Phil Rison, CMAA, will be elevated to executive director of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), effective January 2023. He is currently in his sixth year as associate executive director of the NIAAA after a 30-year administrator, teaching, and coaching career. Rison was chosen by the NIAAA Board of Directors to succeed Dr. Mike Blackburn, CMAA – who will be retiring January 2023 after directing the NIAAA since 2016.
Rison retired from Montgomery County Schools (Kentucky) in 2015 after 20 years serving various roles in the athletic department – including athletic administrator, assistant principal, director of operations, and assistant superintendent/director of student services. The first 10 years of Rison’s career were spent teaching and coaching basketball and baseball. He was honored to be selected as Teacher of the Year at Montgomery County High School in 1990. He attended Eastern Kentucky University and holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in education.
“It has been an honor serving the NIAAA under the leadership of Dr. Mike Blackburn, an excellent professional model, mentor, and friend. I am thankful for our continued time together in this year of transition. I am humbled by this appointment and embrace the challenge of continual growth that will directly benefit the NIAAA membership.” Rison said. “The cornerstone of the NIAAA has been and will continue to be the volunteerism of our members in reaching out and going beyond to grow and share by advancing their development professionally in challenging us all to be better. While lifting and assisting others we display excellent value to our coaches, communities, and student athletes.
Rison’s association with the NIAAA has included the full span of his athletic administration career. He became a Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) in 1998 and earned Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA) status in 2005. He served as National Faculty Chair for Leadership Training Course (LTC) 508 and with the leadership of attorney Lee Green, formulated the faculty for all three legal courses. He was appointed to the NIAAA Board of Directors representing Section 2 in 2009 and in 2013 Rison was selected as the 34th President of the NIAAA Board of Directors. As president, he appointed a Professional Development Task Force, which led to the first unified meeting of state coordinators for certification and Leadership Training Institute (LTI).
Teaming alongside Blackburn, NIAAA staff, and leadership over the past six years, Rison contributed to several expansive areas. The NIAAA worked with Cognia accreditation in 2020 to renew accredited principles that keep the association data driven and continuously improving. The association’s Leadership Training Institute curriculum has expanded by 15 courses to 53 overall. In addition, two levels of international certification were added to the certification program. Rison, working along with NIAAA staff, implemented all core courses in the NIAAA classroom platform in an online format. This has assisted members in earning their NIAAA certification.
“The NIAAA is a phenomenal ever-expanding association and without question Phil Rison is the right leader to continue to enhance and grow its programs and services,” said current executive director Mike Blackburn. “His communication abilities and leadership experiences will serve him well in his role as executive director. Phil possesses strong qualities including integrity, industriousness, compassion, foresight, and each of these qualities will serve him well. It has been a joy to lead with him, and a privilege to serve the NIAAA and its members. I am blessed, grateful, and cherish the NIAAA family.”
Rison was very involved in the Kentucky High School Athletic Directors Association (KHSADA) and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA). He was executive director of the KHSADA for one year and a member of the KHSADA Board of Directors from 1997 to 2008, including a term as president in 2006. He served the KHSAA as 10th/11th Region Policy for 16 years, serving as chair for 10 years. Rison also served as President of the Kentucky High School Coaches Association (KHSCA) in 1995.
Rison has received the NIAAA Award of Merit, NIAAA Distinguished Service Award, NIAAA Commendation, and the NIAAA State Award of Merit. He was the KHSADA Athletic Director of the Year in 2003, the Jim Watkins Award of Excellence recipient in 2019, the Bob Miller Outstanding Achievement/Service awarded by the KHSCA in 2017 and selected as 2015 District Level Administrator of the year by the Kentucky School Resources Officers. He was inducted into the 10th Region Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006.
Rison and his wife, Paula, have two adult children and two grandchildren.
