History of the IHSAA

The first attempt to organize the high schools of Indiana in a single organization for the purpose of handling athletic activities was made in a meeting of the Northern Indiana Teachers’ Association held at Richmond in April, 1903. At this time there was a conference of high school principals, and the conference ended with a body of suggested rules and regulations, called the Richmond Agreement. Due to the fact that there was no central organization having executive power, the Richmond Agreement did little more than point the way toward something better.

Principal J. B. Pearcy, of Anderson, issued a call for a meeting of high school principals interested in a state athletic organization for December 5, 1903. At this meeting, a provisional constitution was adopted. At a similar meeting on December 29, 1903, a final constitution was adopted and a Board of Control of three members was chosen to administer the affairs of the IHSAA.

The first Board of Control was made up of Principal George W. Benton, Shortridge High School, Indianapolis; Superintendent Lotus D. Coffman, Salem; and Principal J. T. Giles, Marion. These men thought and planned well, and we are enjoying the fruits of their vision.

There were fifteen high schools belonging to the IHSAA, March 1, 1904. The membership had a gradual growth through the years, and now includes almost all of the high schools in the state. The peak membership of eight hundred twenty (820) was reached in 1942, the year that private, parochial and institutional schools were admitted to the Association.

In the beginning, one member of the Board of Control served as Secretary but it soon became very evident that this office furnished enough work for a special man. It was also seen that the future of the organization demanded that the office of Secretary be made more permanent than the office of Board Member. Accordingly, at the annual meeting in 1906, the office of Permanent Secretary was established, and Principal J. T. Giles of Marion was chosen by the principals to be the first Permanent Secretary. Principal Giles resigned on December 26, 1912 and Principal Isaac E. Neff, South Bend, was chosen by the principals to succeed him. Principal Neff resigned March 15, 1913, and the Board of Control appointed Principal Arthur L. Trester from Alexandria to serve as Permanent Secretary until the next annual meeting in December, 1913. At this meeting, Principal Trester was chosen by the principals as Permanent Secretary.

The Board of Control consisted of three members, chosen by the principals in their annual meetings, until the annual meeting of October 27, 1916. At this meeting, it was decided to divide the state into five districts for administrative and representative purposes, and that each district should have one representative on the Board of Control, chosen by mail ballot from his own district by the principals of his district.

In September, 1925, by a referendum vote, the principals passed a legislative body proposal calling for four members from each of the five (5) IHSAA districts. The five members of the Board of Control, serving ex officio, and the fifteen other members elected by the principals in a mail vote constituted this legislative body. Prior to this plan, all legislation was done at the annual meeting or by referendum voting by mail. This Legislative Body of twenty members passed on all proposals submitted by the high school principals. It was the law making body of the Association. The plan was considered an advance in state administration and legislation in athletic activities.

On December 13, 1930, the Legislative Body considered and passed without a dissenting vote the provisions for an Athletic Council. The plan in full continued the five IHSAA districts in the state and arranged for five representatives on the Athletic Council from each district by classes determined by enrollments in the high schools, thus making the Athletic Council a body of twenty-five members representing all sizes of high schools and all districts of the state at all times and elected by the high school principals in the membership. A provision was included for the selection of a 5-man Board of Control from the membership of the Athletic Council by the members of the Athletic Council. The Athletic Council took over the duties of the former Legislative Body and was considered the law making body of the Association.

