Page 161 - 2023-24 By-Laws

History of IHSAA

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 ef-
fective 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 as-
sistant 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 ac-
tive 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 Associa-
tion’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
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