September 29, 2015

From:                    Tim Erickson, President

OIAAA

RE:                          “ALL IN” Membership Initiative

The Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (OIAAA) is proud to recognize the first group of schools who have met the “ALL IN” Membership initiative for the 2015-2016 school year.  The first two groups represent each of the schools and athletic directors in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference and the Licking County League. The schools are:

ECC:

Anderson High School                    Chris Newton

Glen Este High School                    Dan Simmons

Kings High School                             Tyler Miller

Loveland High School                     Julie Renner

Milford High School                         Mark Trout

Turpin High School                           Eric Fry

Walnut Hills High School                Tom Donnelly

Withrow High School                      Rayshawn Walton

LCL:

Granville High School                      Kevin Jarrett

Heath High School                           Jeff Sheets

Johnstown High School                 Kristie Chumney

Lakewood High School                   Bo Hanson

Licking Heights High School          Karen Kecskes

Licking Valley High School             Mark McCullough

Newark Catholic High School       Scott Harris

Northridge High School                 Justin Grieger

Utica High School                             Brian Radabaugh

Watkins Memorial High School   Adam Rose

Each of these athletic directors have become both OIAAA and National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) members for the 2015-2016 school year.  Other school leagues in Ohio have until December 31, 2015 to achieve 100% dual membership (both OIAAA and NIAAA) to earn the “ALL IN” recognition.

The Strasburg–Franklin Local School District (Strasburg, OH; Tuscarawas County) has announced that all interscholastic coaches (grades 7 through 12) are required to earn national coaching certification beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.  The district will require that all Strasburg coaches, both paid and volunteer, complete the National Federation of High School Association’s (NFHS) Accredited Interscholastic Coach (AIC) certification prior to in-season coaching.

Strasburg-Franklin becomes the first school district in Ohio that now requires the national interscholastic coach certification which has become available to coaches across the country since 2009. The Strasburg Local Board of Education approved the requirement in June and will assist the Strasburg Local Athletic Department in covering the expenses for the additional training of the coaches.

AIC certification requires completion of the following NFHS online courses:  “Fundamentals of Coaching”, “First Aid and Safety for Coaches”, “Concussion in Sports” and a sport-specific course of the user’s choosing.  Strasburg coaches must also maintain a current Ohio Department of Education “Pupil Activity Permit” as required by all Ohio interscholastic coaches.

“We are building a culture of learning within our school district that truly is reflected in all aspects of student engagement”, stated Strasburg-Franklin Local Schools Superintendent, Cynthia Brown.  “We perceive all of our athletic personnel as ‘teacher-coaches’ inasmuch as they are an extension of our educational mission beyond the academic classroom.  Our expectations of coaches are really no less than what we aspire to during the regular school day.”

Strasburg athletic administrator, Gary Spinell, approached Mrs. Brown and the Board of Education in the spring of 2015 with the initiative to have all staff coaches trained and to acquire the AIC certification.  “Our coaches have always realized the huge responsibility and

impact they have with our students and they strive to constantly improve”, says Spinell.  “With the ever-changing landscape of sports, our coaches need to be on the cutting edge of best practices.  Coaches are expected to improve individual and team performance, on and off the athletic field of play.  By becoming certified, our coaches are assisting our students to have the best opportunities for success both in school and in the future!”

Although one of the smaller schools in Ohio, Strasburg has a rich athletic tradition.  Student engagement with athletics is popular; in the 2014-2015 school year, 158 of the 256 students in grades 7 through 12 (62%) participated in at least one interscholastic sport.

Strasburg-Franklin Local Schools Board of Education president, Robyn Burkett, states, “The expectations of our community and school stakeholders is that we maximize opportunities to prepare our children for success in life.  We have always established meaningful standards for our academic teachers to achieve and maintain.  We value education-based athletics in the same context and desire our coaches to mirror our District’s mission on the playing fields.”

For additional information regarding the Strasburg Local School District Coach Education initiative, contact Strasburg Director of Athletics, Gary Spinell, at gary.spinell@strasburgtigers.org.  For information on the NFHS Accredited Interscholastic Coach certification, go to: www.nfhslearn.com.