At first, Patricia Haggerty was nervous about her new assignment.

Already the Northern Nash girls’ volleyball coach, she is 10 days into her new duties as the Knights’ athletics director.

“I’m excited. I’m up for the challenge,” Haggerty said of the position. “... I’ve always had a great deal of respect for it.”

Haggerty is replacing former athletics director Dan Richwalski on an interim basis for the remainder of the school year.

Effective on Feb. 13, Richwalski stepped down from the position. He will continue to teach math and business education.

“I just thought it was time for a change,” Richwalski said. “I talked it over with my principal, and we both agreed it was time for me to step down.”

Along with serving as athletics director, Richwalski was a member of Mickey Crouch’s football staff last year. Crouch was replaced by Randy Raper, who coached for more than three decades at Wilson Hunt, in December 2012.

Richwalski has offered to continue serving as a varsity assistant, but Raper has yet to finalize his staff.

“I’m six years away from retirement, so it’s time to start going in a different direction and start preparing for the next phase, a little bit,” said Richwalski, who served as Northern Nash’s A.D. since 2005.

Richwalski was an assistant athletics director from 2002 to 2005.

Haggerty, who will remain varsity girls’ volleyball coach, will serve in the position until June, when the search will begin for a full-time replacement.

Haggerty said she is considering applying for the position long term but understands this is her trial period.

“It is looked as that,” she said. “I know I have a lot to learn. I can’t figure out everything over night. It takes a while. ... I’m just taking it day by day and learning a lot every day.”

Justin Hite can be reached at 407-9951 or jhite@rmtelegram.com