WIAA announces executive director recommendation; two pivotal classification amendments pass
Mick Hoffman has been recommended as the next WIAA executive director, the organization announced Monday.
Hoffman, 49, is the assistant superintendent for Vancouver Public Schools, and has spent the entirety of his educational career working in Clark County at the middle school, high school and district levels.
The majority of his 26 years in education, he has worked in a variety of capacities for VPS, including teaching, coaching and administration.
He was recommended by the 13-member WIAA executive board, and the members of the organization’s staff following a series of interviews, and is expected to be confirmed in March.
“It’s a huge role to fill,” Hoffman said Monday at the Winter Coalition, which brought together the 54 members of the Representative Assembly and other league contacts at the Renton Pavilion event center.
“I think it’s an incredibly important role. ... This job gives the potential to impact every child in the state, and I’m a huge believer in educational-based athletics. We have the opportunity to connect with kids in an area they love — whether it’s activities or athletics.”
Hoffman will replace outgoing executive director Mike Colbrese, who announced his impending retirement in November 2017, following the 2018-19 school year. The transition is expected to happen this summer.
“What people will learn is that he is approachable, he is a hard worker, he listens and he is patient,” Colbrese said.
Colbrese was hired as the fourth WIAA executive director in 1993, and has served in the role for 26 years. He succeeded Cliff Gillies (1982-1993), who replaced Henry E. Rybus (1963-1982). Henry DeYoung, the only other former executive director with ties to Vancouver, was the organization’s first, serving from 1950-1963.
Hoffman is a 1987 graduate of Hudson’s Bay in Vancouver, where he played basketball and golfed. After high school, he spent time at Concordia University and Clark College, before eventually pursuing a teaching degree and Master’s at the University of Portland.
Hoffman said he aims to maintain what the WIAA does well — including legislative work and tournament coverage — and continue to help it grow in the coming years. A top priority for Hoffman is to have the WIAA serve as a jumping off point for different communities around the state to network with each other.
“There’s silos of excellence all around the state in a variety of areas,” he said. “We are the ones in touch with everybody, so how about helping connect them, so somebody who is doing something unbelieveable in Wapato can help somebody in Waitsburg who can help somebody in Kalama? That is really my vision.”
He said he also wants to continue to expand student voices through programs like LEAP — a committee of 17 student representatives from around the state who are involved in WIAA events and meetings.
Hoffman plans to spend a good portion of the beginning of his tenure traveling the state to build relationships with member schools that don’t necessarily have a presence in Renton.
“I need to find the people who don’t feel connected to the WIAA, and the people who don’t understand what the WIAA is,” Hoffman said. “I need to hear from more than just the people who are in this room. These guys (assembly members) have access to us all the time.
“I need to go out into communities and find out what their wants and needs and viewpoints are, because their voice is as important as any voice. ... They have to trust you. They have to understand. You have to communicate. What better way than to go to them?”
TWO PIVOTAL AMENDMENTS PASS
Two amendments were passed that will shake up athletic classifications during the 2020-21 school year. Both votes were passed by a large margin.
▪ The six classifications will no longer be based on balanced percentages. Instead of having an equal number of schools in each classification, which classification a school competes in will be determined by hard enrollment numbers.
Schools in 4A will have 1,300 or more students, 3A from 900-1,299 students, 2A from 450-899 students, 1A from 225-449 students, 2B from 105-224 students, and 1B from 1-104 students.
“I think the membership really spoke, because they understood that committee did a lot of research,” Colbrese said. “It was time to get into a system that was more reflective of stability, which is what we’re trying to do.
“It is a progression. We went from a two- to a four-year cycle to create some stability. This will create some stability so when a school knows when they are in a classification, they can look at a number as opposed to a (sliding scale percentage).”
▪ Free-and-reduced lunch figures will now factor into how a school’s classification is determined. Schools with free-and-reduced lunch figures that are above the state average could have enrollment figures decreased, and possibly drop down one classification to achieve competitive equity.
This amendment will only impact schools in the 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A classifications.
“The (WIAA) board had this as a goal trying to figure out a way to be reflective of socio-economic status,” Colbrese said. “And now more data shows, it does impact a school’s ability to have kids involved (in sports), and be competitive. ... I am not surprised it passed, but I am surprised it was as overwhelming margin.”
“We’re starting to act on competitive equity,” Hoffman said. “Every team that goes out there, every kid that’s going to compete should have a chance. ... We want people to be competitive. Our country is built on the competitive spirit. I think it’s a great first step.”
This story was originally published January 28, 2019 at 10:42 AM.
