Published on October 16, 2025 2:31 pm
Last Updated on October 16, 2025 2:32 pm
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, where the Board announced that IHSA Assistant Executive Director Susie Knoblauch will retire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year.
“It has been a privilege to contribute to the Association’s history and to help shape opportunities that set the stage for the future,” said Knoblauch. “As I move into retirement, I do so with a full heart, knowing the work of the IHSA will continue to empower students for generations to come. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to help students grow, find their voices, and shine through IHSA athletics and activities. Their passion and resilience have inspired me every single day.”
Knoblauch has a decorated resume in support of education-based athletics and activities, including two tenures as an administrator on the IHSA staff. After spending 17 years as a high school teacher and coach, Knoblauch joined the IHSA staff as an Assistant Executive Director in 2004. In 2014, she accepted a Director of Performing Arts and Sports position with the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) in Indianapolis, before ultimately returning to her previous role with the IHSA in 2016.
“There are very few people who can match Susie Knoblauch’s diverse perspective on the immense impact high school sports and activities have on young people,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “Susie’s charisma and grace endured herself to everyone that she worked with throughout her career, and she will truly be missed. Whether she was in a room with lacrosse coaches, theater directors, or cheerleading coaches, she found a way to make deep connections in support of their students.”
Knoblauch was honored in July at the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Summer Meeting with the NFHS’s Citation Award. The Citation Award is regarded as one of the top honors that can be bestowed on individuals who work to promote the merits of high school athletics and performing arts.
“My time at the IHSA has been more than a job; it has been a journey filled with incredible people, inspiring challenges, and rewarding successes,” said Knoblauch. “My colleagues at the IHSA, along with partners across the state and nation, have become lifelong friends and teammates in this important mission. I am immensely proud of what we’ve built together. The relationships and experiences from this work will stay with me forever.”
Knoblauch currently administers Girls Lacrosse, Speech, Drama, Solo and Ensemble Music, Organizational Music, and Competitive Cheerleading. She is also the state’s contact for Spirit and serves as the staff liaison to the IHSA’s Activities Directors Advisory Committee. She previously administered debate, boys tennis, and girls tennis for the IHSA as well.
“I have always been humbled by the dedication and tireless efforts of so many who support the IHSA and I am forever thankful for the bonds we share,” said Knoblauch. “To everyone who has been part of this story, thank you. I want to thank my family, especially my husband, Herb, and our son, Kyle, for their love, encouragement, and unwavering support throughout my career.”
The IHSA plans to post Knoblauch’s open position later this fall and conduct interviews in December.
ACTION
1. The Board voted to elect Officers for the 2025-26 school year. The Board officers from 2024-25 will remain the same in 2025-26, as the following individuals were elected to the Officer positions:
President: Dan Tully, Niles Notre Dame
Vice-President: Todd Rogers, Carterville
Secretary: Mike Castleman, Olympia
2. The Board approved a recommendation to extend the IHSA Girls Volleyball State Final hosting contract with Illinois State University and the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau (BNCVB) for the State Finals to remain at CEFCU Arena for an additional five years (2026-2030).
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson:
“The Illinois State University campus and Bloomington-Normal have been the home of the IHSA Girls Volleyball State Finals since 1990, and we are excited that this longstanding relationship will be approaching a half a century after this extension. Illinois State University and the BNCVB are incredible partners and take incredible pride in hosting this event year after year. We appreciate all that they do to make it a first-class experience for the student-athletes, coaches, and fans.”
3. The Board approved a recommendation to extend the IHSA Boys Golf State Final hosting contract with Prairie Vista Golf Course (1A), Illinois State University’s Weibring Golf Course (2A), and The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course (3A) and the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau for the State Final to remain at the respective golf courses for an additional five years (2026-2030).
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson:
“The state of Illinois is chock-full of highly regarded golf courses, and we feel very fortunate to have Prairie Vista Golf Course, Weibring Golf Course, and The Den at Fox Creek all located within a few miles of one another. It is unique and special to be able to bring together the state’s top high school golfers into one community to contest these state championship events. It is a massive undertaking, but the welcoming nature of the Bloomington-Normal community, coupled with the immense care put forth by the host courses, host schools, and countless volunteers make it all possible.”
