Elledge to return to Van-Far as athletic director, hopes to grow passion in programs

By Jeremy Jacob, Sports Editor
Posted 5/24/23

Dustin Elledge’s next career move seemed to be the logical next step.

On one hand, the new Van-Far athletic director that was officially announced on May 12 wanted to go up the next rung …

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Elledge to return to Van-Far as athletic director, hopes to grow passion in programs

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Dustin Elledge’s next career move seemed to be the logical next step.

On one hand, the new Van-Far athletic director that was officially announced on May 12 wanted to go up the next rung on the career ladder, being an assistant coach and then a head coach for the first time last year as the Wright City girls basketball coach, but also wanted to return to a community he is familiar with. Elledge spent three years at Van-Far as an assistant football and girls basketball coach and missed that environment.

“Going back to that smalltown community where everyone is there supporting you,” Elledge said. “That’s one thing that I really enjoyed.”

Elledge did say he received assistance from his current employer in Wright City and its athletic director David Evans in the form of conversations of what he can expect from his numerous new duties. There are important tasks like making sure the school is competitive in scheduling and playing the teams at their level and size, supervising the crowds at home and away events, and checking the conditions of fields, equipment and the needs of coaches.

However, especially when it comes to Van-Far, Elledge mainly wants passion to grow for athletic programs and he believes Van-Far has taken some good initial steps with upgrading facilities last summer in football, track and field, and softball.

“A lot of big goals are to start seeing more success in some of these programs,” Elledge said. “That’s not just win-loss records, but in my three years there, you saw kids lose their passion for sports due to a number of different reasons. The big thing is to keep the kids out that are going out and making sure they’re not quitting sports.”

Elledge said there needs to be a strong philosophy and investment throughout the department. He said that investment isn’t just in a monetary sense like for the athletic facilities already added at the school but also in interest and participation in sports.

Elledge will be an addition to the football coaching staff as an assistant along with being a teacher so he used the example of the program’s lower numbers, which played a big factor in the Indians forfeiting their district game last season. 

“The biggest thing is trying to get more kids out into the sports,” Elledge said. “Having these new complexes and showing the kids and community that we’re putting money into athletics and into the school can help get some of these other athletes competing in multiple sports. Support from the kids and community will follow.”

Van-Far has many kids that play multiple sports so Elledge said giving them the appropriate recognition, whether with a letterman’s jacket or a small scholarship like at other schools, will make kids feel appreciated and motivated to play multiple sports. He said he doesn’t have a clear idea of what Van-Far can do yet on that front but believes it’s vital to a small school like Van-Far where these multiple-sport athletes are a big reason programs survive. 

Elledge recalls the department calling kids in the past to spread awareness of what the programs offer and convince them to participate, showing the care they have for the kids. He said this type of treatment shouldn’t be exclusive to the high school level.

“The big thing is getting into the classrooms in our schools early, including elementary school and seventh and eighth grade as well,” Elledge said. “The continuous exposure and communication with these kids is going to be huge.”

This summer, Elledge plans to start laying some groundwork for his long-term goals and is excited to return where his career started.

Van-Far superintendent John Fortney said the district was excited to bring in someone familiar with and passionate for Van-Far following the resignation of former athletic director and softball coach Kelly Borchert, who will continue to teach in the district.

“Mr. Elledge has established relationships with faculty, students and the community which he will be able to build upon,” Fortney said. “He demonstrates a true servant leadership attitude, humble in his work with an even demeanor. He is well-respected by our coaches and has a vision for the programs to grow. With the changes that we have made with facilities, he is the right person to lead us into the future of Van-Far athletics.”


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