It all started with a road trip to Utah and a roommate’s job at a cheese factory. That eventually led longtime Corona del Sol athletic director and AIA sport administrator Dan Nero to Arizona.

Let’s break it down.

A 1979 graduate of the University of Florida, Nero got a taste of the southwest and mountain west regions of the country when his roommate landed a job as a night manager of a company specializing in cheese production in Logan, Utah. Nero liked the area so much that he once again became roommates with the friend and slept on a couch until a job came along following his own graduation.

After a year of substitute teaching, coaching 9th grade football, and refereeing basketball games for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ community, a full-time teaching position opened up in Richmond – a community south of the Idaho state line.

In Nero’s five years at North Cache Junior High School, he would travel down to Arizona to meet up with his father, who came over from the east coast to enjoy one of his favorite vacation spots – Prescott. That’s when he finally knew that the Copper State would be the ultimate landing spot.

“Always thought Arizona would be neat,” Nero said. “In 1978 we drove from Florida with my dad and brothers, and we came up through ASU, so I didn’t forget that little trip the year before I graduated. My dad loved Prescott and we’d check it out for a couple of days when I came down.”

And it wasn’t just Prescott that excited Nero about Arizona. On that trip in 1978, Nero and his family drove through different parts of Tempe to get to ASU. And on the way he saw a newly built group of buildings at the end of a dirt road.

With the thought of year-round sun and warm weather dancing in his head, Nero eventually applied for a job at that group of buildings on the end of the dirt road – Corona del Sol High School. But by this point the road was paved. He got the position and that kicked off a 31-year career at Corona beginning in fall of 1985. He started by teaching math, and coaching football and track. Nero worked his way up the ladder and became assistant principal and athletic director during the 1995-96 school year.

“Being the assistant principal kept me busy, but athletics was the fun part,” said Nero. “It was a good challenge. It was never boring. If you thought it would be a boring job, that’s not the case. If you thought it would be a quiet day, you wouldn’t say anything because it could turn into craziness. Kept me busy all the time.”

Over the years Nero helped guide CDS and its athletic program through unprecedented times when it came to emerging technology on campus, the addition and expansion of athletic programs, and the thrill of being the focal point of the sports world by winning four consecutive state basketball titles with the legendary Sam Duane, Jr. at the helm. He even helped the AIA with its baseball championships during his final few years at the school.

And after 31 years with the Aztecs, Nero knew retirement was in the cards. Not only because he had accomplished everything he wanted in his career as an educator and athletic administrator, but his youngest son graduated Corona del Sol in 2016. It was perfect timing.

To think this is where the story ends, you are mistaken. There were substitute teaching positions that came up to keep the veteran educator busy over the next couple of years, but Nero continued to work with AIA baseball because he missed the thrill of competitions. That led to a job offer in 2018 at the association when Ron Halbach retired as the office’s lead sport administrator. And just like that, Nero was back in the game … literally.

“Dan is an incredibly exceptional example of character, positive sportsmanship, and the right way to do things,” said AIA Executive Director Dr. Jim Dean. “He is a great leader and very well organized. He’s efficient in his processes and he always looked for ways to continue to expand opportunities for student-athletes and for schools. His attention to detail, his making sure every “I” is dotted and every “T” is crossed, made the events he coordinated truly successful.”

Over the next eight years, the AIA baseball championships grew and became one of the premier events on Arizona’s athletic calendar. Nero also served as the administrator for football and basketball, giving him three of the biggest sports to oversee. That included the addition of the Open Division in the football and basketball ranks. It was a lot to handle, but there was always a payoff in the end.

“When you get done and you’re standing there and people are leaving, and some might be sad because their team didn’t win, but they saw a heck of a ballgame. A lot of them were happy and you’re telling them thanks for coming,” Nero remembered. “About 95% of the people, win or lose, were really happy with the event. If you can have that opportunity to provide for the kids and the coaches and the programs and the communities, those are the neat parts for me.”

Nero throwing out the first pitch before this past 6A state title baseball game, which was the last event in his career. (Russell Wynter photo/MaxPreps)

After years of improving everything he touched at the AIA, why retire now? The decision was easy.

“Kind of like 2016 at Corona, I just felt it was time,” Nero added. “And essentially 10 years working with and at the AIA, it was just a situation where I was ready. A fifth grandbaby came along with the oldest now being 13. Once they get to those teenage years they don’t want to hang out with grandpap very long. So I could see that changing. I’ve been very, very blessed all the way through.”

Simply stated, Dr. Dean added, “We have big shoes to fill.”

Looking back at the multitudes of postseason events and state championships that Nero administered, it was the enjoyment experienced by the student-athletes, coaches and fans at the games that he remembers the most.

“Win or lose, you’re not done yet. If you win, you’re always going to be a champion. However, if you become a champion, you have to lead going forward. You have to bring the young ones along. I have a really good feeling about our youth. Are there challenges? Sure. I see some really positive things across the whole spectrum. And I get to see it at those sports events with parents supporting them. We just need to keep it moving forward as positively as we can.”