The voice of the Arlington Eagles is going to have a lot more to say about the course of Arlington sports — he’s just been named the school’s new athletic director.

Arlington math teacher and multi-sport coach Tom Roys has accepted an offer to succeed Allen Jefferson as the head of the athletic department. Jefferson plans to retire at the end of the 2007-08 school year.

Roys is a familiar face to Arlington athletics, having coached football, basketball, track and cross country at different points throughout his career. He also headed the baseball program for five years.

The 44-year-old Roys credited a passion for athletics and the opportunities it provides students as a motivation to pursue the job.

“It was a great opportunity for me to step in in a place where I’ve laid down roots. I want to step in and help us progress and keep on the improvement track,” he said.

As Roys steps in at the beginning of the 2008-09 school year, Arlington athletics return to 4A classification after two years in 3A. While Arlington’s usual conference schedule won’t change, the caliber of postseason competition will rise. Roys’ tenure will also coincide with a new Arlington football coach, following the departure of former head coach Tim Tramp.

The new athletic director credited Jefferson for the work he’s done at Arlington, and added that his goals include continuing to build the Arlington sports programs and using the facilities to their best advantage.

But while he’s still working out specifics on how to accomplish some of those goals, Roys said one of his main interests is the Arlington athletic experience.

“My goal for all of our sports in general are to produce quality citizens. We want our kids to work hard. We want our kids to play fair. And we want our kids to have a great experience and have athletics be an extension of the classroom and the learning environment,” he said. “It’s a situation where it’s just a different classroom in which to learn those life lessons on determination and how are you successful, setting goals. All those things that go into the process of becoming and changing from boys and girls to young men and young women.”