The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.

The College of San Mateo announced yesterday that Andreas Wolf was nominated to replace Gary Dilley as CSM’s dean of physical education/athletic director/dance division.

Wolf still needed approval by the San Mateo County Community College district at a meeting Wednesday night, but it’s merely a formality. Wolf was most recently the athletic director at Skyline College.

“It was a huge decision (to leave Skyline),” Wolf, 42, said. “I have a vested interest in Skyline. It’s been a home for me. My first job was at Skyline. I’m leaving a lot behind.

“I’m kind of one that likes to plant my roots, so to speak. At a certain point of time, I like to change. For me, this is starting anew.”

Wolf is a 1981 graduate of Terra Nova High School and went to San Francisco State University where he got his undergraduate degree in biomechanics and a master’s degree in exercise physiology. He served as a physical education instructor and head soccer coach at Skyline for 10 years (1991-2001) and assumed the athletic director’s role as well as dean of physical education in 2001.

“I know he has the broad vision, energy and horsepower … that CSM needs to lead this institution,” said Dilley, who announced in February that he was retiring after 18 years at CSM. “Andreas is highly qualified for the athletic director aspects and highly qualified for the administrative aspects (of the position).”

The move is step up in involvement for Wolf. College of San Mateo supports more athletic programs than Skyline — including football and an aquatics program, along with track and field, and cross country.

“When I first came into administration, I’m glad I didn’t have to deal with two, 8,000-pound gorillas — football and a pool,” Wolf said. “Now I feel I can take on those challenges.”

Wolf is intimately familiar with the county’s community college district, as well as community colleges statewide. He served as Coast Conference president from 2003 to 2005 and is a current member of the Commission on Athletics, the governing body of the state’s community college athletics.

He is not leaving Skyline high and dry, however. He was an integral part of the athletic facilities renovation at Skyline that saw two all-weather turf soccer fields installed, the upgrade of the baseball facilities that included new all-weather turf, stadium-style seating and a press box. He also helped guide the $8 million renovation of the school’s gymnasium that is set to re-open in August.

On the same day that Dilley announced his retirement plans, Wolf announced the return of women’s basketball to Skyline.

“Even though Skyline was my primary home, CSM was like a secondary home,” Wolf said.

Wolf was one of several candidates that applied for the position, although Dilley said confidentiality prohibited him from saying how many applied. When Dilley first announced the opening in February, he said the search would be nationwide.

Turns out, the best man for the job was in his own backyard.

“I wasn’t surprised (when Wolf got the job),” Dilley said. “There were probably four or five applicants that asked me about the job itself. Andreas and I talked about it a few months ago and he told me he was interested in it.”

The real question, however, was where his loyalties would lie when CSM and Skyline face off against each other in baseball next season.

There was no hesitation in Wolf’s answer.

“I truly believe I now wear blue and will be rooting for the Bulldogs,” Wolf said. “[The move] was something I wanted to do and there is a new allegiance.”