Harvey taps alum Walling as new AD

Harvey called on one of its own to be the new athletic director at the school.

Marwin Walling, a 1991 graduate, takes over the position from Seth Hartmann, who took an assistant principal job at Madison during the summer.

“It is a thrill,” said Walling. “I’m a lifer.”

That’s not a stretch, either.

After graduation from Harvey in 1991, Walling got his undergraduate degree from Ohio University and has been teaching at Harvey’s middle school ever since.

During his tenure at Harvey, he has been head football coach, head boys basketball coach, an assistant in both for multiple years, and even middle school athletic director from 20042008.

So when Hartmann left for Madison, the move to Walling made a ton of sense because, frankly, no one knows the current ins and outs of Harvey sports better than him.

He received his athletic administrator’s degree from Ursuline College, making the move even better sense.

“A lot of things that have happened have been true blessings,” he said of avenues throughout his career that opened at Harvey. “I’m excited to work with the school district where I went to school and work with the student-athletes where I’m from.”

Hartmann said it was a “tough move,” leaving the school district where he worked as a teacher, coach and athletic director for 14 years. But he gave the hiring of Walling a double thumbs-up.

“Marwin and I share a passion for giving kids the best opportunities that sports can offer,” Hartmann said. “We love watching kids gain confidence in themselves so they can be everything they can be.”

Hartmann said the move from Harvey was an emotional one — “I enjoyed working with the City of Painesville,” he said — but that it was the right move for him and his family at this time.

“Marwin Walling is a tremendously talented leader,” Hartmann said.

Walling headed into the spring anticipating being the defensive coordinator on the football staff of new coach Dan Cvelbar, but gave up that spot when he was named athletic director.

He said being from Painesville City, having a relationship with the community and also being part of the athletic department as a player and coach will make the transition easier.

“I want our students at Harvey to have a great experience not only educationally, but also athletically,” Walling said. “I want them to leave here knowing there are great things happening and that they can come back and give back. This is my alma mater. This is their alma mater. I want them to have the same sense of pride I have in being a Red Raider.”