Your Association Year In Review Play Smart. Play Hard.® Your Champions TABLE OF CONTENTS Opportunities ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION Financial Review Partners 2014 TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN ANNUAL REPORT Download the Annual Report at www.IHSA.org/Resources s 2 ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION www.ihsa.org YOuR ASSOCIATION The individuals who oversee & implement the Association & its rules Writing this letter is bittersweet, as it is one of my many duties that I will complete for the final time as a member of the Illinois High School Association staff. I will officially retire on January 15, 2016, so this address is a reflection on my last 25 years, as much as it is a reflection of the 2014-15 school year. I remain incredibly proud of the direction the Association has moved in during my time here and the challenges we have overcome. The Association has experienced expansion across the board: from new sports and programs like water polo and bass fishing that have put us in and on the water, to additional classes that have produced first-time State Series successes for schools of all sizes; to even more opportunities for athletes with disabilities; to new steps that further safeguard our student-athletes; to recognition and leadership programs like All-State Academic Team and the Student Leadership Conference. After 25 years at the IHSA, As I have said multiple times since announcing my retirement, there are many things I will not miss Marty Hickman will retire on about my job come January. However, the things I will miss are getting to meet and work with January 15, 2016. tremendous people from all over the state. Whether it be principals, athletic directors, coaches, officials, student-athletes, fans or the staff here at the IHSA, I have had memorable interactions and made A Letter from lifelong friends along the way the Executive At a time when a lack of funding and debates on testing have led to a cloudy outlook on the educational system in our state, I remain highly confident in the future of our schools and students. That confidence Director is derived from knowing that there are countless individuals inside your buildings who are committed and motivated to putting students first. Simply put, participating in the interscholastic program at New Berlin High School enhanced and enriched my education and my life. Next to my family, the most influential people in my life have been my high school teachers and coaches. I know firsthand how important the interscholastic experience can be in the life of a young person. Thank you and good luck. Know that you always have an advocate in myself and the Illinois High School Association. Marty Hickman Executive Director s 4 ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION www.ihsa.org Meet the IHSA Administrative Staff National Committee Involvement The following individuals serve on NFHS committees: N Kayode Adegoke on the Track & Field Rules Committee N Craig Anderson on the Football Rules Committee N Shaunda Brown on the Spirit Rules Committee Wrestling Official MARTY HICKMAN CRAIG ANDERSON KuRT GIBSON N Anthony Clarke Executive Director Executive Director-Elect Assoc. Exec. Director from Zion on the Wrestling Advisory Committee N Leyden Twp. Athletic Director Randy Conrad on the Wrestling Advisory Committee N Retired teacher/coach and IHSA state final manager Jan Heiteen on the Speech, Drama & Debate Committee N Scott Johnson on the Technology Committee SHAuNDA BROWN TRACIE HENRY SCOTT JOHNSON STACEY LAMBERT Asst. Exec. Director Asst. Exec. Director Asst. Exec. Director Asst. Exec. Director N IHSA official Kathy Krebs chairs the Girls Gymnastics Rules Committee N Stacey Lambert on the Coaches Association Advisory Committee N Beth Sauser on the Water Polo Rules Committee N Matt Troha on the NFHS Network Leadership Circle and on the committee that develops content for the NFHS RON McGRAW BETH SAuSER MATT TROHA KAYODE ADEGOKE magazine High School Today Asst. Exec. Director Asst. Exec. Director Asst. Exec. Director Coordinator of Special Programs ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION s 5 The 2014-15 school year was my sixth serving on the IHSA Board of Directors and fourth serving as the Board President. It remains an honor and privilege to not only represent my fellow high school principals in this role, but also to travel the state and see the incredible accomplishments high school students achieve in IHSA sports and activities. I would be remiss if I didn’t start my reflection on the past year with the announcement that 2014-15 was Dr. Hickman’s last full year as the IHSA Executive Director. Marty will conclude his 25th year at the IHSA, and 14th as Executive Director, in January, 2016. Marty has guided the Association through unprecedented change and growth. under his leadership, the IHSA has experienced impactful expansion (adding multiple sports and activities) and contraction (elimination of membership fees) that have benefitted the membership. He tackled many controversial issues within and outside of the membership, and always did so with tact, dignity, and integrity. For