The title “Permanent Secretary,” established in 1906, was changed to “Commissioner of High School Athletics” in October, 1929, by the Legislative Body, and the Commissioner was granted the powers and duties belonging to a Commissioner of Athletics. Mr. Trester continued to serve as Commissioner until the date of his death, September 18, 1944. The Board of Control designated Superintendent Morris E. McCarty of Lafayette to serve as Acting Commissioner. In December, 1944, Principal L.V. Phillips of Vincennes was chosen Commissioner to take office January 1, 1945. In 1944, the Board of Control was given authority to employ an Assistant Commissioner. Robert S. Hinshaw, Director of Athletics at Rushville High School, was chosen in November, 1945, to take office December 10, 1945 to become the first Assistant Commissioner of Athletics for the IHSAA. In July, 1961, Herman F. Keller of Evansville Bosse High School became the second Assistant Commissioner of Athletics after the death of Mr. Hinshaw. On the retirement of L.V. Phillips, July 31, 1962, the Board of Control selected Phil N. Eskew, Superintendent, Huntington Public Schools, as the third Commissioner of Athletics. The Board conferred the title of “Honorary Commissioner” on L.V. Phillips. On August 1, 1969, Ward E. Brown, Principal of Crawfordsville High School, was selected as Assistant Commissioner to work with Mr. Eskew and Mr. Keller, and on January 1, 1972, Miss Patricia L. Roy of East Gary was selected as Director of Girls Athletics for the Association. Mr. Keller retired as Assistant Commissioner on August 1, 1973 and was succeeded by Charles F. Maas, Athletic Director from Arlington High School, Indianapolis. On July 1, 1974, Miss Sue Parrish of Yorktown became the first Assistant Director of Girls Athletics.

Due to the additional Association sponsored sports and the need for more space, the Board of Directors purchased 2.57 acres of land just northwest of 91st and Meridian Streets on August 6, 1975 for the purpose of building the new IHSAA Headquarters. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the 20,000 square foot office building were held April 6, 1976 and the date of occupancy was April 4 and 5, 1977. A formal building dedication and open house was held on Sunday, October 16, 1977 with approximately 500 people in attendance.

On April 26, 1976, the IHSAA was incorporated. Certain corporate laws necessitated limiting the length of staggered terms of elected representatives to three years. Renaming of the Athletic Council as Board of Directors and renaming the Board of Control as Executive Committee followed, along with changing the school classifications from five to three, reducing the number of members on the Board of Directors from 25 to 15 and increasing the number of members on the Executive Committee from 5 to 10.

Phil N. Eskew retired on June 30, 1976 and effective July 1, 1976, Ward E. Brown, Assistant Commissioner, became the fourth Commissioner; the title of “Commissioner Emeritus” was bestowed upon Phil N. Eskew; and C. Eugene Cato, former Superintendent, Jay County Schools, became Assistant Commissioner.

Mildred M. Ball of East Chicago Washington High School was appointed Assistant Commissioner to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Assistant Director of Girls Athletics Sue Parrish. Titles of Director and Assistant Director of Girls Athletics were officially changed to Assistant Commissioner effective July 1, 1977.

Ward E. Brown retired as Commissioner on June 30, 1983 and effective July 1, 1983, C. Eugene Cato, Assistant Commissioner, became the fifth Commissioner. Ray Craft, former Principal of Shelbyville High School, became the new Assistant Commissioner on July 1, 1983.

On November 18, 1983, the Executive Committee approved employing a Sports Information Director to assist in communications with the news media. Bob Williams, former sportswriter for the Indianapolis Star, was appointed to fill this position and began his duties on July 1, 1984.

Charles F. Maas, Assistant Commissioner since August 1, 1973, passed away after a long illness on November 27, 1984. Robert B. Gardner, former Principal of Milan High School, was selected to fill this vacancy and began his duties on February 18, 1985.

On November 13, 1992, the Board of Directors voted to add a minority seat/s to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. This By-Law amendment commences with the December, 1993 election. The minority seats shall be filled by a minority from each of the three classes, with selections rotated through each of the five districts thus increasing the Board of Directors from 15 to 18 members and the Executive Committee from 10 to 12 members when the rotation is completed in 1997.

Bob Williams retired as the first Sports Information Director on June 30, 1994. Jim Russell, sportswriter for the Indianapolis News, was appointed to fill this position and began his duties on July 1, 1994.

