Kyle Colavita will join Darlington’s residential life staff as head of Moser House this fall.
“Kyle's passion for working with people and helping them achieve their goals makes him a great fit to be a head of house,” said Matthew Peer, director of student life. “His desire to inspire those he works with to set high standards and reach their goals is what made him stand out during the interview process. We are extremely excited to have Kyle and his wife, Annie, join our community.”
Colavita holds a B.S. in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from Clemson University and an M.S. in Health, Exercise and Sport Science from The Citadel Graduate College. A certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), he is also certified by the National Association of Speed and Explosion (NASE) and in CPR/AED.
For the past five years, he has enjoyed working with young people in athletic and recreational settings. Most recently, he was an assistant sport physiologist at the United States Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.
“I have had the privilege of working with high school students for most of my professional career thus far,” Colavita said. “I’ve been blessed to work with high school athletes from a strength and conditioning/coaching standpoint, as well as in leadership roles in churches, recreation departments and camps.
“I love how impressionable students are at this age. They’re kind of like clay – very moldable,” he continued. “This is a crucial time in their lives and they’re desperate for proper guidance. I take that responsibility very seriously. My success is hinged upon the type of men and women these students become one day – the type of husbands, fathers, employers and civilians they become down the road is all that matters.”
Colavita and Annie said they look forward to joining the Darlington family and building relationships with the boys in Moser House.
“We have received such an amazingly warm and authentic welcome from everyone at Darlington,” he said. “There is this sense of community that both my wife and I get when we’re on campus. To be honest, there are not a lot of places that feel like Darlington. Another thing that attracted me to Darlington was the tremendous job they do of hiring mentors, not just teachers and staff. Mentorship is what it’s all about.”
Along with that, the self-proclaimed outdoorsman and a fitness enthusiast said he is excited to help the students get the most out of their Darlington experience.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun being a part of the residential experience,” Colavita said. “I’ve always been able to gel with high-schoolers. I seem to have a natural ability to establish trusting relationships with them. I also have a great sense of humor, so I’m sure that probably has something to do with it! I can tell you right now that we are going to have a great year in Moser House. I’m already hearing a lot about the fall house retreat and RUMPUS, and they both sound ridiculously fun!”
When he’s not working, Colavita said he and Annie enjoy finding fun adventures to go on together. Some of his hobbies include hiking, camping, cycling, kayaking, going to concerts and just being outdoors.
“My wife loves to bake and cook, and I love to eat whatever she bakes and cooks,” he added, which is sure to make her very popular in Moser House.
