Apprentice School Athletic Director Bill Casto has announced that he will retire from the school effective March 3 after serving 16 years as athletic director and 26 years with the shipyard.  Taking over his role as Manager, Student Services and Athletics will be former head football coach Phil Janaro, while Keisha Pexton who has served the Apprentice School in several capacities - including craft instructor and women's basketball assistant coach - will take over the newly separated position as Athletic Director.  She will report to Janaro.

During his 26-year career at the shipyard, Casto worked in several different departments in the shipyard.  He started in the Safety Department designing and conducting training programs primarily for supervision and also spent four years as Administrator, Education Relations for Training Systems before taking over as Apprentice School Athletic Director in 1991.  Since 2005, Casto has served as Manager, Student Services and Athletic Director which has included all the school's extracurricular activities, including the Student Association and the Student Services Program along with the Athletic Director.

While directing the Builders into league membership for the first time in school history, he also has led them through complete overhaul of facilities and started the first full-time varsity sport for women apprentices (basketball).  His tenure also has produced full-time positions for athletic director, assistant athletic director, sports information director, head football coach and athletic trainer.  All of this stands as first-time accomplishments at The Apprentice School. 

"I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of the Apprentice School athletic program over the past 16 years," said Casto.  "It took hard work and dedication of a large number of people to get to where we are today.  I know that the leadership of the program under Phil and Keisha will be in strong hands and the program will continue to move forward.  After 26 years of being involved with the athletic program, maroon and gold runs in my veins.  I will always be a Builder."

Casto will continue to serve as Commissioner of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association in his retirement.