On January 13, 1995, C. Eugene Cato retired as Commissioner. On October 13, 1994, the Executive Committee appointed Robert B. Gardner as the next Commissioner. He began his duties on January 13, 1995. Blake Ress, former Principal of Martinsville High School, was named the new Assistant Commissioner on December 16, 1994.

On April 29, 1996, the Board of Directors voted 12-5 to implement multiple classes for tournament play in team sports beginning in the 1997-98 school year. Twenty principals in each of the five IHSAA legislative districts signed petitions calling for a referendum on the multiple class tournament adoption by the Board of Directors. The referendum vote was held with all ballots to be received by September 16, 1996. The action of the Board of Directors was upheld by the principals in a vote of 220 in favor and 157 opposed.

On December 12, 1997, after 20 years of service, Assistant Commissioner Mildred Morgan Ball announced her retirement, effective June 30, 1997. On March 21, 1997, Theresia Wynns, Principal, Creston Middle School, Indianapolis, and long-time IHSAA licensed official, was appointed as the new Assistant Commissioner and began her duties on July 1, 1997.

On February 19, 1999, after 271/2 years of service, Assistant Commissioner Patricia Roy announced her retirement, effective June 30, 1999. Sandy Searcy, Girls Athletic Director and Swimming Coach at Bloomington North High School was appointed as the new Assistant Commissioner on May 3, 1999, and began her duties on July 1, 1999.

On March 27, 2000, after 15 years of service, including 51/2 as Commissioner, Robert B. Gardner announced his resignation to become Chief Operating Officer of the Indianapolis-based National Federation of State High School Associations.

On April 10, 2000, the Executive Committee appointed Assistant Commissioner Blake Ress as the next Commissioner. He began his duties July 1, 2000. On June 16, 2000, Bobby Cox, Athletic Director at Carmel High School was named as the new Assistant Commissioner. He also began his duties July 1, 2000.

In May of 2000, the Association’s Board of Directors adopted language regarding a “Case Review Panel” enacted by the Indiana General Assembly as an alternative to legal action when a party disagrees with the Association’s final decision. The Case Review Panel is comprised of nine individuals, including the Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction or his/her designee who would serve as the Panel’s chairperson.

At its annual meeting in April of 2001, the Board of Directors voted to reduce the number of legislative districts from five to three effective with the 2001-02 school year. A restructuring of the Board’s makeup also ensued with the number of high school classifications increasing from three to four thus ensuring representation of each competition class. The Board of Directors will continue to have 18 seats, with six seats being filled by two females, two minorities and two urban school representatives. Additionally, the Executive Committee would begin to be comprised of all members of the Board of Directors with each individual having the ability to vote on issues.

On December 7, 2001, after 71/2 years of service, Sports Information Director Jim Russell announced his resignation to become Executive Director of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, whose national headquarters are based locally. On January 10, 2002, Jerry Baker, with his recognizable television voice that has been associated with IHSAA football and basketball tournaments since 1978, was named Sports Information Director.

On December 1, 2004, after nearly three years of service, Baker announced his resignation from his post. On December 16, Commissioner Blake Ress announced that Jason Wille, the IHSAA’s Assistant Sports Information Director and an employee of 91/2 years, was named Sports Information Director.

On January 26, 2005, Commissioner Ress announced the hiring of Joe Gentry as Communications Director, a new position in the Assocation’s Office. Gentry joined the IHSAA after a 17-year career as Sports Information Director for the University of Indianapolis.

At its May 1, 2006 meeting, the IHSAA Board of Directors approved adding a 19th seat to its body reserved for a private school representative. The seat would be filled beginning with the 2007-08 school year.

Gentry resigned his post as Communications Director in September, 2006 to return to his alma mater as Butler University’s Director of Sports Marketing and Corporate Sponsorships.

Ress announced the hiring of Chris Kaufman as Communications Director on November 28, 2006. Kaufman joined the Association Office after a 16-year career at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, the last eight as the school’s Director of Marketing and Communications.

