This is the first in a series of profiles on the ­athletic directors at the three public high schools.

Pinecrest High School athletic director Ernie Purnsley has come full circle to his alma mater, back to the “roots” his mother wanted to establish for her military family and back to a community that enthusiastically supports Pinecrest Patriot athletics.

During his college and professional careers, the Patriot three-star athlete developed necessary skills he would need to head up an ever-growing 4-A high school athletic department, known statewide for its excellent sports programs in the Southeastern Conference.

Purnsley chose to forgo the exciting, but challenging, life of a college football assistant coach, a job he held at five colleges, including a nine-year stint at Marshall University, as a defensive position coach.

Instead, Purnsley, now in his fifth year as AD and athletic administrator for all sports, stays busy overseeing 17 varsity sports, 11 junior varsity and three freshman teams, with roughly 35 percent of the more than 2,000 students at Pinecrest playing sports.

Additionally, he is the point person for transportation needs (drivers, buses and gas), coordinator for all school/athletic fundraising on campus, and is in charge of scheduling facilities, except the auditorium. Joel County, the school’s principal, has nothing but admiration for his AD.

“Folks can’t begin to understand the scope of what Ernie does at our school,” County said. “His role covers community and student activities, both academic and athletic. He does a remarkable job at fulfilling the many requirements that come his way, which is a broad spectrum for a school our size.

“The amazing thing about Ernie is that, in addition to being a genuinely nice guy, he’s not opposed to doing anything that’s asked of him. He’s not above whatever it takes as it relates to Pinecrest.”

‘Big-Picture’

And the former Wake Forest University free safety/team captain can repair a balky ice machine over the phone, routinely sweeps the buses used by school clubs and athletic teams, sells tickets at most home games and maneuvers the scheduling of seasonal teams like the skilled, and unfailingly respectful, professional that he is.

“He lets the coaches coach and control their programs,” said varsity soccer coach Todd Abbey. “Mr. Pursley has handled Patriot sports with great ‘big-picture’ vision, and the results of the Pinecrest athletic program on a whole has flourished under his guidance.”

Often, team needs and game-day activities guarantee at least a 16-hour cycle at his job. Add endless phone calls, emails and double-checking every game detail, along with routine school requirements, and Purnsley hardly seems able to do more. But when it’s an opportunity for Pinecrest, he’ll make time.

Now in his third year of a four-year term, Purnsley is a member of the executive board of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), a group which hears appeals and makes policies for student-athletes across the state.

He is one of 22 members of this very prestigious group, consisting of principals, superintendents, ADs and representatives from the state board of education and sports-related associations.

“I’m proud to serve with these people. Everyone has an equal, respected opinion,” he said. “All decisions are made for the well-being of the student-athletes in North Carolina.”

Conference realignments are discussed and reviewed every four years, ensuring that new schools and schools with student population changes are treated fairly. As another strong voice representing Moore County on a state level, Purnsley’s contributions with this group haven’t gone unnoticed by Davis Whitfield, commissioner of the NCHSAA.

“Ernie Purnsley has been a wonderful, conscientious member of our board of directors,” Whitfield said. “He is a leader among our group of athletics directors and does things the right way. He cares deeply about his kids and about all young people in general.

“Every decision Ernie makes is carefully thought through.”

Community Support

Back in the Patriot community, Purnsley oversees an athletic department budget that largely depends on students, parents and community supporters attending games, buying tickets and athletic passes and participating in fundraisers to help offset the expenses of officials, transportation needs and bus drivers.

All gate proceeds go to the athletic department, not the team playing. Each team does have its own booster club, which relies heavily on concession sales and individual fundraisers for their extra needs.

“We’re self-sufficient, but some schools in our state are not,” Purnsley shared. “There are so many valuable experiences that you learn from team sports: leadership, how to work with others, and especially learning how to bounce back from adversity.

“It is very sad when schools cannot afford to have teams, and we’re lucky that our terrific community supports our athletic teams, both with their volunteer time and their attendance.”

As expected, safety and compliance play a considerable role in Purnsley’s responsibilities. Keeping his coaches updated on NCAA rules, preparing required forms for all 17 sports, reconditioning equipment, providing first responders for medical needs or scheduling CPR training, all rate high on his checklist, but Purnsley would also like to have more than just “first responders,” coaches and personnel who are CPR-trained with first aid instruction.

He believes that an ideal situation would be to have a certified athletic trainer, an important position not currently required to be filled at high schools. If money was plentiful, he would also have a personal list, one that includes field turf for the stadium field, including a refurbished track.

This would enable Pinecrest to work more closely with community and recreational groups who would benefit from using the field. Purnsley believes with Moore County’s central location, Pinecrest and the area could showcase the stadium’s ability to host a variety of regional events on a turf field.

Another of Purnsley’s “wish list” modifications would be a scrolling marquee to replace the one currently in use at the U.S. 15-501 entrance to the school. While limited by Southern Pines zoning ordinances for signage, even a lower sign would be much safer than the existing one, which requires his climbing on a van and using a ladder to change out letters while updating new messages, another of his duties.

Purnsley has recently taken required tests to accredit him as a certified athletic administrator, a distinction that will give credit to his professional experience and abilities. That expertise has helped guide Pinecrest athletic teams’ success at all levels of excellence.

He projected personal reflection and school pride as he added: “You can’t sit back, you have to be progressive, because people just don’t realize the impact that athletics has on developing our young men and women. These lessons and experiences carry them throughout their lives and gives them confidence for their future.”