BARNESVILLE — Some opportunities are simply too good to let pass by without at least exploring.

That’s exactly how Ryan Rosnick felt about the job of Director of Athletics at Barnesville High School.

When Mark Cook tendered his resignation from the position at Barnesville after 20 years to accept the same job at Martins Ferry, Rosnick was immediately intrigued. After much research, thought and discussion, Rosnick applied for the position.

“As soon as I heard Mark was taking the job at Ferry, (applying) was in the back of my head,” Rosnick admitted. “I just thought it would be a good fit for me at the right time (in my career).”

The rest is basically history. Rosnick was offered the job by Barnesville Exempted School Superintendent Angela Hannahs and then was formally approved by the Board of Education Tuesday morning and begins officially on Aug. 1.

“I am really excited,” Rosnick said.

“The people of Barnesville are great. I’ve been over there two or three times already (since being hired) and it feels almost like a family already. It happened that quickly for me. I feel comfortable already.”

Rosnick has met with Cook, who is currently pulling double duty at both schools until his contract expires at Barnesville at the end of the month, several times already to get up to speed in time for the fall season, which officially begins with practices starting in less than three weeks.

“I don’t care who you are, you don’t really replace a Mark Cook,” Rosnick said. “I consider him to be one of the best athletic directors in not only the OVAC, but the entire state of Ohio. He has everything in line and ready to go. He’s so organized that this seems like it’s going to be an easy transition. I am going to try my best to fill his shoes.”

Like Cook, Rosnick, who spent four years as the athletics director at Monroe Central, will be serving two schools until his contract with the Switzerland of Ohio Local Schools runs out at the end of the month.

“It was an extremely tough decision to leave Monroe Central,” Rosnick said. “I worked and interacted with so many great coaches, athletes and a great fan base.”

Though Rosnick had only been the A.D. for five years, he’d worked at the school for 12.

“Anytime you leave somewhere that’s welcomed you for 12 years and makes you feel like family, it’s tough,” Rosnick continued.

In his time with the Seminoles, Rosnick orchestrated the school’s departure from the Pioneer Valley Conference and was one of the founders of the Mid Ohio Valley League, which is set to commence play this school year. On top of that, he helped oversee the start of the bowling program and brought back the golf program, which had been on hiatus for several years.

A major project is currently ongoing at the Monroe Central football stadium with the construction of a new pressbox and installation of new grandstands. And work on the long-awaited atheltic facility that has been in the planning stages for nearly three years is also under way.

“There’s a lot of good things happening at Monroe Central,” Rosnick said. “We’ve had success on and off the fields. A lot of things might go unnoticed, but everything was done with our student-athletes in mind.”

Rosnick believes the biggest attribute he can bring to Barnesville is “energy.”

“I am going to interact with the kids, coaches and fans,” Rosnick said. “The biggest thing is for all of us to get to know each other. Plus, I have to get to know the fans, boosters, faculty, etc. and make sure everyone feels comfortable with me.”

Rosnick takes over a Shamrocks’ program that is on extremely solid footing. The school boasts impressive facilities, including three gymnasiums, all of which have been recently remodeled and a fieldhouse at Shamrock Stadium that is embarking on just its second season.

“Barnesville is a very intriguing place,” Rosnick said. “The facilities are state of the art. I see so many good things happening there and I am just excited to be a part of it.”

Rosnick, who graduated from River in 1999, owns a degree from Ohio University in sports industry and a master’s from Muskingum in intervention, special education and has his administrative certificate.

While Cook served as the ‘Director of Food Services’ at Barnesville, Rosnick will also assume the title of dean of students.

“That added title of dean of students helped in my decision because I had set a goal to get into the administrative part (of education),” Rosnick said.

Rosnick plans to have a meeting with the Shamrocks’ coaches in the coming weeks has already heard from several since Cook sent out an email, alerting them to the hiring.

“I will be in and out for the rest of the month of July and then ready to go in August,” Rosnick said. “A few of the coaches have already reached out to me, which was good to see.”

Ryan and his wife, Jenna, who is the guidance counselor at Monroe Central, have two sons, Zayne (10) and Nolan (3).