On February 21, 2008, Associate Commissioner Ray Craft announced his retirement effective June 30, 2008. Craft was appointed Assistant Commissioner in July, 1983, and later promoted to Associate Commissioner in 1994. He also served on the IHSAA Board of Directors from 1980-83 while Principal at Shelbyville High School.

On April 28, 2008, Phillip E. Gardner, Principal at Wes-Del High School and a member of the IHSAA Board of Directors, was selected by the Executive Committee to serve as an Assistant Commissioner filling the vacancy left by Craft. Gardner joined the Association Office after serving 14 years as Principal at Wes-Del (1994-2008) and previously was Principal at Cowan for seven years (1987-94). As a member of the Board of Directors, Gardner had one of the longest tenures in Association history having served continuously since 1990. He was elected president of that group in 1995-96 and also elected chairman of the Executive Committee in 1999-00 and 2002-03.

On June 24, 2010, Commissioner Blake Ress announced his intention to retire after 10 1/2 years leading the Association. The title of “Commissioner Emeritus” was bestowed upon Ress on February 1, 2011.

On August 6, 2010, the IHSAA Executive Committee appointed Bobby Cox as the eighth commissioner. An assistant commissioner since 2000, Cox assumed his responsibilities on February 1, 2011.

On October 7, 2010, Robert Faulkens, principal at Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School in Indianapolis and a member of the IHSAA Board of Directors, was approved as assistant commissioner effective January 10, 2011.

Theresia Wynns, who had served as an assistant commissioner since 1997, announced her resignation effective June 22, 2012, to join the Indianapolis-based National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) as its Director of Sports and Officials Education.

At its monthly meeting on May 1, 2012, the Executive Committee approved two personnel moves announcing Sandra Walter and Chris Kaufman as assistant commissioners effective June 4, 2012.

Walter spent 12 years at Lawrence Central High School, the last 10 as athletic director and was active in the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (IIAAA).

Since becoming Communications Director in 2006, Kaufman had overseen the IHSAA’s marketing efforts with corporate partners and helped form the IHSAA Champions Television Network.

The Executive Committee approved a portion of an Indiana Football Coaches Association (IFCA) proposal on June 22, 2012 in adding a sixth classification to the football state tournament beginning in 2013-14. The Committee also voted in favor of a two-year tournament success factor in each team sport (baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball volleyball), an accumulation of points by which any school would move up one class based on tournament series performance during that time. That measure would take effect in 2013-14 as well using tournament results from the prior two years. The Board of Directors formally ratified the Tournament Success Factor at its April 29, 2013 meeting.

The IHSAA added its 21st sport and first co-ed one on November 8, 2013 when it approved a state tournament for Unified Track & Field for the spring of 2014.

A further enhancement of the IHSAA’s partnership with Special Olympics Indiana allowed IHSAA-member schools to form teams composed equally of students with and without intellectual disabilities to compete for a state championship. Schools scheduled regular season competitions during the spring before two sectionals meets – one north and one south – with participants then advancing to the state championship meet held just prior to the start of the IHSAA Boys Track & Field State Finals in Bloomington. Events included were the 100 meter Dash, 400 meter Dash, 4x100 meter Relay, Shot Put and Long Jump.

In June 2015, the IHSAA Executive Committee created and formed the IHSAA Foundation to operate exclusively for the charitable benefits of IHSAA member schools and their student-athletes. As funding becomes available, the Foundation, overseen by a Board of Directors, will award college scholarships to student-athletes in their pursuit of post-secondary education. It also will support IHSAA member schools through a grant program designed to help fund special projects.

On June 10, 2015, Assistant Commissioner Sandy Searcy announced her resignation effective July 31 to join the executive staff of the National Federation. An assistant commissioner since 1999, Searcy was named Director of Sports for swimming and diving, water polo and softball and to assist in planning for various NFHS meetings and conferences.

On July 13, 2015, the Executive Committee approved Kerrie Schludecker as a new assistant commissioner effective August 1, 2015.

