University of San Francisco Athletics

Although Mike Teijeiro only recently was named athletic director at Foothill College, the job is not new to him. He served as interim AD at the Los Altos Hills community college for eight months.

After what Foothill administrators described as “a highly competitive hiring process,” Teijeiro was chosen last month to fill the newly created position.

“It was a long process but well worth it,” he said.

Teijeiro officially started Jan. 1, though he’s been the acting AD since Susan Gutkind resigned as dean of kinesiology and athletics last spring for a job at Ohlone College. Mark Anderson took over as kinesiology dean – while still overseeing the fine arts and communication division – and college president Judy Miner spawned the stand-alone AD position.

In an email to staff announcing Teijeiro’s hiring, Miner said “Mike brings energy and dedication to all he does.”

Teijeiro, who previously served as Foothill’s facilities and equipment coordinator, played baseball at the University of San Francisco and has been coaching the sport since he graduated in 1994. Teijeiro hopes his experience as a coach – which includes stints at the College of San Mateo, City College of San Francisco, UC Berkeley and Woodside High – will prove beneficial in his new role.

“They have a difficult job,” he said of Foothill’s coaches. “It’s 50 percent (classroom) instruction and 50 percent coaching. Having walked in their shoes, I hope I can be a resource for them.”

Jody Craig, Foothill’s longtime women’s basketball coach, is confident that Teijeiro is the right man for the job.

“He’s exactly what we need in our department,” she said. “He knows the lay of the land, has an athletic background, is even-keeled and gets stuff done. I’m glad we hired him.”

Teijeiro said the department “has room for improvement” – particularly when it comes to the academic success of its students (LosAltosTownCrier).