Harmon named new exective director for AHSAA

Heath Harmon was named as the new executive director of the AHSAA on Thursday, replacing Alvin Briggs, who will step down officially later this year. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

Alabama High School Athletic Association officials on Thursday introduced Heath Harmon as the organization’s sixth executive director, replacing Alvin Briggs. 

Where Harmon stands on critical issues facing the organization regarding the name, image and likeness of high school athletes in the state, where future championships may be played or the ongoing regulation of private schools is a question for another day after Harmon gets settled into the position. But, for now, he addressed members of the organization who may have some issue with the enforcement of rules and regulations governing the member schools.   

“First of all, I would say if we have a rule, we’re going to enforce the rule,” Harmon said. “If you don’t want that rule enforced, there are ways you can change the rule but we have rules for a reason. If I was to tell you the type of leader I am -- and I don’t want to bore you with the details of that -- but I consider myself a transformational leader. I like to build the capacity of everyone involved and be united in what we’re doing. But, also, the evolution of leadership is integrity.”

Harmon, 49, will be taking over his new role in early July. Briggs, who served as executive director since 2021, announced his plans to retire Sept. 1 earlier this spring.

“Mr. Heath Harmon is currently the principal at Oxford High School,” said AHSAA Central Board president Mike Welsh in announcing the hire. “He is a lifelong resident of Alabama and has previously served as a high school English and history teacher, assistant principal and coach of multiple sports. Mr. Harmon was head football coach at four of our member schools prior to entering the field of educational administration. He has proven to be an effective leader, and we are confident of his ability, excited about his enthusiasm and look forward to working with him to lead our association into the future.”

Harmon, a Munford High graduate, becomes the latest AHSAA executive director, following in the footsteps of Cliff Harper (1948-66), Herman L. “Bubba” Scott (1966-91), Dan Washburn (1991-2007), Steve Savarese (2007-21) and Briggs. 

While many of the previous executive directors had experience in dealing with Central Board issues or AHSAA Legislative Council issues, Harmon’s expertise is almost exclusively limited to the Oxford area. Savarese, however, didn’t perceive that as a problem.   

“I had the privilege and the honor to work for six months under Dan Washburn,” Savarese said. “That internship, as I call it, was invaluable. (Harmon) will always have Alvin, he will have myself and Mr. Washburn, all as a resource, but he’s got a great staff here and if he relies on this staff, if he has questions beyond that, he can always ask us. He’ll do a great job. This staff can help him very much.”

The executive staff, however, has two members stepping down and a third that may be retiring this summer.

“Because I have 27 years in education, I do know people on the Central Board of Control,” Harmon said, “have worked with them in different capacities, so I definitely look forward to working with them.”

Briggs, under fire from various high school officials in the state, announced on April 10 he would be retiring from his position in September. Immediately, the Central Board announced the vacancy and Harmon was intrigued about the possibility of becoming the executive director.

“I love my opportunity at Oxford and love the people there but when you have an opportunity to be the executive director of the AHSAA, that is an impact,” Harmon said. “To be able to impact an entire state, I feel the weight of that but I feel like that I have the strength and integrity to hold that weight. 

“The importance of education-based athletics and my experience in athletic leadership as well as administrative leadership, I felt like I had the skills. If I can do it, I need to step up to the plate and do that because I think it’s a very important job.”

The Central Board, including its selection committee headed by Luke Hallmark, ultimately interviewed five candidates for the job and then reportedly narrowed the field to a pair of candidates, Harmon and Darron Boatwright.

While Harmon’s experience was primarily limited to the Oxford area, Boatwright was an intriguing candidate, serving as a graduate assistant under Mark Gottfried at Murray State and the University of Alabama before becoming director of basketball operations for the Crimson Tide (1999-2005), special assistant in charge of campaigns to athletic director Mal Moore (2005), associate athletic director for external affairs at Murray State (2006-09), associate athletic director for development at UAB (2009-10) and senior associate athletic director for external operations at Wichita State (2010-16). 

In 2016, he became the athletic director at Wichita State and served in that capacity until his firing in 2022. His firing at Wichita State for perceived slow reaction to the changing NIL world and his primary collegiate experience may have been factors in the AHSAA committee choosing Harmon. 

In any case, the newest executive director knows his new role will be the most challenging of his career. 

“It takes people that are willing and able to do the challenging jobs,” Harmon said. “I know this job is going to be very rewarding, but I also know it’s going to be very challenging. But people have to step up to that role to protect what we have.”