Daren Messmore

For Daren Messmore, leading athletics is less about standing at center stage and more about making sure everything works when the lights come on. As Director of Athletics and Activities at Providence Academy, Messmore oversees more than 30 athletic programs and activities, working across coaching, facilities, budgets, and student-athletes.

His approach has been shaped by experience beyond education, including business and retail management, where he learned that leadership begins with patience, service, and accountability. That perspective gives Messmore a practical view of the athletic director’s role. He describes the position as similar to that of a chief operating officer, with responsibilities beyond games and practices.

Facilities, security, food services, budgets, officials, teachers, coaches, and administrators all intersect within the department. Successful leadership requires preparation without losing composure.

The Work beneath the Surface

Messmore likens an athletic director to a duck on water: calm above the surface while working constantly underneath. That image captures his emphasis on anticipating problems before they become visible. Event planning, in his view, means thinking through what could go wrong, preparing for emergencies, and checking the details that allow competitions and activities to run smoothly.

He also avoids micromanagement. Instead, he gives people the tools and trust to succeed while holding himself to the same standard. His philosophy is grounded in leading by example and creating an environment where coaches and staff understand that doing the right thing matters even when no one is watching. Trust and feedback are central to how he develops people.

Building a Championship Culture

At Providence Academy, Messmore has focused on building what he calls a championship culture—one rooted in high expectations across academics, faith, and athletics. The goal is not simply to collect wins, but to create an environment in which the school community challenges itself to pursue excellence.

"I want to foster a culture of excellence throughout our athletic community, one where I lead by example, support and empower our coaches, and help our students grow and reach their full potential."

That culture has accompanied growth within the athletic department. What was once led by an athletic director and assistant athletic director has expanded to include three assistant athletic directors. Messmore also points to facility improvements, including a redesigned weight room, a college-style team room for video review and team meetings, and updated locker rooms. These investments reinforce the school’s standards.

Protecting the Educational Purpose

As a member of the Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors, he represents schools with different circumstances and priorities. The experience has strengthened his belief in listening carefully, balancing local concerns with broader needs, and making decisions with multiple perspectives in mind. He also mentors athletic directors through professional organizations.

One of his strongest concerns is the growing pressure toward early sports specialization. Messmore believes school athletics should remain educational, with practices serving as an extension of the classroom. He worries that club-sports pressures can shift attention toward competition and business at the expense of development, relationships, and student experience.

“I want to foster a culture of excellence throughout our athletic community, one where I lead by example, support and empower our coaches, and help our students grow and reach their full potential.”

That belief explains why he continues to coach hockey. Being around students in a coaching role gives him an opportunity to build relationships that differ from those formed in an administrative office. For Messmore, education is about leaving students with lessons they can carry beyond high school.

Leading With Perspective

His advice to emerging athletic directors is direct: stay proactive. The profession can be demanding, and criticism is inevitable, but leaders must maintain a broader view of what serves students, schools, and communities. “As soon as you become reactive, you're already behind in this profession.”

Messmore also credits the people around him. Support from school leadership, strong assistant athletic directors, committed coaches, passionate gameday workers and professional relationships have helped him make sound decisions and continue growing. His recognition as a regional state athletic director of the year and his service on the state league board reflect not only individual achievement, but the collective work of those who have supported him.

Named among the Top 10 Directors of Athletics 2026, Messmore represents a model of athletic leadership built on preparation, trust, educational purpose, and service. At Providence Academy, his influence reaches beyond the scoreboard, shaping programs, people, and the culture that connects them.