By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
There are many similarities between departing Catholic Central High School Principal Eric Henderson, and his newly hired replacement, Dave Wieters.
Both are (or were) basketball coaches. Henderson is 6 foot, 7 inches tall, while Wieters is 6-6.
“I know I have some big shoes to fill, both literally and figuratively,” Wieters said he told the students at Catholic Central last week when he was introduced as the school’s new principal.
Wieters replaces Henderson, who is leaving to take an assistant men’s basketball coaching position at North Dakota State University.
An 11-year veteran as principal within the Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wieters has spent the last 10 as principal at St. Francis De Sales in Lake Geneva.
Wieters’ first day will be July 1. He signed an annual contract with CCHS.
“I’m excited,” Wieters said Tuesday. “In my teaching career, I taught primarily middle school/high school.”
Wieters said many parallels can be drawn between his current job at St. Francis De Sales and Catholic Central.
“Honestly, I look at Catholic Central as a high school version of St. Francis De Sales,” Wieters said. “Here at St. Francis De Sales, our focus has been on academic excellence, faith formation, leadership development and family.
“That’s why I think it’s a natural progression,” Wieters said of his move. “I’m hoping to continue to build on what Eric and his predecessor, Greg Groth, started.”
Wieters started his career as a social studies and physical education teacher, and was a head basketball coach as well.
He decided to make the transition to administrative work because it seemed like the next step.
“I thought it was just a natural progression from teaching,” Wieters said. “Back in my teaching days, I was also a head coach, and an athletic director for a while.
“I thought it would be the next natural step in my career.”
While Wieters said he hoped to continue the strong work done by his predecessors, he said he wants CCHS to become a “hub” for the other District 3 Catholic schools, and see better communication between the schools.
He also wants to see the school pursue options involving School Choice.
“I’d love for all families to have the opportunity to pick and choose where they send their children,” Wieters said.
Wieters is married to Beth, and the couple has two sons – Kevin and Kurt.
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