Page 162 - 2023-24 By-Laws

History of IHSAA

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 immedi-
ately 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 Associa-
tion history by the Executive Committeee 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 be-
come 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 South-
eastern 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 as-
sume 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 oper-
ates 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.
The primary purpose of the organizers of the IHSAA, to manage and to foster high school

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