Schludecker had served the previous three years as athletic director at Boone Grove High School following two years at Marquette Catholic High School. She had been an active member and served on several committees for both the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (IIAAA) and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).

On October 26, 2016, Steven Helmich was announced as the first president of the IHSAA Foundation. In his role as chief administrator, Helmich will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Foundation including the development and fundraising efforts to support its programs and the distribution of scholarships and grants. Helmich joined the Association following a 16-year career as president of Cathedral High School.

On February 17, 2017, Assistant Commissioner Phil Gardner announced his retirement effective June 30 after nine years on the Executive Staff.

Paul Neidig, Chief of Staff and Director of Athletics of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) and a continuous member of the IHSAA Board of Directors since 2004, was hired as an assistant commissioner on May 10, 2017.

His appointment began July 1 following a 31-year career with EVSC where Neidig also served as its Chief Administrative Officer from 2012 to 2015, Deputy Chief of Staff from 2009 to 2012 and Director of Athletics at Evansville Central High School from 2001 to 2010. Prior to that, Neidig had worked at Evansville Central as a teacher, department chair, head coach and assistant coach for boys basketball, assistant athletic director and technology director between 1985 and 2001. He had also served as Chairman of the IHSAA Executive Committee three times in 2006-07, 2009-10 and 2015-16.

On August 15, 2017, Matt Wolfert was hired as president of the IHSAA Foundation taking over for Steven Helmich who had stepped down in May. Wolfert joined the Association following a one-year stint as Director of Major Gifts at Cathedral High School. Prior to Cathedral, Wolfert had served as Director of Corporate Relationships for the NCAA from 2012 to 2016 and at Ball State University as Associate Director of Athletics – External Affairs from 2004 to 2012.

Heath Shanahan joined the IHSAA in November 2016 and was promoted to the Association’s Executive Staff in July 2018 as its first Director of Broadcasting/Executive Producer for the IHSAA Champions Network. Shanahan serves as the primary director and executive producer for all aspects of the IHSAA Champions Network broadcasts including IHSAAtv.org as well as maintaining and fulfilling contractual obligations with various partners. He’ll also oversee development and distribution of a new content platform for IHSAA media and news.

On April 30, 2018, the Executive Committee approved sponsorship of Unified Flag Football, the second co-ed sport offered in partnership with Special Olympics Indiana, and 22nd overall. The program, which begins in the fall of 2018, combines students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team for sports training and competition.

Bobby Cox, commissioner since 2011, announced to the IHSAA Executive Committee on January 16, 2020, his intention to retire effective August 1, 2020. During Cox’s tenure, the IHSAA made unprecedented advances in numerous areas all with the intention of further strengthening the IHSAA’s brand and trumpeting the many values and benefits of participation in education-based athletics. He oversaw an expansion of corporate partnerships and sponsorships for the Association including adding the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever as presenting sponsors for the boys and girls basketball state tournaments. His embrace of the Champions Together initiative, a partnership with Special Olympics Indiana, established the newest state tournaments in Unified Track and Field (2014) and Unified Flag Football (2018). The two sports allowed students with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together in a team setting for their school. He oversaw the creation and formation of the IHSAA Foundation in 2015 which continues to operate for the charitable benefits of IHSAA member schools and their student-athletes.

On March 12, 2020, two days before regional games, Commissioner Bobby Cox announced that the remaining games of the IHSAA boys basketball state tournament would continue as scheduled but with limited spectators in attendance as the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) swept the country. The next day, it was announced the tournament was postponed immediately due to the number of schools closing for an extended period of time. The gymnastics state finals, scheduled for March 14 in Muncie, would be contested as planned but without spectators and only with essential tournament workers in attendance.

On March 19, 2020, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb directed that all Indiana schools be closed until May 1 due to the pandemic. This action essentially cancelled the boys basketball state tournament for the first time in its 110-year history.

