By Mike McClure
New Laurel Athletic Director Brandon Hudson is in full pre-season swing after taking the helm recently following the retirement of former athletic director Kevin Walmsley. Hudson, a Sussex Tech and Delaware State University graduate, has been busy getting teams prepared for the fall season and is looking forward to getting more athletes on the fields when the freshmen come in.
Hudson played quarterback on a state championship team at Delmar before transferring to Sussex Tech where he played football and basketball, graduating in 2005. The former Bulldog rival said he has received support from his family, colleagues, and the Laurel community.
“I’ve gotten a lot of support from my Delmar family,” Hudson said. “I think it’s going to be good because they (Laurel community and former rivals) know how much I love sports and how dedicated I am. The kids in Laurel are in good hands.”
Sussex Tech and Delaware State University graduate Brandon Hudson is the new Laurel Athletic Director filling the retirement of Kevin Walmsley.
Hudson played football at Delaware State University for three seasons before playing at Salisbury University for a year. He went back to Delaware State, where he got most of his credits, and graduated.
Brandon calls his college experience eye opening. He said it was more like a job, following a strict schedule which included weight lifting in season.
Hudson gained even more unique experiences when he played Arena Football for two years. While the pay wasn’t great, he got to travel and play the sport he loved. While he was in Billings, Montana, he came across his first grizzly bear and saw elk walking through the city in the morning. During his two months in Green Bay, Hudson experienced blizzard conditions with negative temperatures.
“Overall, the Arena experience was amazing,” said Hudson.
Following his playing career, Hudson coached football at Salisbury University. He served as a substitute teacher and taught physical education at The Salisbury School before working his way up to being the school’s athletic director. Last year, he served as the athletic director at Bradford Preparatory School in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hudson said athletics were cut throat at the school.
“It didn’t matter what sport it was, colleges walk in the door to talk (to student-athletes),” he said.
Hudson is looking to get Laurel student-athletes recruited by colleges and believes his experience will help them.
“A lot of them want to get away (four to six hours from home),” said Hudson. “As long as they want to go, I’m going to help them.”
Hudson said he will help the Bulldog teams play on regional platforms if the coaches request it.
“I’m going to schedule games to help give them the college feel,” Hudson said. “The kids will get exposure, it’s just a matter of time.”
As for the student-athletes, Hudson plans to challenge them to be a student first, that way it will be easier to get a scholarship if they have high grade point averages.
“I’m going to challenge them in the classroom first,” said Hudson.
He also wants to see them give it their all on the field/in the gym. “When they walk off the field (I want them to) feel like they gave it their all and they have nothing left.”
Hudson believes his experience as a coach will also serve him well as athletic director. He wants to motivate and mentor Laurel’s coaches and serve as another set of eyes.
“It gives me a different perspective,” he said. “Being a coach can be stressful.”
Hudson also wants to get elementary school students involved at high school games and views the entire school district, including the elementary and middle school sports programs, as his responsibility.
“I want to bridge the gap,” said Hudson. “We want to find ways to keep our kids here.”
Part of that plan is to provide college opportunities to seniors in hopes of keeping younger athletes from going elsewhere.
Hudson is thankful to Superintendent Dr. Shawn Larrimore, the Laurel School Board and the Laurel School District for “taking a chance on him”.