4. The Board approved a recommendation to appoint Charleston High School Principal Aaron Lock to represent IHSA Legislative District 14 due to receiving no nominations in the District during the election process.
5. The Board approved a recommendation to updates to the IHSA’s internal Personnel Policy.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Minutes from all Advisory Committees can be viewed by clicking the sport/activity page on the IHSA website and selecting the advisory committee option.
1. The Board approved the consent items from the Advisory Committees in the following sports & activities: Baseball, Badminton, Softball, Lacrosse, Track & Field, Water Polo, Bass Fishing, Esports, Officials, Sports Medicine, Student Advisory.
Consent items are recommendations that received approval from the sport/activity advisory committee, the Athletic Administrators Advisory Committee, and the IHSA staff. Consent items can be viewed here: Consent 10-15-25.pdf
Non-consent items are recommendations from sport or activity committees that did not receive a majority vote from the Athletic Advisory Committee or IHSA staff.
No Non-consent items were approved.
Some consent items of note include:
Athletic Officials
1. Grants approved Officials Associations around the state.
APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
Appeals were held with the IHSA Hearing Board, a subset of the IHSA Board of Directors, virtually on October 1, 2025. Appeals 10-12 were heard by the full Board of Directors virtually on October 15, 2025.
1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Richwoods High School in Peoria. The student was granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and was seeking full eligibility.
2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Woodlands Academy in Lake Forest. The student was granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and was seeking full eligibility.
3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Montini Catholic High School in Lombard. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.040.
4. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Leyden High School in Franklin Park. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.047.
5. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Morgan Park High School in Chicago. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.030.
6. The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox. The student was initially granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043, but now has immediate varsity eligibility.
7. The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.040 and has been granted immediate varsity eligibility.
8. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Oswego High School. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.030.
9. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Hampshire High School. The student had participated in a sport at another school prior to transferring and was seeking an exemption to IHSA By-law 3.042.
10. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Hope Academy in Chicago. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.047.
11. The Board overturned the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Evanston High School. The student was seeking an exemption to IHSA By-law 3.051. The Board granted the student an additional semester of athletic eligibility based upon the differences in the academic calendar at the student’s previous high school in Australia.
12. The Board modified the IHSA Executive Director’s ruling following an appeal from Simeon Career Academy in Chicago. The Executive Director had issued four-game suspensions for the 2025-26 season to the school’s boys basketball head coach and two assistant coaches for violations of IHSA by-laws 3.107 and 5.041, as well as a three-day delay to the start of practices for the upcoming season. The Board upheld the suspensions for the assistant coaches and added an additional penalty by limiting the Simeon varsity team to 28 games during the 2025-26 season. The suspension of the head coach was also increased by the Board from four games to six games based on it being the second violation of the rule for that coach. The Board is also requiring the school administration and coaching staff to submit a remediation plan to prevent future by-law violations within 30 days.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action was taken, or action may not be required. The following is a report of those items from the October 15, 2025, agenda:
1. The Board heard a report on the by-law proposals that have been submitted for review and consideration during the IHSA’s annual legislative process in November and December. The proposals will be sent to member high schools and posted publicly in the coming days.
2. The Board heard a report on the IHSA’s role and attendance at the upcoming Illinois Principals Association (IPA) Conference in Peoria in October, as well as the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Conference in Chicago in November.
3. The Board heard a report on the New Administrators workshop that was held by the IHSA staff in September.
4. The Board heard a report on the Executive Director’s role on the CSIET Board.
5. The Board discussed the IHSA acclimatization policy and asked the IHSA staff to gather more data from the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee related to the policy in order to share with the membership.
6. The Board heard a report on IHSA staff attendance at the IADA Division Meetings this fall.
7. The Board welcomed new members Amy Boscolo (Edwardsville) and Steve Schanz (Sandburg), who were attending their first meeting since being elected earlier this month.