The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Monday, August 21, 2023, where the Board announced that IHSA Associate Executive Director Kurt Gibson will retire at the conclusion of the 2023-24 school year.
Gibson has served the IHSA membership for the past 22 years after joining the Association’s administrative staff as an Assistant Executive Director in 2002. He has positively impacted students in Illinois for over 30 years total, as his tenure at the IHSA was preceded by time as a teacher, coach, and school administrator.
“Working at the IHSA is never something I aspired to when I began my teaching career, but I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity given to me over two decades ago, as well as the support of the Board of Directors over these years,” said Gibson. “The work has been challenging at times, but it’s opened doors for my family and I that I would never have imagined. Like all of us, I’m a product of my upbringing, and I’m blessed to have had a number of positive role models, from family to teachers and coaches, in my life. I hope the efforts throughout my career have made them proud.”
Gibson’s versatility was on display throughout his time at the IHSA, as he oversaw numerous sports, activities, initiatives, and committees. The IHSA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee implemented numerous safety protocols related to concussions under his leadership, as well as new policies to aid athletes in pre-season sport acclimatization. In 2022, the IHSA conducted its inaugural Esports State Series, which followed several years of work behind the scenes by Gibson. He also chaired the committee that led to the formation of the IHSA’s Athletes With Disabilities divisions and his efforts overseeing the IHSA Officials Department last year coincided with the IHSA’s first increase in officials licenses in over a decade.
“Kurt Gibson’s impact on the IHSA is immeasurable,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “His fingerprints are on some of the most critical initiatives and decisions the IHSA has made over the past two decades. From Sports Medicine Advisory Committee to Esports to the IHSA Official Department, he has always been willing to take on new challenges and the positive results speak for themselves.”
Gibson currently administers Boys Golf, Boys Basketball, and Bass Fishing for the IHSA. He also oversees the IHSA Officials Department and is charged with leading the Association’s educational efforts among its member schools. He previously administered boys and girls gymnastics, boys and girls tennis, and softball as well.
“Over the course of my career, I’ve been blessed to meet and work with so many outstanding individuals who have been committed to helping young people enjoy a rich experience through junior high and high school athletics,” said Gibson. “Whether it’s been fellow administrators, coaches, or officials, it’s the efforts of so many that make the work we all do so rewarding.”
Gibson has administered IHSA boys basketball, the Association’s oldest and largest state tournament, throughout his entire tenure. He was tasked with shepherding several significant changes in the sport, including the implementation of the four-class system in 2008 and the return of America’s Original March Madness to the University of Illinois campus in Champaign-Urbana in 2022.
“I was lucky enough to have a lot of opportunities to work with Kurt throughout my coaching career,” said Robert Smith, who retired as the head boys basketball at Simeon Academy in Chicago after the 2022-23 season and made 11 state final trips during his coaching tenure. “I want to thank him for all that he did for Illinois high school basketball and Simeon Academy during his career at the IHSA. He will be missed within Illinois high school basketball, but I hope the next stage of his life is rewarding for him and his family.”
Gibson was the recipient of the NFHS Citation Award in 2020. The career achievement honor is one of the highest that can be bestowed upon a state high school association employee.
“Kurt’s legacy at the IHSA is innovation,” said Anderson. “Kurt was always looking ahead at what was next. Whether it be embracing new technology, social media, or the next sport or activity, he challenged himself and others to adapt and be forward-thinking. I believe each and every one of us at the IHSA has benefited from his guidance, mentorship, and teamwork.”
Gibson joined the IHSA staff in 2002 following two years as the Principal at Erie High School and was promoted to IHSA Associate Executive Director in 2010. The Belvidere native began his teaching and coaching career in the Iroquois West school district before assuming similar roles at Coal City High School, Hinckley-Big Rock High School and Manteno High School. He moved into administration at Manteno in 1998, serving as the Dean of Students and Athletic Director and was named the middle school Principal the next year, before assuming the same role at Erie High School in 2000.
The Belvidere High School graduate earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Radio/TV and Speech from Bradley University in 1988 and a Master’s Degree in Education from Governor’s State University in 1999.
The Association is in good hands, and I know it will continue to thrive and meet the changing needs of the membership as it moves through the 21st century, said Gibson. I have no doubt the staff will remember that, ‘Far and away the best prize life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing’.”
The IHSA plans to post Gibson’s opening later this fall and conduct interviews in December.
ACTION ITEMS
1. The Board approved a recommendation to award 18 medals to each of the three teams who win a team trophy at the IHSA Girls Wrestling State Finals.
2. The Board approved a recommendation to approve a budget for the 2023-24 school year.
3. The Board approved a recommendation to update the IHSA’s Document Retention Policy.
4. The Board approved a recommendation to modify the definition of a “tournament” in the IHSA handbook by eliminating language requiring it to take place over 10 days.
Tournament Definition Updated Language:
“Tournament – A competition involving three or more schools in which teams and/or athletes.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the August 21, 2023, agenda:
1. The Board discussed the IHSA Transgender Policy and its impact on student-athletes and competition. The Board will continue that discussion at the Board meeting on September 11, 2023.
2. The Board heard a report on the 2023 IHSA Officials Conference, which was held at Normal West High School on July 7-8.
3. The Board heard a report on the IHSA’s new partnership with Officially Human, which will feature a number of initiatives, including providing IHSA coaches and officials with Officially Human’s Elevate Respect course.
4. The Board heard a report on the concussion data collected by the IHSA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee during the 2022-23 school term.5. The Board heard a report that the IHSA will hold its annual New Administrators Workshop at the IHSA office in Bloomington on September 27, 2023. Individuals interested in attending can register online in the IHSA Schools Center.
6. The Board heard a report that the Country Financial Teacher Spotlight will return in 2023-24. Educators are encouraged to help recognize their peers via the 2023-24 Country Financial Teacher Spotlight Nomination Form
7. The Board heard a report on the third annual IHSA Pork and Pigskins State Championship sponsored by the Illinois Pork Producers. The first two years of the contest crowned the state’s best concessions stand pork chop sandwich, but the contest will expand in 2023 to include any pork fare cooked up by gameday concessions crew. For more info or to enter your school into the contest, click here
8. The Board heard a report that the IHSA is in the process of building an online eligibility database to streamline the process of collecting paperwork for eligibility rulings.
9. The Board heard a report on the annual All-School Mailing that provided member schools will important hard and digital copies of materials for the 2023-24 school year in early August.
10. The Board discussed a request by Chicago Preparatory Elearning and Elite Sports Academy to become an approved IHSA member school.
