Steve Gast is taking on familiar duties on an unfamiliar stage.

Gast, with well over a decade of athletic director experience at the collegiate level, including a year and a half stint at Presentation College, was announced as the new athletic director at Aberdeen Christian School earlier this week.

“I’m excited about working at ACS,” Gast said.

A retired Air Force engineer, Gast spent 10 years as the athletic director at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa before coming to Presentation in 2018, where he assumed the same position until December of 2019.

Since then, Gast and his wife Sharon, remained in Aberdeen. Gast has served as a substitute instructor in the ACS schools, where he had an opportunity to interact with both the staff and students.

The Knights are coming off a year of unprecedented success on the sports scene. The girls’ volleyball and basketball programs qualified for the state tournament for the first time in school history, while the boys’ basketball program advanced to the state tournament for the third straight year.

Gast said he’s excited to help the Knights continue that success.

“There’s a lot to learn since I haven’t been on the high school side of things,” Gast said, but added he’s ready for the challenge.

“I truly believe in the mission (of ACS) and the important role athletics can play in accomplishing that mission,” Gast said in a statement from the school. “I very much look forward to interacting with and supporting the students, parents, coaches and staff that make up the ACS family.”