August is here and with that brings the kick-off of the 2017-2018 high school athletic calendar.
As athletes and coaches throughout the Southern Buckeye Athletic & Academic Conference (SBAAC) begin putting in the work for the season ahead, they also have their eyes set on several exciting changes happening within the conference, according to a press release from the league.
The SBAAC will have new member schools, new athletic programs and a new commissioner.
G. Warren McConnell will be the conference commissioner, after years of having educated, competed, and coached within the league. He has served many years as an OHSAA licensed official.
Beyond the high school level, he also has experience competing and coaching with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) schools and athletes. Among these endeavors, he has won Coach of the Year Awards, coached numerous high school state qualifiers, state champions, collegiate All-Americans, and two professional athletes.
Darrell Edwards, Superintendent Goshen Local Schools and search committee member, said, “The search committee did a great job in selecting Warren McConnell. His experience at the high school and collegiate level make him a great fit for the recently expanded SBAAC.”
Keith Millard, Supt. of Batavia Local Schools, chaired the search committee.
“I feel confident that Mr. McConnell has the mixture of experience and familiarity with the league to provide the type of direction and leadership the SBAAC seeks as we move forward in the 2017-2018 school year,” Millard said.
McConnell replaces long-time commissioner Pat Hill. Hill will step aside from the Commissioner duties but continue her affiliation with the SBAAC by filling the role of Secretary/Treasurer.
Along side McConnell, the SBAAC will usher in its newest members Clinton-Massie, East Clinton and Wilmington for all league competition and Fayetteville for football only.
These schools are joining current members Batavia, Bethel-Tate, Blanchester, Clermont Northeastern, Felicity-Franklin, Georgetown, Goshen, New Richmond, Western Brown, and Williamsburg. In addition to the heightened level of competition through the inclusion of the new member schools, the SBAAC has also expanded its field of play. This year, the conference will add competition in girls bowling, boys bowling and girls golf.
“This is great time for the SBAAC. We have several schools with recent post-season success including a state championship. Adding four schools that match our league’s commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes is important. And now we have added three new sports and a new commissioner,” stated New Richmond Supt. and President of the SBAAC Adam Bird.
