Lee Green, one of the most significant contributors to High School Today magazine for 15 years and one of this nation’s top experts in legal issues in high school sports for more than 30 years, passed away February 24 at his home in South Padre Island, Texas. 

Green was a charter member of the High School Today Publications Committee and wrote the Legal Issues article in 120 issues of the magazine – from the first issue in May 2007 until his final article in the May 2022 issue. Altogether, Green wrote a total of 214 articles during his 15 years on the committee.

Green’s knowledge and history of legal issues facing high school sports, along with his effective and easily understandable writing style, and his desire to help high school administrators effectively address those issues was unmatched.

Green kept readers of High School Today updated on key legal issues such as amateurism, concussions, disability, discrimination, labor standards, event security, hazing, religion, liability for injuries, sexual harassment, student speech rights, Title IX and transgender – among others.

And if you missed any of his articles in the seven other issues of the magazine each year, the January issue was a “keeper” with his comprehensive review of sports law issues the previous 12 months. 

In addition to the 120 legal articles and 87 Legal Briefs, Green wrote several non-legal articles over the years. Topping those contributions was his Sports Venues piece on Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, and an It All Started Here article on Louis Zamperini, subject of the 2014 book and movie “Unbroken.” 

“Though he was in declining health for a number of years, Lee never focused on his own maladies; he always had a smile on his face and wanted to know about you and praise you,” said Bruce Howard, NFHS publications and communications director and editor of High School Today. “He was one of the most selfless people I’ve ever known. When you combine his work with the NFHS through High School Today with his enormous contributions as the legal expert with the NIAAA, Lee’s overall impact on high school sports administration was second to none. He was one-of-a-kind and will be sorely missed.”

Green, one of the leading sports law experts in the United States, was an attorney and professor at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, for 30 years before retiring in 2016. He taught sports law, constitutional law and business law at Baker.

Green, who received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and a juris doctorate from the University of Kansas School Law, began his association with the NFHS and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) in the late 1980s when both organizations were located in Kansas City. 

Green assisted with the development of four NIAAA Leadership Training Institute legal courses, and he regularly presented sports law seminars and workshops at the local, state and national levels, including the annual Sports Law Year in Review at the National Athletic Directors Conference (NADC). He made his last presentation at the 2021 NADC in Denver, Colorado. 

In recognition of his contributions to these organizations, Green was honored with the NFHS Citation and the NIAAA Award of Merit – both in 2017.  The final two charter members who are still serving on the HST Publications Committee worked alongside Green for 15 years and were deeply saddened but had great respect for his immense contributions.

“I am deeply saddened by our dear friend’s passing,” said Steffen Parker, a music educator from Vermont who has served as the performing arts and technology member on the committee. “I cherish the times we had with Lee and note the immense impact he had on high school activities and the lives of all who knew him.”

“To sit two seats away from Lee Green for 15 years at our High School Today meetings was an honor and a privilege, and that is heartfelt,” said David Hoch, a retired coach and athletic director from Maryland who has attended every HST Publications Committee meeting since the beginning in 2007. “Many saw Lee's intellect, knowledge and wisdom in his Sports Law in Review presentation at the National Athletic Directors Conference, his teaching of the legal Leadership Training courses, and his extensive writing efforts, but there was much more to Lee Green. He was unpretentious, generous and had a great sense of humor. Lee always was positive, engaging, concerned about others, and always willing to help. To say that he was one of a kind would be a gross understatement. Lee Green was an absolute giant, and I hope that I can also say that he was a friend. Anyone who ever worked with Lee, met him, attended one of his sessions, or read one of his excellent, informative articles will miss him greatly. Well done, Lee, and thanks for your inspiration, help and friendship.”

“Lee Green was the creator of the NIAAA’s professional development program legal issues in athletics courses,” said Peg Pennepacker, a member of the HST Publications Committee and a retired athletic director from Pennsylvania. “Lee patiently and effectively conveyed the importance of understanding legal implications for athletic directors in their daily job routine in a non-threatening way. I had the honor and pleasure of teaching with Lee for over 20 years. Lee was amazingly generous with his sharing of legal knowledge and took the time to mentor me and others as NIAAA national faculty members. He had a tremendous impact on my life both professionally and personally. It is Lee Green whom I credit with igniting the passion that I have for Title IX law. I will forever be grateful for what Lee has shared with me over so many years and I know his memory and spirit will always be with the NIAAA family.” 

“I’m so very sorry to hear about Lee’s passing,” said Treva Dayton, another charter member from Texas who recently retired after 16 years on the committee. “What a wonderful human being – and friend – he was. He will be missed by the countless people who were lucky enough to know him.”

“Lee was an amazing athletic advocate and leader,” said Steve Amaro, another member of the HST Publications Committee and current principal of Freedom High School in Oakley, California. “Definitely going to miss our conversations and his mentorship.”

“Lee possessed the most calming demeanor that made athletic administrators feel at ease while growing as professionals,” said Phil Rison, CMAA, executive director of the NIAAA. “All athletic administrators and state associations are indebted to the service of Lee Green, as he prepared the way for others to expect the unexpected in the day-to-day world of education-based athletics.”

Green was the author of three books on sports law – Covering All The Bases: The Athletic Administrator & Coach’s Guide to Sports Law & Risk Management; A Level Playing Field: The Athletic Administrator & Coach’s Guide to Title IX & Gender Equity in Sports; and Sexual Harassment In Schools & Athletic Programs: A Guide to Policy Development & Prevention. He also authored the sports law chapter in the textbook, The NIAAA Guide to Interscholastic Athletic Administration.

In addition to seminars and workshops for the NFHS and NIAAA, Green was a presenter on behalf of other state high school associations, as well as the NAIA and NCAA, and he served as a sports law consultant to universities and schools districts across the country. 

Green first began his teaching career at Baker in the fall of 1986. His contract was for one year, and in that one year, Green was able to decide between teaching or practicing law. He fell in love with teaching, and Baker – and the thousands of people involved with the NFHS and NIAAA with whom he has worked – are glad he chose that route.

Green’s favorite experiences at Baker were his travel interterms in which he took students to places of interest around the world. If it was a presidential inauguration year, Green took his students to Washington, D.C. Other trips included a trip to Cooperstown, New York, after which he wrote the HST article, a New York City trip and one overseas to London, Normandy and Paris.

During his 30 years at Baker, he was selected five times by the student body as the “Outstanding Professor” on campus. He also received the Distinguished Faculty Award and the Koepke Award for Distinguished Teaching. He also served 10 years as the university’s compliance officer for athletics.

Green is survived by his brother Lane Green, former district director of athletics and activities for the Blue Valley School district in Overland Park, Kansas.