5 replies to this topic

[MCguy]

http://www.ohsaa.org...ces-Resignation

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Dr. Dan Ross, Executive Director of the Ohio High School Athletic Association since 2004, announced his resignation, effective September 15. The OHSAA Board of Directors accepted Dr. Ross’ resignation letter Thursday at its regularly-scheduled January meeting.

Dr. Ross began his duties as the OHSAA’s ninth commissioner on Aug. 1, 2004. He has worked in education as a teacher, administrator and official since 1971, spanning a career of 48 years that is not yet finished.

“We would like to thank Dr. Ross for all that he has done for the OHSAA and our member schools,” said Paul Powers, president of the OHSAA Board of Directors and athletic administrator at Aurora High School in northeast Ohio. “Dan has done so many great things for high school sports in Ohio and has touched everyone associated with the OHSAA in such a positive way.”

Making ‘education-based athletics’ the pillar of his 14 years at the OHSAA, Dr. Ross plans to continue his passion for education and school sports in other areas. The OHSAA Board of Directors will begin implementing a succession plan and assemble a search committee for the OHSAA’s next executive director.

“I have been so blessed to serve our member schools in this capacity for 14 years,” Dr. Ross said. “I don’t plan to retire from my work of promoting all the positive things that school sports can do for our kids, schools and communities. We’ll see what the future holds for me. It’s time for me to step aside and allow for new leadership of the OHSAA. I would like to thank our current and former staff members and board members who I have worked with during my time at the OHSAA.”

“Dr. Ross has been the perfect person to lead the OHSAA,” Powers said. “He is respected by so many groups, such as administrators, coaches, officials, leaders of the other professional educational associations, lawmakers, the media and his fellow executive directors at other state associations. The list goes on and on. Being the head of an organization that enforces rules and regulations and has to make decisions that are not often popular is difficult. But anyone who has ever come in contact with Dan will tell you that he has made them feel special and always followed the motto that is on the pin he often wears on his lapel that says ‘children first.’”

Under Dr. Ross’ leadership, the OHSAA has added girls and boys bowling, dual team wrestling and girls and boys lacrosse, while also adding additional divisions in girls soccer, girls golf, boys swimming and football. In addition, the OHSAA added events for seated athletes at the state track and field championships beginning in 2013.

In 2011 Dr. Ross began the groundwork for the Competitive Balance initiative in light of a potential split between public and private schools. The Competitive Balance plan was passed by a referendum vote of OHSAA member schools in 2014 and successfully implemented in 2016.

Dr. Ross has strengthened the OHSAA’s partnerships with other educational service organizations by forming advisory committees with the state school boards, superintendents, principals and athletic administrators associations. He saw the OHSAA expand and diversify its Board of Directors and district athletic boards by adding female, ethnic minority and 7th-8th grade representatives. A standard statewide coaches education program was also adopted, which is required for certification.

Since his arrival, the OHSAA has strengthened its brand and awareness by creating the OHSAA Circle of Champions, increasing statewide television coverage of state tournaments, creating the OHSAA Radio Network, upgrading the OHSAA website and adding the OHSAA Magazine.

Dr. Ross is a native of Portsmouth, Ohio, and graduated from Columbus St. Charles High School (1967). He holds degrees from Ohio Dominican University (bachelor’s, 1971), Xavier University (master’s, 1973) and Bowling Green State University (Ph. D., 1983). Among the many positions he held prior to joining the OHSAA was superintendent of the Patrick Henry Local Schools (1983-86), Pickerington Local Schools (1986-97) and Avon Lake City Schools (1997-04). He was also a registered OHSAA contest official for 20 years in the sports of baseball, basketball and volleyball. He and his wife, Kris, have four grown children and their spouses, and nine grandchildren.

[General Tso]

"Dr. Ross plans to continue his passion for education and school sports in other areas."

Can anyone say kickbacks!!!!!!!! The article also left out the part that describes how basketball attendance at state has dropped dramatically. Anyone have an opinion why that is?

[Rocketman]

General Tso, on 18 January 2018 - 06:55 PM, said:

"Dr. Ross plans to continue his passion for education and school sports in other areas."

Can anyone say kickbacks!!!!!!!! The article also left out the part that describes how basketball attendance at state has dropped dramatically. Anyone have an opinion why that is?

Too many games
Exorbitant ticket prices
OHSAA graft
Non-competitive games
Incompetent refs

[Hound Dog]

Good.

Here's what I would suggest to do if I had the job.

Move Basketball back to 3 Divisions.
Have the fans from the local schools sit behind the benches and not the baskets at the state championships.

Football I would move back to 6 DIvisions.

As for the referees. I would allow the ratings to be public to the referees so they know where they stand when it comes to getting rewarded for doing a good job. This would eliminate the "Good ole boys" club that only rewards refs that buddies or attend certain camps in the summer, etc.

Edited by Hound Dog, 18 January 2018 - 08:24 PM.

[charliesheen]

Hound Dog, on 18 January 2018 - 08:22 PM, said:

Good.

Here's what I would suggest to do if I had the job.

Move Basketball back to 3 Divisions.
Have the fans from the local schools sit behind the benches and not the baskets at the state championships.

Football I would move back to 6 DIvisions.

As for the referees. I would allow the ratings to be public to the referees so they know where they stand when it comes to getting rewarded for doing a good job. This would eliminate the "Good ole boys" club that only rewards refs that buddies or attend certain camps in the summer, etc.

Unfortunately the referee thing is never going to happen. The shortage of referees is getting is getting to the point that there is fear of games being cancelled/postponed/rescheduled in multiple sports in the next year or so because of the shortage. As much as the fans would like it...espcially in some cases (we all can name a few) it's not going to happen.

[waterloowonder]

Dr. Ross has done a pretty good job at the OHSSA. He tried to tackle the elephants in the room - big city private schools playing in lower divisions & transfer issues. His solutions are not perfect but are a start. Other than the shortage of referees, they are not a problem. The physicality of the game and lower skill level of players makes it very difficult to officiate. State Tournament attendance is down for several reasons. Big city private schools playing in lower divisions bring no fans. People in general don't follow HS sports like they use to. Ticket prices could be a little lower, but that is not the major issue. Tickets - good seats - are certainly easy to get. It will be interesting to see who they get to replace him.