[charlie22]

Stardust you are not exactly right about this. My grandfather was on the KHSAA board for several years and Mr. Tackett only brings up what he wants to bring up. Yes the coaches bring forth motions and issues, but they can in fact stop at the door if Mr. Tackett wishes them to. Most of the officials in the KHSAA have not coached a single game and in many cases have not coach for several years. Why not bring in new YOUNG BLOOD that is up to date with kids today, and is in tune with how coaches feel about issues that are relevant. Recruiting, eligibility, examining current officials, FAIR alignment, and A.D. supervision should be the main attention of the KHSAA. Sportsmanship should also be a huge priority as well, but to tell a sanctioning body they don't have to show respect is terrible, and if issues like players and coaches acting like fools occur, show them the door, we don't want them coaching our kids, and we don't want disrespectful coaches coaching either.

And you are not exactly right about this either. I was on the BOC for two terms. I got off the BOC about 2 years ago, as no one can serve on the BOC for more than 2 consecutive terms.

Mr. Tackett cannot simply stop motions and ideas offered by coaches. That is not correct. The coaches appear at the BOC meetings and if the BOC likes what the coaches suggest, they can and do make the changes requested by the coaches, even if Mr. Tackett recommends to the contrary. If the BOC approves the requested change, Mr. Tackett as the Commissioner has to publicly support the change (even though he may have been against it). If I recall properly, Mr. Tackett preferred going to 5 classes in football. The coaches' committee was fine with going to 5 or 6 classes but preferred 6. A majority of the BOC members wanted 6. We now have 6 classes.

For argument's sake I'll agree that Mr. Tackett only brings up what he wants to bring up (I really don't agree with that though). Even if that is the case, each and every BOC member has the ability to bring things up on his or her own. Trust me, I proposed things that had Mr. Tackett's support; didn't have his support; and he was neutral on. I got consideration on all of my ideas. Many were shot down but Mr. Tackett had little to do with them being shot down.

Mr.Tackett, while influential on KHSAA decisions, is not some dictator controlling the BOC. Not even close. I experienced the BOC going against Mr. Tackett's recommendation many times. But he was always the professional and publicly supported the decisions of the BOC.

It would be nice if the KHSAA could show the door to coaches that display poor sportsmanship like you suggested, but the KHSAA does not have the authority to hire and fire a school's coaches. The KHSAA has sanctioned coaches which resulted the employing school to fire that coach. Then another school, well aware of the sanctions and the problems with that coach, hires him or her. The KHSAA could do nothing about the coaching being hired at the new school. A recent proposal passed by the school delegates will give the KHSAA some more power over that issue, but the proposal at this point is not law. It still has to be approved by KDE and the ARRS subcommittee of the General Assembly.

So people understand the organization and governance of the KHSAA:

There are 18 BOC members. 14 are elected by the schools (2 of the 14 must come from private schools and 2 of the 14 must be minorities); 4 are appointed by the State Board of Education. The BOC generally meets every other month.

In addition to Mr. Tackett serving as the Commissioner, there is an inhouse legal counsel and 5 or 6 Assistant Commissioners. Their role is to advise the BOC an issues and manage the decisions of the BOC. From my experience working with them, they did an outstanding job.

Each member school of the KHSAA has one delegate. The delegates meet each Fall. Any delegate can proposal a rule change, a new rule or the deletion of a rule. Any proposal must be approved by at least 2/3rds of the delegates present. If a proposal is adopted by the delegates, it still must be approved by the BOC; then the State Board of Education; and finally the ARRS subcommittee of the General Assembly before it becomes finally adopted.

There is a reason why the subcommittee of the General Assembly has the final say: the KHSAA is "owned" by the State; not the member schools.

The KHSAA uses committees of coaches, administrators and ADs to give it advise. When those committees have ideas that they want the KHSAA to consider, they are not shy about appearing at the BOC meetings and sharing those ideas. They DO NOT have to receive Mr. Tackett's approval.