GU alum Joe Alstat earns regional athletic director award

Published: February 11, 2022

As a pitcher on the Greenville University baseball team in the 1990s, Joe Alstat was focused on throwing strikes and accumulating outs.

These days, as athletic director at Greenville High School, he’s delivering a different kind of pitch. He’s asking area residents and businesses to join a fundraising effort to transform the school district’s athletic facilities.

And so far, he’s throwing all strikes.

For his efforts, Alstat, a 1998 graduate of Greenville University, has been named athletic director of the year in a six-county region by the Illinois Principals Association. That region includes Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Macoupin, Marion, and Montgomery counties.

“Joe has gone well above and beyond the call of duty to transform the facilities in the Bond County Community Unit 2 District,” said Jason Rakers, principal of Pocahontas Grade School and regional director of the principals association. “A lot of the things he’s doing will enhance the school experience of GHS students for years to come. By having better facilities, they will be better able to enjoy their sport.”

Alstat has raised about $1.5 million toward the project– which ultimately aims to install all-weather turf on the football and baseball fields, and add lights to the baseball and softball facilities. Though more funds are needed to complete all the planned projects, the $1.5 million is more than enough to fund the football field project. Work on the field will begin this spring, and the new playing surface is slated to be ready for this fall’s football season.

“Joe has worked tirelessly on this fundraising project, which we’re calling the Connecting All Comets Campaign,” said GHS Principal Kara Harris. “He has a huge heart, and he truly cares about our students. With him, each athletic event is planned – with a script and a schedule for all the minute details. And, of course, there are the usual duties of scheduling games, hiring referees, prepping fields, and purchasing equipment. For a multitude of reasons, Joe is deserving of this award.”

Another gift of $4 million has been pledged, with the donor specifying that it be used to construct an auxiliary gymnasium adjacent to the current gym. It will be used for practices, physical education classes, and camps, according to Alstat.

“It’s been amazing to see the response from the community,” he said. “People have seen the need and they have gotten on board to help us transform our school and our town.

“It’s great to be honored, but this is really a team award. I’ve been able to do these things because I’ve been supported by the administration, the coaches, and the community. There are so many positive things that can happen when we have first-rate facilities. It helps the athletes perform better and it communicates positive things about the community.”

A native of Mascoutah, Alstat has served as athletic director at GHS for the past 15 years. He and his wife, Lori (also a GU graduate) have three sons ranging from a high school sophomore to a sixth grader.

“Greenville is such a special community,” Alstat said. “It’s very gratifying to be able to help make it even better.”