The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors announced today that IHSA Assistant Executive Director Craig Anderson will be the seventh individual in the 114-year history of the association to serve as executive director.
Craig Anderson (IHSA photo)
“I am excited, proud and humbled,” he said. “I have incredibly big shoes to fill but certainly look forward to that challenge. Dating back to my time as a teacher, coach, and administrator, I have always had an affinity for the IHSA and its mission. I said in 2010 that working for the IHSA was a dream job. To ascend to the executive director role is beyond words.”
Mr Anderson graduated from Cambridge High School in Illinois in 1987, where he was a three-sport athlete and also participated in the music and drama programs. He will officially transition to his new position on Jan 18, following Marty Hickman’s retirement.
At the IHSA, Mr Anderson currently serves as administrator for football, wrestling, and baseball, and he oversees the IHSA Officials Department, where he’s in charge of the licensing and education programs for more than 15,000 officials at IHSA sports events. He’s also a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations Football Rules Committee and the chair of the NFHS Football Manual Committee.
“I am incredibly thankful to the committee and Board of Directors for their belief in me,” Mr Anderson said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the talented team of individuals here at the IHSA, as well as the dedicated administrators and coaches at our member schools. There is great tradition to uphold at the IHSA, while also preparing to face new challenges ahead.”
The association hired its first executive director, Charles W Witten, in 1922. He held the position until 1942 and was followed by Albert Willis (1942-1968), Harry Fitzhugh (1968-1978), Lavere L Astroth (1978-1991), and H David Fry (1991-2002). Mr Hickman became executive director in 2002, after Mr Fry.