Page 5 - 2016 IHSAA Annual Report

A Letter from the Chairman of the Executive Committee

Dear Friends:

This year’s IHSAA annual report, “The Passion and Pageantry of Indiana
High School Sports,” does an excellent job of capturing the feelings that
percolate inside most Hoosiers when they attend an athletic event hosted by
one of our Association’s 408 member-schools.

Whether you are an athlete or a coach, a parent or community leader, a
principal or superintendent, a current student, a loyal alum or a fourth
grader looking forward to high school, few things stir the spirit quite like
seeing your favorite team take the field. The band plays, the crowd erupts,
school colors fly high, and—once again—all is right with the world.

It’s my privilege as Chairman of the Executive Committee to remind you
that, in addition to helping to generate untold feelings of passion and
Paul Neidig is
chairman of the pageantry among hundreds of thousands of fans every year, the IHSAA also
IHSAA Executive has an important purpose. Our Association’s mission is to encourage and
Committee direct wholesome amateur athletics in the high schools of Indiana, a task
that isn’t always easy in a society that is becoming increasingly self-serving,
expectant and competitive.

To this end, I’d like to thank the Commissioner of the IHSAA, the Assistant
Commissioners and our entire staff for their ongoing commitment to regu-
late, supervise and administer the 21 sports that our Association sanctions.
Their challenges are endless, and they tackle them with the highest sense of
professionalism, neutrality, integrity and goodwill. In a sense, it is through
their ongoing efforts that “the passion and pageantry” of high school sports
are being nurtured and protected so that future generations can enjoy them
as well.

The accolades don’t end with our administrative staff. They also are
extended to game officials who enforce the rules, coaches who not only
preach, but practice, fair play and good sportsmanship, and the parents of
our student-athletes who support and reinforce the lessons being taught on
the field of play.

The success of high school sports requires a broad-based, collaborative
effort. Thanks to all of you who help make attending a high school athletic
event in Indiana such a positive and memorable experience.

Sincerely,
Paul Neidig

Chief Administrative Officer/Director of Athletics
Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation

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