As a college football coach for the past decade, James “J.J.” Eckels understood that relocation was an expected part of the career. Now residing in Jeannette with his wife and three children, Eckels was seeking more stability. That decision led him to Mount Pleasant Area, where he’ll serve as the full-time athletic director beginning this summer.

“Can’t be happier to be part of a community and an athletics program that’s had so much success in the last couple of years in multiple different sports,” said Eckels, who was hired earlier this month.

Eckels, who will officially start the position in July, will become the first full-time AD for the district since Chris Brunson resigned from the role in 2022. Over the past two years, Allan Bilinsky and Bob Gumbita have been sharing AD duties.

A McKeesport Area grad, Eckels has a lengthy coaching resume. Most recently, he served on the staff for Saint Vincent College. Prior to the Bearcats, he was an assistant coach at Mercyhurst University for seven years, and also had a stint as a graduate assistant at Frostburg State.

“There is some carry over there from the collegiate experience I had as a football coach to now working at high schools,” he detailed. “I’ve done things from game-day management to security to equipment, budging, recruiting – one of the major parts of recruiting was setting up hotels, travel, meal times, busing.”

Eckels enjoyed a productive playing career on the gridiron at Clarion University and at McKeesport Area, where he also participated in baseball and wrestling.

Eckels seems poised to serve in the position for the long haul, although he doesn’t anticipate that the Vikings’ athletics will need a significant overhaul for the foreseeable future.

“Having gone through my entire life never quitting anything is one of the things I kind of hang my hat on,” he said. “One of the things that Mount Pleasant does have that a lot of small schools don’t is really nice facilities.”

Additionally, he stated a simple short-term goal when he assumes the position.

“I would just like to enhance the student experience however I can,” he said.