Since arriving at Goffstown High School, Steve Fountain has spent more time behind a desk, less behind the wheel.

Fountain, in his first year as the school’s athletics director, comes to GHS after serving as a football coach at St. Lawrence University.

“I’m not afraid to say that I don’t miss going out on the road and doing that after the season gets done,” said Fountain. “I put 5,127 miles on a rent-a-car and spoke to over 300 athletes face to face.”

Bringing change isn’t currently a goal for the new member of the GHS staff.

“I’m making sure I’m asking questions,” said Fountain, who earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1993 from Plymouth State College, where he also played wide receiver and defensive back. “From my perspective, this first year is making sure the buses are on time, making sure we have officials. I’m keeping it simple, not making changes for change’s sake.”

He already has a built-in change since he’s switched jobs.

“I went from coaching students to coaching coaches,” he said. “The biggest difference is not being with the student-athletes. I see them in different ways now because I’m not with them on a daily basis. I don’t have real direct contact on a daily basis, but I still get a sense of the maturation piece.”

Though differences exist between the jobs, Fountain, who completed his master’s degree in educational administration in 2003 and his master’s in counseling in 2006, said one important constant remains.

“It’s still athletics. There’s a lot of great energy and great people,” he said. “There’s still a vision and goals, but it’s just that there are different goals. There’s still a burning passion to compete at the highest level and win.

I want to make Goffstown athletics the best it can be, and always raise the bar.”

Goffstown High’s principal, Frank McBride, said the school has added a valuable, unique presence to the community.

“I love his passion and his drive. He’s an extremely highenergy, motivated individual who just gets stuff done,” said McBride. “I think that having been a coach, he really is organized and has a great attention to detail. He understands that academics comes first.”

With the completion of the fall season, Fountain finished the first part of his year. It wasn’t easy given the challenge the school faced when the gym floor was damaged by flooding.

“You just cycle through three times in a row, with each season,” he said. “Hopefully after you do it a few times, you do get better at it.”

Fountain welcomes students to his office and realizes the switch from university to high school has added some important challenges.

“My door is always open, although I do have to close it sometimes,” he said. “Being a college coach, you didn’t have many people walking through. At the high school, I’m right in the middle of everything.”