that, I simply say “thank you” and know that many of you echo my sentiments. Dan Klett just completed his sixth year as the As a Board we dealt with many prominent issues last year, including further contact restrictions IHSA Board President in football, a revised multiplier waiver system, and the implementation of the success formula in 2015-16. The membership spoke volumes with their vote against a potential “public-private state A Letter from tournament split” during the legislative process last January, and we remain committed to continuing to explore and listen to ideas on how to maintain competitive balance in an equitable fashion. We the Board understand the emotion and passion issues like this evoke, and are proud that we have a system that President allows membership to address issues that exist. I enjoy a truly unique IHSA experience from where I sit. Not only am I a principal at a member high school and a member of the Board of Directors, but I am also the parent of a current high school student-athlete and the husband of an IHSA official. I get to see firsthand the best attributes and life lessons the Association has to offer, along with the challenges that lie ahead. The IHSA is our Association, and I have no doubt that we will overcome those challenges together as a membership in the months and years to come. Dan Klett IHSA Board President Wauconda HIgh School Principal s 6 ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION www.ihsa.org Meet the IHSA Board of Directors JOHN STIMLER DANIEL KLETT ROBERT NOLTING Chicago (Mt. Carmel) Wauconda Tinley Park (Andrew) Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Term Expires 2016 Term Expires 2017 Term Expires 2016 TIM McCONNELL SCOTT ADREON DR. CHuCK NAGEL B. KENT JONES Erie Maroa (M.-Forsyth) East Peoria Breese (Central) Division 4 Division 5 Division 6 Division 7 Term Expires 2017 Term Expires 2015 Term Expires 2017 Term Expires 2015 GERALD MORROW DR. JEANETTE NuCKOLLS PETER GROOM GREG BRADLEY Chicago (Dunbar) urbana (university) Oak Park (Fenwick) Forsyth (Decatur Christian) At-Large At-Large At-Large Treasurer Term Expires 2015 Term Expires 2016 Term Expires 2017 Appointed By Board ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION s 7 Aledo (Mercer County) Danville (H.S.) Arlington Heights (Hersey) Darien (Hinsdale South) Ashland (A-C Central) Decatur (MacArthur) Aurora (Central Catholic) Deerfield Beecher Des Plaines (Maine West) Belleville (East) Downers Grove (North) Belleville (West) Dunlap Berwyn-Cicero (Morton) Dupo Bloomington Dwight Buffalo Grove East Peoria Burbank (Reavis) East St. Louis Camp Point (Central) Edwardsville (H.S.) Carbondale (H.S.) Elgin (H.S.) Cary (C.-Grove) Elk Grove Village (E.G.) Centralia (H.S.) Elmwood Champaign (Centennial) Evanston (Twp.) Champaign (Central) Fairfield Champaign Farmington (St. Thomas More) Fieldcrest Charleston Fithian (Oakwood) Chatham (Glenwood) Flora (H.S.) Leadership Chicago Flossmoor (Homewood-F.) (Agricultural Science) Frankfort (Lincoln-Way Chicago North) Executive Director Marty Hickman announced that he would retire in January, 2016 after 25 years at the (CICS/Longwood) Freeburg IHSA, including serving as the Executive Director since 2001. Hickman’s tenure as Executive Chicago (Curie) Freeport (H.S.) Chicago (De La Salle) Galena Director included unprecedented growth in participation opportunities for students, as the IHSA added Chicago (Gordon Tech) Galesburg Chicago (Hope) Geneva State Series in several sports and activities, including Boys Bowling, Competitive Cheerleading, Chicago Gibson City (Jones College Prep) (Melvin-Sibley) Competitive Dance, Journalism and Boys & Girls Water Polo. In addition, the IHSA became the first Chicago (Lake View) Glasford (Illini Bluffs) state association in the country to offer Bass Fishing in 2011, while also adding programs for Athletes Chicago (Latin) Glenview Chicago (Leo) (Glenbrook South) with Disabilities in several sports under Hickman’s leadership in 2012. To honor Hickman’s service, the Chicago (Marist) Grayslake (North) Chicago Gurnee (Warren) Board voted in June to rename the IHSA Foundation golf outing in his honor. (Mother McAuley) Henry (H.-Senachwine) Chicago (Mt. Carmel) Herrin Chicago (Orr) Highland Chicago (Payton) Hinsdale (Central) Chicago (Perspective Hoffman Estates (H.S.) Charter Schools) Hudson Chicago (Phillips) Huntley Chicago Jacksonville Coming Full Circle (Solorio Academy) (Illinois School for the Chicago (St. Ignatius) Visually Impaired) Chicago (St. Patrick) Jerseyville (Jersey) In September, then Chicago (Robeson) Principal Gerald Chicago (Taft) Joliet (Central) , currently the principal at Chicago (Dunbar), was Chicago (W. Payton Knoxville Morrow College Prep) LaGrange (Lyons) appointed to the IHSA Board of Directors. Morrow won an Chicago (Whitney Young) LaGrange Park Cissna Park (Nazareth Academy) IHSA Boys Basketball state title as a student-athlete at Columbia Lake Forest (H.S.) Country Club Hills Lake Villa (Lakes) Chicago (King) and then later officiated the state tournament. (Hillcrest) Lanark (Eastland) Dakota Lemont (H.S.) He is the first Chicago Public Schools representative to serve on the Board since 2010.