Getting to Know You: Mr. Nick Levine, Physical Education Teacher

9/16/2016

Mr. Nick Levine joins the Bishop’s Physical Education Department this semester as a teacher.

Mr. Nick Levine joins the Bishop’s Physical Education Department this semester as a teacher, but he is not new to the School community. Mr. Levine has been the boys’ varsity basketball head coach since 2014. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in sports management from Ohio Wesleyan University and his master of arts degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University. Nick was previously the sports camp director at the La Jolla YMCA and boys’ basketball coach at La Jolla Country Day and Pacific Ridge schools.

To get to know Mr. Levine, we asked him a few questions:

What was your first impression of the Bishop’s community?

I have been impressed with the Bishop's community since the first time I stepped on campus as a rival coach. As an outsider at the time, I viewed Bishop's as an amazing campus filled with happy and talented people.

What do you love most about teaching?

I approach teaching the same way I do coaching, and what I enjoy the most about it is being a positive part of someone else's development. I had great relationships with some of my coaches and teachers when I was growing up, and I think that played a big part in my desire to have the same impact on our students and athletes.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

I feel pretty good about having the job that I do here at Bishop's, but I am hoping my greatest accomplishments are ahead of me.

Who is your hero and/or mentor?

The people I admire the most are my parents. On campus here, I am lucky to have so many great coaches and teachers to learn from. Mr. Kamal Assaf ‘88 is a person who has been a tremendous resource for me here at Bishop's.

What’s on your bucket list?

Travel!

If you could travel in time, what time period would you visit and why?

Take me back to my summers growing up in Philadelphia and visiting Ocean City, New Jersey!

If you had to sing karaoke, which song would you select?

“Your Love” by The Outfield

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Windows down on the freeway

What’s the last book you read?

Legends Club by John Feinstein

Who was your favorite teacher in school and why?

One of my favorite teachers was my high school math teacher and advisor, Mr. Coopersmith. He was a great math teacher, but he was also a guy who took an interest in everything that was going on in my life at the time. He had a great sense of humor and was the king of one-liners, and I have stolen and continue to use quite a few of those lines to this day.

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