Paragon of high schools retiring

Robert F. Kanaby, the voice of high school athletics in the nation, announced his retirement as the executive director of the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations this week.

Kanaby had served as executive director for 17 years and helped move the national governing body from near bankruptcy to becoming the voice of the millions of boys and girls who play high school sports.

"History will prove that Bob Kanaby was the greatest leader for high school sports that the country has ever known," said Charlie Adams, the executive director of the N.C. High School Athletic Association, which is a federation member. "Bob was the voice of high school athletics throughout the country. He was an advocate for all the good things that high school athletics does for our children. I believe he was the best leader of any sports organization in the country."

Kanaby inherited an organization that was missing $1 million from its pension fund and had double mortgages on most of its assets. The federation also was floundering with its mission; it had no real focus beyond sanctioning competition between schools in different states and writing rules.

Now, the federation is financially solid with an endowment of $3 million. Kanaby has worked to shift the public's focus from the scores of athletic events to the lasting benefits children receive from participating in athletics and other high school activities.

The primary function of high school athletics is to produce better citizens for a democracy, Kanaby often says.

"If we are not doing our part to help our students, then we have missed our primary purpose," Kanaby said from his Indianapolis office.

Kanaby instituted a program that emphasized sportsmanship, integrity, character and citizenship. In recent years, he has pushed an education program to make sure coaches understand why the United States is one of the few nations that have high school sports.

"We know that after parents and family, the high school coach often has the most influence on many young people," Kanaby said. "Unfortunately, because of some family situations, the coach has even more influence than family. ...

"That's why it is so important that we educate our coaches and make sure they understand the great responsibility they have. Coaches have to help develop better people."

The federation's goal was for 100,000 coaches to complete the program within five years. Now, in the third year, more than 100,000 have.

"The coaches education program may be the best thing to happen to high school coaching,' said Bob Guthrie, Wake County's athletic director.

Kanaby said the timing is right for him to step down. He has been involved in education for 50 years, coaching at famed Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony, later serving as executive director of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association for 13 years.

"I don't know if there is any other person who could have done what he has for high school athletics in America," Adams said. "When he was thinking of taking the position, we walked on Wrightsville Beach for more than hour talking about the challenge."

Kanaby, who hopes a successor is in place by the summer, said he accomplished nothing by himself.

"We have great people in the state associations," he said. "And we have great coaches who are intent on helping young people."

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