CORRECTION: Mike Don held the position of Athletic Director for Othello for a year after Jenny McCourtie stepped away from the position. Don took the opportunity for an assistant principal and AD position in Pasco at the end of the 2024/25 school year, which led to Gonzalez taking over the position. This has been reflected in the story below.

OTHELLO — Carlos Gonzalez has been selected as the new Athletic Director for the Othello School District, taking over the position after previous director Mike Don stepped away from the position for an opportunity to be the AD in Pasco after the 2024/25 school year. Don served as the AD for Othello for a year after Jenny McCourtie stepped away from the position.

“My hopes are to see how athletics and activities can help provide the best schooling experience for kids on top of their safety and their learning,” said Gonzalez. 

Gonzalez said he has been an administrator for the school district for more than 17 years and was the principal of McFarland Middle School until the end of the 2025 school year.  

The athletic director oversees programs in grades 7-12 in Othello. Gonzalez said he hopes to maximize student participation with what is offered at both the middle and high school levels. 

“What can we do to maximize these opportunities for kids to be part of an activity group and learn those important life lessons around discipline and hard work?” said Gonzalez. 

Involvement in athletics and activities is important in developing students and increasing their student achievement, he said. He wants to ensure that the schools provide clear guidelines and support for the students to be successful both in and out of the classroom. 

Gonzalez said he graduated from Othello High School in 1995 and attended Washington State University to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, which he put toward a teaching certificate in health and fitness. From there, he got a teaching position at North Franklin School District in Connell. 

“That opened a lot of doors for me in coaching and then (I used) those experiences to pursue my educational administration master's degree from Washington State University, Tri-Cities,” he said. 

In 2007, he returned to Othello to become the assistant principal at Othello High School, a position he held for five years. He served as the principal of the school from 2012 to 2016.  

Following this, they moved to his wife’s hometown and spent a year as principal of Clarkston High School. 

“In that one year, we realized that Othello is home for us; this is where we wanted to be,” said Gonzalez.  

He said he was invited back by the Othello School District to become the assistant principal at McFarland Middle School. He held the position for five years before becoming principal in 2022.  

The most rewarding aspect of his career up to this point has been his ability to serve the community in Othello and build relationships with people in his hometown, he said. 

“I love Othello,” Gonzalez said. “Othello is home for me, and I’m also invested in our schools. Being a product of our community and to be able to be part of the school district that has helped make me who I am and to be able to serve back in this leadership role ... I’m very blessed to be in this position.”