Tackett Named Seventh KHSAA Commissioner

April 13, 2010

Kentucky High School Athletic Association


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Lexington, KY -- Julian Tackett has been named the seventh Commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and will assume the position on June 1, 2010, the KHSAA Board of Control announced at its meeting on April 13.

Tackett will succeed current Commissioner Brigid DeVries, who will retire on July 9, 2010 after more than 30 years of service to the Association, including the last eight as Commissioner.

"The opportunity to follow in the line of outstanding leaders at the KHSAA is daunting as the past Commisioners have certainly set the bar very high," said Tackett. "But with the Board's support, continued hard work by our staff, and the cooperation of our member school administrators and coaches, we will all continue to strive to do what's best for the high school student-athletes in Kentucky."

Tackett, current Executive Assistant Commissioner of the KHSAA, has served the organization for 26 years. His career with the Association began in 1984 when he was named the KHSAA's first Sports Information Director. In that role he served as the Association's chief public relations officer and primary media contact. He was responsible for news releases, maintained records of all KHSAA activities and supervised the design, production and printing of all state championship game programs, Association Handbook and other official publications.

He was promoted to Business Affairs Director in 1991, where he served as the Association's chief financial officer. In that position Tackett oversaw the Association's budget and finances, audited event revenue, attendance and expense records, duties he continues today. While Business Affairs Director, he overhauled the Association's long-term debt on its facility.

In 1995, he was named Assistant Commissioner and continued to oversee on-site and advance facility arrangements for boys' and girls' state basketball and football championship events including housing, ticketing, worker identification and communication, billing settlement and facility setup. He has also directed all aspects of championship play in all rounds for the sports of baseball, cross country, football, track and field, and wrestling.

A high school and college official for more than 20 years in football and basketball, Tackett oversees the Association's officials division. He currently serves as chair of the football rules committee for the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), is a member of the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee, is a member of the American Sport Education Program National Faculty and serves as liaison to the Kentucky Medical Association Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.

Tackett also heads the Association's technology efforts, supervising Internet and Web site development, telephone and data systems.

"Julian has the knowledge and experience to do a great job as Commissioner of the KHSAA," said KHSAA Commissioner Brigid DeVries. "He has the right combination of management and sports knowledge to continue to move the Association to the next level."

Tackett is a 1982 graduate of Transylvania University and received his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky in 1991.

Tackett, a 1978 Bryan Station High School graduate, resides in Lexington with his wife Donna.

UPCOMING EVENTS/MEETINGS

Date	Event
April 18	Officials Banquet, KHSAA Office, Lexington
April 25	Forcht Group of Kentucky/Kentucky National Insurance Sportsmanship Banquet, KHSAA Office, Lexington
May 15	Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame Banquet, Bluegrass Ballroom, Lexington Center, Lexington

-- KHSAA --
About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501 3(c) organization made up of 280 member schools both public and private. The KHSAA sanctions state championships in 19 sports, licenses and trains over 3,900 officials, provides catastrophic insurance for its member school student athletes as well as overseeing coaching education and medical symposium programs.