HERstory: Amy Boscolo's Trailblazing Journey to Athletic Director

written by: Mary Ann Mitchell, Public Relations & Communications Coordinator

Edwardsville High School has a storied athletic program, but not until the summer of 2023 had it ever had a female athletics director when Amy Boscolo was named to the position. 

Not only did Boscolo become the first female athletic director at EHS, but she also became the first female athletic director in the Southwestern Conference. 

“For me, I look at it, and think, wow, it’s 2024. Unfortunately, this is something that is still looked at as a male profession. Breaking through that threshold to be in athletics as a female is very difficult.”

Boscolo’s story of getting to this position is one of not only breaking barriers but of her own determination. 

Sports and extracurricular activities had always been a part of her life. Hailing from the Chicago suburbs, she grew up watching her brother play college football, and in addition to participating in a few sports herself, Boscolo was also a fine arts student who played three instruments in band and was in color guard. 

She graduated from Illinois State with a degree in athletic training and exercise science. She knew she wanted to work with high school students, but athletic training roles in high schools were heavily intertwined with teaching positions. Thus, she pursued a teaching certificate from North Central College, a move that paved the way for her to blend her love for athletics with education.

Her journey led her to Nequa Valley High School in Naperville, Ill., where she taught, worked as an athletic trainer, and coached track and field. From there, she moved to central Illinois where she found the combination of athletic trainer and teacher didn’t exist. Boscolo worked part-time in athletic training and started coached track and field full time. 

After getting her administrative degree, she took a position at the junior high in Rantoul to get the administrative experience she lacked. 

“That part was also holding me back to be an athletic director. I needed that experience of dealing with difficult situations, difficult parents, and difficult kids.”

Boscolo’s break came when she seized an opportunity at Highland, initially applying for an assistant principal position. Fate intervened during the interview process when the prospect of the athletic director position surfaced, aligning perfectly with Boscolo’s aspirations. 

“It’s always a job I’ve always wanted, and nothing was going to hold me back. That’s how I am with everything I do. I’m going to get what I want. I know how to get there. It’s having that drive and passion to do it.”

For Boscolo, the role of an athletic director transcends mere administrative duties; it's akin to being a "party planner for athletics." She has an enthusiasm for fostering a vibrant extracurricular culture and enjoys watching both students and coaches be successful. 

“There is something fun about seeing someone win their first state trophy and to see how everyone gets so excited. Or to watch a team that is struggling to have that first, second or even third success. It’s not necessarily the outcome of wins and losses, but the process and seeing the growth that I enjoy the most.”

Of course, as a female, she does deal with stereotypes because of her gender. 

“Females in this profession especially may hear that they don’t understand such and such sport because we didn’t play it. First, that’s not true, because no athletic director has played every sport offered by their school. Second, my job isn’t the X’s and O’s. My job is to hire the right people to do the X’s and O’s. My job is to make sure our coaches and students have what they need to be successful.”

And while there are many long days, there’s nothing she’d rather be doing. 

“It's a lot of hours and a lot of time, but it is super rewarding. Working in athletics is fun and its where I prefer to be.”