New NFHS Officers, Board Members Elected for 2024-25 Include WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser

Bob Lombardi, executive director of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), is the new president of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for 2024-25. Lombardi, the 65th president of the NFHS, began his one-year term July 2 following the NFHS Summer Meeting, which was held this year in Boston, Massachusetts.

Ron Nocetti, executive director of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), was elected by the NFHS Board of Directors to the position of president-elect for the upcoming year.

The following individuals were approved by the NFHS National Council for four-year terms on the NFHS Board of Directors: Stephanie Hauser, executive director, Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), Section 4; Billy Strickland, executive director, Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA), Section 8; and D’Wayne Bates, assistant principal/athletic director, Glenbard East High School, Lombard, Illinois, at large, Sections 1 and 4.

Bob Lombardi has been a member of the PIAA administrative staff for the past 36 years and has been the organization’s executive director since 2012.

As one of the nation’s longest-tenured state association administrators, Lombardi has served the PIAA in a number of ways since joining the staff in 1988. Over the years, he has been tournament director for most PIAA championships. He started his career at the PIAA as assistant executive director and, after five years, was promoted to associate executive director prior to assuming the head position 11 years ago.

As PIAA executive director, Lombardi handles bylaw interpretations, strategic planning, fiscal management, office operations, the PIAA Foundation and legislative affairs.

Lombardi, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Stroudsburg University and his doctorate in sports administration from the University of New Mexico, is recognized as the founding father of the PIAA Officials Convention. At the national level, Lombardi was chair of the NFHS Soccer Rules Committee, and he served a term on the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee.

Ron Nocetti was named the CIF’s ninth executive director in 2019. He is responsible for appeals, the CIF constitution and bylaws, interpretations, section commissioners, eligibility, CIF Executive Committee/Federated Council, legislation, sports medicine and liaison to the NFHS.

Before succeeding Roger Blake as the leader of the CIF, Nocetti had been the CIF’s associate executive director since 2012. Nocetti, who heads the CIF’s 10 sections and more than 1,600 member schools, has been involved in education since 1991 as a teacher, coach, athletic director and administrator. In 2008, he was hired as the CIF director of championship events, promoted to senior director shortly thereafter before becoming the associate executive director.

As associate executive director, Nocetti was responsible for advisory committee membership, budget/finances, contracts, equity, legislation, the participation census, the Pursuing Victory with Honor program, sports medicine, as well as administering the sports of baseball, football and golf.

Nocetti received his bachelor’s degree in economics, a master’s degree in sport management and a doctorate in educational leadership – all from the University of San Francisco.

Stephanie Hauser has been executive director of the WIAA since July 2021 after serving as assistant director from 2015 to 2021. In addition to overseeing administrative operations for the WIAA, Hauser’s responsibilities include classifications, elections, contracts, and legislative and legal matters.

During her time as an assistant director, Hauser handled the sports of gymnastics, softball and volleyball, as well as track and field, and cross country in her first two years. She was also responsible for overseeing the Coaches Advisory Committee and conference realignment.

Since joining the WIAA, Hauser has been involved at the national level as well, serving as chair of the NFHS Gymnastics Rules Committee from 2018 to present. She also served on the NFHS Student Services Committee and made a workshop presentation at the 2018 Summer Meeting.

Hauser came to the WIAA from Stevens Point Area Senior High School, where she served eight years as athletic director/assistant principal. From 2003 to 2007, she served in a similar capacity at New London School District. During her time at Stevens Point High School, Hauser was a member of the WIAA Sports Advisory Committee and the Volleyball Coaches Advisory Committee.

Hauser is a 1991 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a degree in secondary chemistry education. She received a master’s in education leadership from Marian College in 1997 and is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Hauser was a member of the UW-Superior women’s basketball and softball teams, and was named team captain and most valuable player of the women’s volleyball team, receiving all-conference honorable mention.

Billy Strickland has been ASAA executive director since 2015. In this role, he oversees sports, music, drama and academic competitions for high school students across Alaska. Strickland is responsible for ASAA operations, staff, finances, eligibility, waivers and ASAA Board of Directors, and he also serves on the ASAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. His leadership ensures that these activities promote not only athletic and artistic excellence but also educational values, sportsmanship and personal growth among students.

Prior to his career at the ASAA, Strickland dedicated 25 years to the Lower Kuskokwim School District. His duties at Lower Kuskokwim included teacher, coach and administrator, providing Strickland a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within Alaskan education.

Strickland is a graduate of Bethel (Alaska) Regional High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University and his teaching certification from Henderson State University, both located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Nationally, Strickland is in the final year of a four-year term as chair of the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee.

D’Wayne Bates began his career in secondary education in 2005 after his retirement from the National Football League and has served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and athletic director at four schools in the greater Chicago area since that time, including his current duties as athletic director and assistant principal at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Illinois.

Bates was a highly recruited two-sport (football, baseball) athlete from Silver Bluff High School in Aiken, South Carolina. He was named South Carolina State Player of the Year and earlier this year was inducted into Silver Bluff’s inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame class.

Although drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, Bates opted to play football at Northwestern University. Despite suffering a season-ending injury in the first game of his junior year, Bates caught 210 passes in three years and remains Northwestern’s all-time leading receiver. In 2005, Bates was inducted into the Northwestern Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a first-generation college graduate (1998) upon acquiring a bachelor’s degree in education and social policy from Northwestern. He then earned two master’s degrees from University of Phoenix and North Park University in teaching and educational leadership.

Bates was drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. After three years in Chicago, Bates was signed by the Minnesota Vikings, and he had his best season in 2002 with 50 receptions and four touchdowns. Bates retired in 2005 after one season with Tampa Bay and after serving as a volunteer coach at Evanston Township High School, he was inspired to become a full-time educator.

Following his initial duties at Evanston Township, Bates served at Marshall High School in Chicago, and as athletic director at LaSalle-Peru Township High School in LaSalle, Illinois, before assuming his current duties at Glenbard East. Bates currently is an at-large member of the Illinois High School Association Board of Directors.

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Author: David Keech

David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]