MSHSAA’S Urhahn, IHSAA’s Keating Named To NFHS Board

Dr. Kerwin Urhahn, executive director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, is the new president of the National Federation of State High School Associations for 2020-21.

Urhahn, the 61st president of the NFHS, began his one-year term July 2 following the NFHS Summer Meeting, which was held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is a great privilege and opportunity to see what is happening all over the country and how we can use interscholastic sports and activities to teach life lessons to our students,” he said. “It is very humbling to be in the position to see the positive impact that Associations throughout the country have on kids.”

All members of the NFHS Board of Directors are eligible to run for president, provided they have at least one year remaining on their term on the board.

Urhahn represents Section V on the NFHS board. He’ll preside over board meetings and conferences, and work with all the states to communicate the NFHS Board Priorities for the year. And there are some big priorities in this COVID-impacted year.

“The NFHS has been involved in studies to determine the impact of activities, band and choir, on the possible spread of COVID-19,” Urhahn said. “The National Federation of High Schools Activities Association has been working with all states to share decisions, protocols, and policies on dealing with the Fall and sports seasons. All the people at the NFHS and State Associations want to see students to have the opportunities to participate.”

Urhahn joined MSHSAA as executive director in 2006 after serving as superintendent of schools in Portageville. Prior to joining MSHSAA, Urhahn taught all levels of high school mathematics and coached volleyball, basketball, baseball and golf at Bloomfield High School, from 1991 to 1997. He assumed the role of athletic director for Bloomfield in 1994. Urhahn was named principal in 1997 and served three years before becoming the superintendent of the Portageville School District in 2000.

A member of numerous professional organizations, Urhahn is a representative on the Missouri Association of School Administrators State Accountability Committee and he also serves on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education MSIP Performance Committee. From 1998 to 2001, Urhahn served on the MSHSAA Southeast Investigative Committee. Nationally, Urhahn previously chaired the NFHS Technology Committee.

Pictured: Dr. Kerwin Urhahn, MSHSAA Executive Director and 2020 NFHS President.