Get to Know Rometra Craig, Hillbrook’s Athletic Director

By Mary Hammers, Hillbrook writer

For Hillbrook Athletic Director Rometra Craig, growing up the daughter of NFL legend Roger Craig meant athletics was in her DNA; and with five kids in the Craig family, competition was built into everyday life. From swim team to softball, basketball, track, and martial arts, the Craig kids did it all. Rometra says her parents set the tone for the family, embracing physical activity and athletic pursuits and encouraging their children to be active, too. Ro remembers her father getting up at 5 AM to work out, and her following his lead climbing out of bed to shoot baskets. He also had the family running hills in Portola Valley for conditioning. When her older brother took up taekwondo, Rometra insisted on trying it, too. Ro was only 7 when she started, and by age 14 she was a six-time taekwondo junior national champion and ranked 3rd in the world (a status she earned after petitioning the organization to let her compete for the title as a 14-year-old). 

In high school, Ro switched gears to focus on basketball and track and became a star in both sports. Averaging 23.2 points a game, she helped lead Archbishop Mitty to a basketball state championship in 1999 where they were 31-0 on the season. Ro was named the Cal-Hi Sports Girls State Athlete of the Year. She earned a basketball scholarship to Duke where she played guard until USC called offering a spot on their team, a full-ride and a chance to come back to California and her family. 

Did you know that Rometra also invented Jumpshot Pro, a patented basketball shooting device?  

Learn more about it here and here.

It’s an impressive athletic resume, which Ro humbly shrugs off with a smile. She may be genetically blessed, but her achievements are also the result of hard work and dedication. Today she brings the same winning attitude and commitment to her job as Athletic Director at Hillbrook. Whether teaching a P.E. class or coaching basketball, track, volleyball, or cross-country, Ro seeks to meet students where they are and help them achieve their personal best. At Hillbrook, there are different P.E. goals for various ages starting with movement and coordination, moving up to skill development, technique and game strategy. But no matter the age or skill level, Ro says the athletic department is always working on social-emotional skills with students because they are vital to sports, “Learning to work together, sharing the ball, communicating with your teammates, accepting defeat with grace, and being willing to try again after a setback, these are just a few of the life skills learned through athletics.” 

When she’s not coaching or teaching, Ro is parenting her 11-year-old daughter Nyla. Not surprisingly, Nyla is also a gifted athlete and ballet dancer. She attended Hillbrook until the demands of competitive gymnastics led her to homeschool. Nyla recently switched gears from gymnastics to ballet, and will likely attend the Oakland Ballet School in the fall. Ro says Nyla’s pivot from top-level gymnastics to dance reminds her of her own switch from taekwondo to basketball. At the time, she said her parents were surprised but supportive. Ro says now it is her turn to support Nyla’s wish to leave gymnastics behind to become a ballet dancer. 

Reflecting on her past and how it impacted her life, Rometra says the support of her parents was everything to her. Ro says her dad impressed upon her that she could do anything she wanted so long as she “worked hard and always tried her best.” Ro says a lifetime in athletics has taught her that if your heart’s not in it, no amount of practice or coaching will help, but when you follow your passion, success and happiness follow. 

Working hard is second nature to Rometra, who on top of everything else, is also pursuing a master’s degree in athletic administration and coaching from Concordia University. “Hillbrook has been incredibly supportive, helping me pay for the master’s program and encouraging me to go after my dreams.” Ro says she’s learning valuable information not only from the classes but from fellow students about their best practices and coaching experiences. She is eager to bring the lessons and new ideas to the athletic program at Hillbrook. 

Asked about what drew her to Hillbrook, Rometra says stepping on campus felt like coming home. She was raised in Portola Valley so Hillbrook’s tree-studded campus, the creek, and surrounding hillsides are just like what she’d grown up around. Ro says she was also impressed by the dedicated teaching staff and Hillbrook’s inclusive athletic program which gives students the chance to try different sports and supports them no matter their athletic ability. Ro says going forward, she wants to continue to foster inclusivity across all grades, while also working with middle school students to improve discipline, focus, and structured training so they are ready to compete in high school. “We have the athletes and the coaching talent, and I think we can grow our program to really feed high school sports programs.” In Hillbrook’s youngest grades, Ro says she will continue to work with students and teachers to build community through physical education, with a goal of teaching students how to work together while also improving as individuals. 

Rometra says she is proud of Hillbrook’s many successful athletic teams this year from flag football, to volleyball, basketball, and cross country. She praises the coaches and students for their enthusiasm, effort, and results. She’s also impressed by Hillbrook’s dedicated parents who volunteer to drive to away games and regularly show up to support the team. 

Ro’s warmth and positive approach to coaching have won her fans across the Hillbrook campus from junior kindergarten to 8th grade. Asked if there was anything about her that might surprise her students, Ro throws out she plays piano by ear. Though she never learned to read music, she can sit at the keyboard and play what she hears. Her favorite song is Beethoven’s “Fur Elise.” She adds that she loves fixing things and was therefore thrilled to participate in Hillbrook’s celebration of Everyone Can Code. “I love that Hillbrook lets you stretch yourself and dive into what interests you. I never thought that I, as a P.E. teacher, would be able to help lead a coding class. That was really special to me.”

Talent, dedication, and positivity. It’s clear Rometra Craig and Hillbrook School are a slam dunk.