Brian Lewis named IHSAA Assistant Commissioner

Tuesday, July 27, 2021 - 22:50

INDIANAPOLIS - Brian Lewis, athletic director at Jasper High School, has been approved by the IHSAA Executive Committee to become an assistant commissioner.

Lewis was one of 10 finalists interviewed for the position and fills the vacancy left a year ago by Paul Neidig when he was named the new commissioner. His appointment date is yet to be determined.

He will administer the sports of boys and girls cross country, boys basketball, boys and girls track and field and unified track and field.

 

The 37-year-old Lewis comes to the IHSAA after 15 years in secondary education, the last three years as the athletic director at Jasper High School in southwest Indiana. There, he provided administrative direction and oversight to 21 athletic programs. Prior to that he worked five years as athletic director at Monrovia High School (2013-18) and served as head football coach and teacher at Evansville Harrison (2009-13), Columbia City (2007-09) and North Vermillion (2006-07) high schools.

Lewis has been an active member and served on several committees for both the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (IIAAA) and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) from which he earned a certified master athletic administrators (CMAA) license. He was also recently named to a three-year term on the IHSAA Foundation Board of Directors.

"I am pleased to announce that Brian Lewis has accepted our offer to serve as an assistant commissioner for the Indiana High School Athletic Association,” commented Commissioner Paul Neidig. “Brian brings a strong background in education-based athletics to the Association, along with an unbridled passion to serve student-athletes across our state.

 

Brian is a rising star in our profession, and we are extremely fortunate to have him join the IHSAA team."

During his career, Lewis has been a participant, head coach or administrator for IHSAA-member schools in classes 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A from various areas of the state. He has served as a member of multiple IHSAA realignment and participation committees and has hosted 75 state tournament events at the sectional, regional and semi-state rounds in various sports in recent years. He also has assisted in organizing the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals the last few years.

"I am extremely humbled and honored to have been selected as an assistant commissioner of the IHSAA,” Lewis said. “I have always been very passionate about education-based athletics and I look forward to serving the member schools and student-athletes throughout the state. I am excited to join Commissioner Neidig, the assistant commissioners, and the entire IHSAA staff as we continue to promote Indiana High School Athletics. We are all products of our personal experiences and I have been fortunate to learn from many great mentors, colleagues, and friends throughout my career. I would not be in this position without their help, guidance, and support over the years."

Lewis played football collegiately for four years while graduating from Indiana State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Education in 2006. He went on to earn an Master’s degree in Education from Oakland City University in 2011. Originally from Jasper, he is an alumnus of Jasper High School and was a starting running back on the Wildcats’ 2001 IHSAA Class 4A football state championship team.

Lewis and his wife, Brooke, an elementary school teacher in Jasper, have been married for 13 years. They have two children, Isabelle and Drew. He is also the grandson of the late former IHSAA Commissioner C. Eugene Cato (1983-95).

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