Bob Gardner has been the executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations since May of 2010. He will be retiring from this position in August of 2018 after nearly 50 years of serving in secondary education. Gardner was only the fifth full-time executive director for the NFHS since 1940.
During his 18 years on the NFHS staff in Indianapolis, participation in high school sports has increased by almost 400,000, including the expanded opportunity for students with disabilities in high school sports. Gardner has led the organization’s focus on risk minimization in high school sports, with particular emphasis on concussion awareness, and has brought a heightened national presence to the work of the NFHS and its member state associations.
In addition to the continual expansion of the NFHS Learning Center during his tenure, Gardner is credited with starting the NFHS Network, the first-of-its-kind digital coverage of high school sports with more than 25,000 events covered during the 2016-17 school year.
He spent his career in Indiana as a teacher and coach at three schools for eight years and as an athletic director. In 1978, Gardner became principal of Milan Junior-Senior High School, followed by a stint as superintendent of the Milan Community Schools.
After serving on the Indiana High School Athletic Association board of directors during his time at Milan, Gardner joined the IHSAA staff in 1985 as assistant commissioner. He served 10 years in that role prior to becoming commissioner in 1995.
Gardner joined the NFHS staff in 2000 as chief operating officer and served in that position for 10 years prior to becoming executive director. During this time, he chaired the NFHS Rules Review Committee and was responsible for day-to-day operations of the organization. He has served on the board of directors for USA Football, USA Basketball and the Indiana Sports Corp. He is a member of the Indiana High School Wrestling Hall of Fame.
In today’s episode, we discuss:
- His career serving student-athletes
- The movie Hoosiers and the real-life story
- The future of High School sports
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Books, Resources, and Links Mentioned in the Podcast
Website: www.NFHS.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NFHS1920
Twitter: @nfhs_org
The High School Sports Network: www.nfhsnetwork.com
Coaching & Educational Courses: www.nfhslearn.com
Click here for the article about Bob’s upcoming retirement.
Past “Success is a Choice” podcast episodes of interest …
- Curtis Hollomon (NCAA) – Episode 064
- Travis Daugherty (HS Basketball Coach & Sports Parenting Author) – Episode 063
- Todd Gongwer (author of LEAD…for God’s Sake) – Episode 062
- Darrin Gray (All Pro Dads) – Episode 059
- Kevin Harrington (original Shark on “Shark Tank”) – Episode 021
- Bobby Cox (IHSAA Commissioner) – Episode 019
- Dwane Casey (Toronto Raptors head coach) – Episode 001
NFHS in Action
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