The Arizona Interscholastic Association’s executive board unanimously voted for David Hines to succeed Dr. Harold Slemmer as the next AIA’s executive director.

The announcement came during Monday’s monthly AIA board meeting. Hines, the AIA’s current assistant executive director, first joined the AIA in 2008.

“It’s a real honor,” Hines said. “I look forward to working with the (AIA) board and the membership. We’ve got to continue to be positive and continue listening to what the membership is asking and doing, and we’ve got to help produce the best we can for them.”

Hines’ experience with Arizona’s high schools began when he attended Tempe High (Class of 1973).

He eventually joined the Mesa School District, serving that district for 30 years as an administrator, teacher and track, cross country and football coach. Among his roles with the AIA, Hines has served as a tournament coordinator and AIA member school liaison. 

“I’m sure Dave will be a great AIA director,” Dr. Slemmer said. “Nobody is better prepared and as well-liked as he is within our association."

Dr. Anna Battle of the Tempe Union High School District and Mike Sivertson of the Peoria Unified School District were also in the running for the executive director post.  

“First of all, the applicants that we narrowed it down to were extremely, extremely excellent individuals, who in their own different ways could have done the job,” AIA executive board president Jacob Holiday said. “But what helped separate David from the other two was, first of all, he had the backing of the AIA. He’s (also) a great listener. As executive board members we represent different conferences and organizations, and we went back to our conferences, the people we represent. And the consensus was since we are the voice of the AIA we felt we needed to honor that with the people we represent. David was that person. David is very, very polished. He’s been around the AIA, and he’s a doer. That’s what we felt we want leading the future for the AIA.”