On March 20, 2020, John (Paul) Neidig was named the ninth commissioner in Association history by the Executive Committee and would assume the position on August 1, 2020. Neidig would assume the position having enjoyed a 34-year career in secondary education and athletic administration and had been an assistant commissioner since 2017.

On April 2, 2020, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb along with the State Commissioner of Health and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction announced the closure of all K-12 schools throughout Indiana for the remainder of the school year due to the continued effects of the pandemic. Subsequently, the IHSAA announced the cancellation of all spring sports tournament series events for the 2019-20 school year.

On July 26, 2021, Brian Lewis was approved by the IHSAA Executive Committee to become an assistant commissioner filling the vacancy left a year earlier by Neidig when he was named the new commissioner. Lewis joined the IHSAA staff after 15 years in secondary education, the last three years as the athletic director at Jasper High School in southwest Indiana.

After 10 years serving as an assistant commissioner, Sandra Walter announced April 25, 2022 of her intention to leave the staff to become the new athletic director at Franklin Central High School.

Janie Ulmer was named an assistant commissioner on May 19, 2022. A career educator, Ulmer joined the IHSAA having spent five years with Hamilton Southeastern Schools, the last two as the principal at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers. Prior to that, Ulmer spent 24 years in the LaPorte Community School Corporation.

With a long career of distinguished service to education-based athletics, Brian Avery was named the next Director of the Champions Together program, the IHSAA’s collaborative effort with Special Olympics Indiana, on June 6, 2022. Avery had served as the Speedway High School athletic director from 2011-22 and Franklin Central athletic director from 2000-11.

Former Executive Committee member and retired LaPorte High School Athletic Director Ed Gilliland was hired July 29, 2022 to become an associate commissioner. Gilliland took over the newly-created part time role with a focus on the northern half of the state to work with new athletic administrators, provide support for member schools, and assist with Officials recruitment and retention.

On April 6, 2023, it was announced that Assistant Commissioner Chris Kaufman would assume the additional role as Foundation President while George “Trip” Lukemeyer III had been named Foundation Director. Both take over the reins of the IHSAA’s philanthropic arm that operates exclusively for the charitable benefits of member schools and their student-athletes. The previous president, Matt Wolfert, left his position in September 2022, for another opportunity.

At its annual meeting on April 29, 2024, the IHSAA Board of Directors unanimously approved the sports of Boys Volleyball and Girls Wrestling for full recognition and a sponsored state tournament beginning with the 2024-25 school year. Girls Wrestling will join the boys as a winter sport while Boys Volleyball will be played in the spring. Prior to this decision, the Indiana Boys Volleyball Coaches Association had been administering its state tournament since 1994 while the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association had been conducting a girls wrestling state tournament since 2017.

Jane Schott, an assistant athletic director and the girls basketball coach at West Lafayette Junior Senior High School, was approved by the IHSAA Executive Committee to become an assistant commissioner on June 6, 2024. Schott began her responsibilities on July 1, 2024 taking over for Janie Ulmer who became assistant principal at Fishers High School. Schott joined the IHSAA after 30 years teaching and coaching at four different high schools, including the last 17 years at West Lafayette.

Also in the summer of 2024, Ashley Ernstberger was promoted to the Executive Staff in the position of Director of Sport and Human Resources. Ernstberger, also the executive assistant to Commissioner Paul Neidig and the IHSAA Board of Directors, was originally hired in 2011.

The primary purpose of the organizers of the IHSAA, to manage and to foster high school athletics on a high plane, has been upheld as an ideal through the life of the IHSAA. New and advanced steps have been taken whenever conditions made them necessary. In the beginning, the Association concerned itself largely with track and football. As time went on it became increasingly evident that the IHSAA should assume the initiative for a well-balanced athletic program to meet the needs of all schools and all students desiring to participate in athletics. The Association now sanctions 10 different sports for boys and 10 different sports for girls and two co-ed which bring together students with and without intellectual disabilities, and culminating with State Championships in all.