Chris Mastoridis has been named Nease High School’s new athletic director.
Mastoridis was born in Montreal, where he developed a love of hockey. His family moved to Florida, and he graduated from St. Augustine High School and attended Flagler College, where he played baseball for a year while completing his bachelor’s degree in physical education and recreational management.
He later moved to the Northeast and earned his master’s at Springfield College in Massachusetts. He moved to Long Island and worked in business development/health care and coached both baseball and softball but soon realized that there was nowhere that provided formal training for baseball and softball athletes that had a dedicated teaching curriculum.
After developing a business plan, he raised capital and found two partners who helped him open the first of two 20,000-square-foot training facilities in the New York metro area that was geared to helping baseball and softball players improve their speed, strength and skill level to pursue college and professional careers in the sport.
In 2017, Mastoridis sold his interest in the training facilities and returned to St. Augustine.
He has a very strong understanding of what it takes to create a successful program, a calm demeanor and is supportive of all the teams, coaches and Booster Club. His goal for Nease is to be recognized as one of the top places to play in St. Johns County. He has high standards for the coaches, players and teams.
He wants to tap into the boosters and alumni support for Nease that exists today and expand that support for tomorrow. He refers to the Canadian John McCrae quote, “Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high,” saying it carries a timeless message of duty and honor and encourages the next generation to embrace the fight where their predecessors left off.
