NHSACA Executive Board Monthly Newsletter
Dan Mitchell NHSACA President
Let’s get you updated on what’s happening in our organization! The NHSACA Executive Board meeting was held on December 1st.
Welcome to the new Regional Representatives! We have David A. Marlow, VT, Region 1 Director; Brady Pond, AZ, Region 3 Director; and Thomas Fredrickson, SC, Region 8 Director. We also have Heath Hayes moving into the Region Director Coordinator position. We look forward to these individuals doing a wonderful job for NHSACA.
Let’s also welcome Tate Fischer from Starkville, MS, as our new Special Sports Director. Tate, welcome to the team.
NHSACA Professional Sponsorship Contracts are with Affinity Group, VEO Sports Camera, 3D NHSACA Foundational Coaching Course, Good Whey, and Teal Properties Group.
As for the NHSACA Educational update, we are setting up two spring online classes with Wayne State College that Scott Garvis will be teaching. Those classes are:
- The DNA of an Athletic Leader 12 Principles of Highly Effective Athletic Leaders, 3 credit hours, online $75 per credit hour.
- Developing & Implementing Character Curriculum Program in Education-Based Athletics, 1 credit hour, online $75 per credit hour.
We are also looking at the possibility of two to three online Master programs with Wayne State College.
The NHSACA Coach of the Year Nomination Forms must be returned before December 22nd. At the time of the meeting only 20% of COTY nominees had been turned in. Missing State Rosters are Florida, Kentucky, New Mexico, New Jersey, and South Carolina. (For COTY Forms Click Here)
Also, at the time of the meeting, these are the Hall of Fame State Rosters received: Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Illinois, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Missing are Wisconsin and South Carolina.
The 2025 convention is approaching quickly. We are excited to host the convention in Rapid City, SD, this coming summer and would like to remind everyone that it is an excellent place to arrive early and stay late since there is so much to see. Rapid City is a remarkable vacation spot for families. Conference dates are June 21-25, 2025, with the leadership classes scheduled for the 21st and 22nd. The convention site and banquets will be at the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center. The Hall of Fame Banquet will be on Tuesday, June 24th and the Coach of the Year Awards Banquet will be on Wednesday, June 25th. Our overflow hotel will be the Expressway Suites. The NHSACA Board Outing will be on Sunday, June 22nd. Dinner will be at the Central States Fair Grounds (5:00-7:00) and then we will be visiting Mount Rushmore (7:00-11:00). Online Registration will be opening soon. The Convention registration fee will be $125.
As for the 2026 and 2027 Conventions, we are still in discussion so at this time, there are no convention sites locked in.
Scott has been working hard on our NHSACA newsletters. Check out this link! (newsletters)
I hope that you all have had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family and friends. With the holiday season quickly approaching, and our fall sports turning to winter, we find our schedules exploding and our To-Do Lists overflowing. In the hustle and bustle, it’s quite easy to feel overwhelmed with it all. It’s in these moments where it’s even more important to ensure that we don’t neglect taking care of ourselves as pressure rises and stress levels peak.
As coaches, it’s in our DNA to take care of our team first. And yes, that’s an important element of being a coach, but we cannot expect to take care of someone else if we don’t first take care of ourselves. The most important rule as a lifeguard is to save yourself. If you can’t save yourself, you can’t save someone else either. Although it is a difficult concept to follow sometimes, it’s still incredibly true and essential.
Often, as we focus on ticking off our checklist, we overlook some of the personal items that we just don’t have the time for, thinking that there will be time later to do so, but then we end up not getting to them at all. However, some of those things should be our highest priority, such as keeping yourself healthy and happy. To check in on yourself, I’ve included a “Coach Wellness Checklist” below. Following these bullet points will help you stay on track with your well-being.
✅ Get 7–8 hours of sleep each night
✅ Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily
✅ Dedicate 15–30 minutes to physical activity outside of practice
✅ Set 1–2 small personal goals each week
✅ Schedule uninterrupted downtime with family or hobbies
✅ Practice mindfulness or meditation for 5–10 minutes daily
✅ Reach out to a colleague, friend, or mentor for support
How did you do? Are there certain areas you need to focus more on? This list can serve as an important reminder to take the necessary steps to ensure you devote the necessary time and energy to your well-being.
All too well I realize the effects of overlooking what we might consider the little things on a day-to-day basis. I’ll be going in for back surgery this Friday. L4 and L5 have been creating pressure on my nerves for some time now, creating severe back pain and numbness and weakness in both my legs. The surgeon will be drilling out part of the vertebrae to relieve this pressure and then adding a pin and screws to support the spine. I’ll be spending a few days in the hospital and then several weeks of rest and recovery. And I’ve been assured that my family will be holding me to maintain my own Wellness Checklist throughout the process and moving forward.
Please, take care of yourselves! Happy Holidays!
Dan Mitchell NHSACA President 2024-25
Member discussion