Carroll athletic director hired away by Arlington ISD

Carroll ISD athletic director Kevin Ozee has been named athletic director for the Arlington ISD, officials announced Monday.

Ozee, 43, had been the Carroll AD since 2009, and Southlake Carroll High School has won 17 state titles during that time — including a UIL Class 6A boys cross country team championship two weeks ago.

The Dragons’ football team is 11-0, in the second round of the playoffs and finished the regular season No. 2 in The Associated Press state poll.

Arlington ISD has six high schools: Arlington, Bowie, Lamar, Martin, Sam Houston and Seguin.

“I think of it as a challenge,” Ozee said. “It’s going to be a different job. For me, I’m a guy that wants to get it done today. When you’re steering a big ship, there is excitement.”

O.J. Kemp retired as Arlington’s AD in September, and Scott Johnston, an assistant principal at Martin, served as an administrative contact since then.

Ozee’s father, Ken, spent 18 years in the Arlington ISD and retired as the Sam Houston head coach in 1999. Martin coach Bob Wager said Ken Ozee gave him his first job in Texas, at Sam Houston.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Kevin Ozee, not just because of what he’s done at every place he’s been, but because of what he does for athletics in Texas. I would consider Kevin to be a leader in a strong pack of athletic leaders in Texas.”

Before Carroll, Ozee served as director of athletics, assistant athletic director and athletic services coordinator for the Duncanville ISD.

Ozee has also served as an assistant principal, teacher and coach in the DeSoto ISD, Duncanville ISD, Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas A&M. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M.

Ozee was named National High School Athletic Director of the Year in 2013 by the National Association of State Personnel Executives. He also serves on the board of the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association.

“The biggest thing I’m proud of is that we had a family atmosphere of our coaches,” Ozee said of his time at Carroll. “At one of the first meetings I had, we talked about it. I said, ‘We know football is king, but let’s figure out a way to make sure all of the other programs are successful.’

“We have elevated all of the sports and have more kids involved.”