their sports program."

She sees her new job as ``making sure I can uphold a tradition."