Throughout his life, Tom Moll has been a staple on the Catasauqua athletic scene.

A 1990 graduate and former Roughie athlete, Moll went on to serve as an assistant basketball coach, public address announcer for basketball and football and also was a member of the school board.

When the Roughies' athletic director position opened eight years ago, Moll decided to apply for the job. It was hard to envision too many other candidates who would be a better fit.

"I sold insurance in town for 11 and a half years," noted Moll. "I was involved in a number of things for the athletic programs and most people in Catty knew me. But when I get involved in something, I put everything into it.

"I was involved in sales and a great deal amount of paperwork. There were some things that were different to me and I discovered this is usually a non-stop job as soon as I get in the door. But it has been a very gratifying to me."

Now eight years later since he took over in February 2006, Moll's rigid work ethic has been acknowledged and appreciated by his peers and his fellow administrators. Recently, he was recognized as the Pennsylvania Region II Athletic Director of the Year.

"When I hear of an award like this, it is a reflection of the programs and its coaches," said Moll. "It is just part of the environment, but I don't do things to get awards. It is a reminder that I am probably heading our program in the right direction."

Moll also has been the Colonial League president for the past two years after serving as vice president for three years. In addition, Moll has been the District 11 treasurer since 2011 and league chairman for girls' volleyball and boys' basketball.

Being involved in both the large and small school process through his various appointments, Moll has seen how budgets can be a big part of the athletic structure.

"Budgets are a big issue these days," said Moll. "With Catty being a small school, we feel the restraints of a budget. Those types of situations are also happening at the larger schools, too. We need to watch the bottom lines of our programs.

"It used to be where teachers would serve as coaches in the system. But Catty has an older faculty and the opportunity for them to make an extra stipend isn't always there. Overall, though, we're fortunate here to have coaches who have been with the program for a long time, and coaches who go the extra mile for their teams."

The Roughies' coaches truly appreciate the efforts of their AD.

"It was difficult for me to leave because of the support I received from Tom (Moll) and his staff," said former head football coach Tom Falzone, who recently accepted the Nazareth football position. "Working for Tom was incredible.

"He was always fair and did whatever he could for the program. He was always accessible and helped develop what the overall program is today."

Head boys' basketball coach Eric Snyder coached Moll when he was a 10th-grader and Snyder was the program's JV coach. He described Moll, the player, as an "excellent outside shooter, good passer, good inside player and an average defender who didn't jump that well."

Snyder added that Moll, "knew the game extremely well and had great floor presence."

"Tom was a floor general who put himself in the right spots," added Snyder.

With Moll gradually emerging as an administrator on the floor, Snyder envisioned him in a leadership role someday.

"Tom is very thorough in everything he does," stressed Snyder, who eventually hired Moll as an assistant coach. "He is always looking to do what is the best option here and understands the athletes as well here."

Being at a small school with success, Moll admittedly has thought about other possible options. Yet, his lifelong ties will likely keep him in brown and white as he has enjoyed the moments with his wife, Jennifer, a teacher in the school district, and his dog, Cota.

"It has crossed my mind when other positions have opened," stressed Moll. "It would certainly be a difficult decision to make. But the transition into this position has really been a smooth one. I have grown to know the families and their children who became athletes in the program. Catty has always been a close-knit community in which everyone supports each other."

Making his life easier this season has been the heroics of the current senior class, who helped recently capture league and district championships in basketball, football, and softball. Moll noted how they arguably have helped create the most successful season in over 15 years.

"This senior class is special," said Moll. "There are many leaders as well as students who have excelled on the field and in the classroom. They certainly have developed sound moral and ethical values and will take them after high school.

"They have made it as good as it can possibly be."

Senior Zack Bradley is among the many grateful for Moll's presence.

"I would never want any other athletic director," said Bradley. "He gets along so well with everyone in the school and I always look forward to talking with him. He never fails to make me laugh. He is very devoted and always seems to be in his office. He works harder than anyone I know at his job."

Moll also has been blessed with one of the largest and newest gymnasiums in the Lehigh Valley and expects some cosmetic changes to the football field soon. In the meantime, Moll will continue to savor his role.

"We will look to grow our program and produce scholar-athletes," said Moll. "We have had some good years lately and will look to have more in the future."

As they will likely do, the Roughies apparently have the right man in the right job.