Chris Bergeron saw the golden opportunity to concentrate on being an athletic director at Andover High, and he was able to prove he was the man for the job.

"We were looking for someone who had an understanding of where athletics fits into a student's life," said Andover Principal Peter Anderson. "We were looking for someone of high character and strong intelligence that was committed to young athletes and coaches, and Chris exemplifies that."

Bergeron, 36, was hired last week as the new athletic director at Andover High, replacing Dave Nichols, who announced his retirement in the spring.

"I'm very excited for the opportunity," said Bergeron. "Andover is an outstanding school with a great athletic tradition. I am looking forward to getting to know the coaching staffs and the school."

Bergeron spent the last seven years as the athletic director at Salem (N.H.) High School. He was also in charge of physical education and health for the high school and middle school.

"I was very happy at Salem," he said. "They have a great athletic program and a very supportive staff. I had not interviewed for another job in my time there. But it was very appealing to me to just be a high school athletic director."

Bergeron first heard of the Andover High opening during the spring, and decided to apply in June when the job opened. He was called back for an interview on July 2, and then had a finalist interview on July 9 before he received the word.

"On July 15, I got a phone call asking me to meet with the (Andover) superintendent that day," he said. "That's when they told me I was their recommendation to the school committee."

According to Anderson, there were 20 applicants for the job, and Bergeron beat out eight finalists, although he declined to name any.

"Chris' recent experience (at Salem) is an excellent match for Andover, where athletics gets a lot of attention," said Anderson. "We wanted someone that was committed to a strong athletic program from the freshman level through varsity. Few people understand the amount of time it required to be an athletic director. It is a seven-days-a-week job. You really have to love high school sports, and Chris does."

Bergeron comes to the Golden Warriors with plenty of experience. He was a three-sport athlete at Exeter High, earning All-Class L honors in soccer. He attended the University of Richmond before earning his master's degree in physical education at the University of New Hampshire.

After a year as assistant athletic director at Exeter, Bergeron served as interim athletic director at Portsmouth High in 1995-96. He then moved on to Bishop Guertin, serving as AD there from 1998 until 2001. He took over at Salem High in 2001. He is now excited to have the opportunity to concentrate on the athletic program at Andover.

"This will allow me to focus on the coaching staffs and providing support for them," he said. "There were times at Salem when I wasn't available because of administrative meetings. It will allow me more access to the kids and provide for the program."

While Andover's enrollment is smaller than Salem's, 2,263 for the Blue Devils compared to 1,736 for the Golden Warriors, Bergeron believes it will offer many of the same challenges.

"Once you get to (Andover's) size they are about the same," he said. "We have a few more sports at Andover, so I will be going to a few more places and scheduling a few more buses. But it won't be too different."

Nichols, who spent 32 years in the Andover school system, was pleased with the selection.

"I have heard very good things about Chris, and Salem has had a very strong athletic program," said Nichols. "We at Andover feel very fortunate to have him in the fold. I am looking forward to talking with him. Brian and I had a very good relationship, but it was not typical."

Nichols had shared the athletic director duties with Brian McNally since the two took the job in 2003. But Bergeron said he will be the lone athletic director, with McNally becoming the head of physical education and health.

Bergeron expects to start his new job between Aug. 15 and 18 once he has finished at Salem. He hopes to meet with all of the Andover High coaches before the beginning of the high school season.

He plans to commute from his home in Manchester, N.H., at least in the short term.

"I believe that athletics should enhance the atmosphere of the school," he said. "We want to maintain what we have at Andover, and takes steps forward and make adjustments as we see them to help us move forward."

Meet Andover's next AD

Name: Chris Bergeron

Age: 36

Hometown: Manchester, N.H.

Current position: Athletic director of Salem, N.H., school district (since 2001)

Previous positions: Interim athletic director at Portsmouth 1995-96, athletic director at Bishop Guertin, 1998-2001

Education: Graduate of Exeter High School, University of Richmond (undergraduate) and University of New Hampshire (master's)

On the field: All-Class L soccer player