St. Vincent High School will have a new athletic director for the 2025-2026 school year.
According to a news release from the school, former Chamois High School athletic director and Mission University men's basketball assistant Jonathan “Jack” Rigdon will be taking over the position held by interim ADs Bruce Valleroy and Mel Kirn beginning July 1.
Rigdon, described the release as “a dedicated sports enthusiast with a wealth of experience as an athletic director, coach, teacher, and community leader, is excited to take on this role and further elevate the St. Vincent’s athletic programs.”
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the athletic director at St. Vincent High School,” Rigdon said. "I’m excited to meet the entire community, work with an exceptional staff and students, and help take the school’s athletics to new heights with the amazing team I’ll have the privilege to work alongside.”
In addition to serving as athletic director at Chamois, Rigdon also served as its head basketball coach, leading the Class 1 Pirates to a 14-13 record this season, as well as its volleyball coach, leading the team to a 7-19-1 record. At Chamois, he also served as its FBLA advisor, high school business and math teacher, and transportation director.
According to his staff biography on the Mission website, Rigdon, a graduate of Spokane High School, joined the then-Baptist Bible College coaching staff in the summer of 2022 as a graduate assistant and social media/website manager for all athletics, before accepting a position at Chamois High School.
After high school, Rigdon attended Northwest Missouri State University where he majored in General Studies with an emphasis in Health, Recreation, and Education. While on the Maryville campus he participated in intramural sports, the golf club, basketball club, and was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.
“I am excited to welcome Mr. Rigdon to St. Vincent Schools, looking forward to working with him, and cannot wait to see all the new ideas he brings to our athletic programs,” said Valleroy, who also serves as St. Vincent's head basketball coach and assistant golf coach.
Valleroy and Kirn, the Lady Indians’ basketball coach, assumed the role of interim ADs this school year, with Valleroy managing the athletic programs, and Kirn handling transportation management. The move came after previous athletic director Tim Schumer stepped down. Schumer continued as the school’s head football coach.
Valleroy was no stranger to the job, having served three decades as athletic director before stepping down in 2020.
“I've been out for four years and did it for 27,” Valleroy said in the fall. “Mel Kirn and I, who's our girls basketball coach, we're going to kind of double team it together. He’s a little older than me. He’s retired and everything, so we got together and thought we could help the school out.”
Valleroy, 60, stepped down as AD, a position he’d held since 1993, in 2020 and handed over the responsibilities to Schumer. At the time, Valleroy said it was a big job, especially at a smaller school like St. Vincent, where many responsibilities fall on the desk of the athletic director. That could be anything from organizing schedules and assigning officials for games to making sure the grass is mowed on the football field for Friday night’s home game, or coordinating transportation once the school obtained its own bus fleet.
“There are many things that go on behind the scenes that many people don’t know about,” Valleroy said.
Rigdon said his passion for sports is deeply rooted in his life. He has been involved in athletics for years as a player, coach, and volunteer, developing a strong understanding of the character traits and skill sets that sports can instill in individuals.
“Accepting this role fills me with joy, especially because I will be able to serve in a faith-based environment and make a meaningful difference,” Rigdon said. "When I visited St. Vincent, I immediately felt the positive culture, and I’m excited to work with a team that will push me to grow in my faith, career, and personal life."
Rigdon said he is committed to building upon the rich traditions at St. Vincent and looks forward to fostering strong relationships with students, parents, alumni, faculty, and the Perryville community.
“Together, we will continue to build on the excellence of St. Vincent High School’s athletic programs, and I can’t wait to get started,” Rigdon said. “Go Indians!”
