GHSA Executive Director to Resign as Deal Struck

ATLANTA, GA - Embattled Georgia High School Association Executive Director Gary Phillips will resign at the end of the current school year after the state high school athletics governing body agreed on Monday to honor his contract through next year.

The GHSA’s 66-member Executive Committee met in Thomaston and unanimously agreed to the deal in the hopes that Phillips’ departure will be enough to placate state lawmakers considering legislation that would abolish the GHSA and put state high school athletic, band and literary competitions under the auspices of the state. House Bill 415 and Senate Bill 203 are identical pieces of legislation that, if passed, would replace the GHSA with a new statewide governing body that would operate under the state Board of Education.

“The prevailing societal and political issues make this era as challenging as any in the GHSA's history,” Phillips said in a prepared statement released by the GHSA. “The overall experience of Georgia's student-athletes is not served by turning a blind-eye to the issues of athlete recruitment and eligibility-related fraud. The student-athlete experience is not served by pandering politicians who seek to disband the GHSA and replace it with a governmental body whose bylaws prohibit consideration of any geographic or residency-related factors in determining student-athlete eligibility. It is not served by personal agendas that diverge from the GHSA's mission. And, it is not served by knee-jerk opposition to the GHSA because of some perceived slight arising from past GHSA rulings or decisions. The only way that an organization like the GHSA can work is as a true team, where every person - both leadership and support personnel - has the respect and trust of every other person.”

Phillips, who had served as the GHSA’s Executive Director since succeeding the retired Ralph Swearngin in July 2014, added that he considered fighting for his job “to the bitter end,” but came to the conclusion that such a struggle would have benefitted no one, least of all his own family and the many student-athletes that the GHSA aims to support.

“Although, as with any organization, we have not been perfect, we have treated any missteps as opportunities to learn and improve,” Phillips said. “Overall, I am quite proud of what we have accomplished.”

His statement noted the results of a recent GHSA survey in which 271 (80 percent) of the 339 member schools who responded said they agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied overall with their membership within the GHSA.

“Ironically, despite the upheaval caused by the assertions of a tiny - but vocal - minority, the vast majority of the GHSA's member schools approve of the job that the GHSA is doing,” Phillips said.

GHSA officials declined further comment Monday.

Phillips’ouster comes on the heels of a bill introduced by state representative Rep. John Meadows that would abolish the GHSA and place high school athletic competitions under state control. The Calhoun Republican recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitutionthat he had received more complaints about the GHSA from schools, referees, coaches and parents than about everything else put together.

“… And I’m basically sick of it,” Meadows told the paper of his decision to push for ending the GHSA. “I don’t think they know what their job is.”

House Bill 415 specifically aims to “provide for definitions; to provide for a governing structure; to provide requirements for a board of directors; to provide for a representative assembly; to provide for a public liaison advisory committee; to provide for due process and appeals; to provide for amendments to the bylaws; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.”

Hoping to ward off the potential state action, Phillips announced last week that he would retire at the end of the current school year if the organization agreed to honor his contract through 2018.

The GHSA has been embroiled in a number of controversies over the years. One of the most notable incidents came during last year’s boys’ basketball state tournament games at the Macon Coliseum, when it was discovered the baskets had been placed about a foot too close to the baseline. Phillips opted to play on rather than delay the tournament after its start to fix the problem.

Located in Thomaston, the GHSA is comprised of more than 450 public and private high schools.

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