It would be fair to say that Fred Harris has been a busy man the past two years.

As athletic director for the Bethlehem Area School District, Harris has been responsible for overseeing Freedom and Liberty's athletic departments, a demanding and unique task for one person.

Starting this week, Harris has some help.

Diane Jordan was formally approved last week by the school board to her new appointment of becoming the athletic director at Freedom, effective July 1. The appointment now leaves Freedom with Jordan and Harris at Liberty.

It's a position that Jordan is thrilled to take over after spending the past two years as an assistant athletic director at Freedom under Harris.

"Basically, Fred allowed me to run the day-to-day operations when we worked together," said Jordan of her duties over the past two years. "I covered a lot of events and dealt with the coaches. Fred oversaw a lot of that, but it really helped groom me for the job."

Jordan has spent the past 32 years as a teacher at Freedom, mixed in with coaching stints in track, cross country and cheerleading.

Her appointment makes her the first female athletic director in the Lehigh Valley Conference.

Harris felt Jordan is deserving of the position and looks forward to continuing their working relationship.

"Her exemplary record as an educator and coach, as well as her dedication and wealth of experience make her an excellent choice for Freedom High School," said Harris. "While I will genuinely miss my colleagues at Freedom, as well as so many of the outstanding coaches, I look forward to working with the many wonderful and dedicated coaches at Liberty High School.

"At the end of the day, its continuing to operate quality and competitive programs for all our student athletes in the BASD that drives the engine, and this will continue regardless of which side of town my office is located."

Now Jordan has the keys to Freedom's engine and looks forward to driving the black and gold into a new future.

"I'm very excited," she said. "My friends and family are excited and this is something that I've wanted to do for the past several years."