Doug Ute named executive director as OHSAA makes cuts

COLUMBUS – The Ohio High School Athletic Association on Tuesday named Doug Ute its new executive director. The former Newark City Schools superintendent will be the OHSAA's 11th leader in its 113-year history. The OHSAA's board of directors made the announcement two months after firing former executive director Jerry Snodgrass, who was ousted July 6. Ute (pronounced "yoot") is a former coach, teacher, athletic director, principal and superintendent. He spent nine years leading Marion Elgin Local Schools and the last 11 as superintendent at Newark. Ute also coached at Buckeye Central High School. His hometown is Bellville, which is south of Mansfield. "I have always thought like a former coach and athletic director, and the OHSAA is where I want to be," Ute said in a news release. "I am humbled to be selected by the Board of Directors for this position and join a great team at the OHSAA office." Ute takes over during a stormy period for the OHSAA, which sent out a news release Saturday outlining cuts and other changes designed to help the nonprofit organization stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. Among the changes: Football and basketball presale ticket shares will not be paid out to member schools for the 2020-21 tournaments; no team expenses will be paid to schools participating in 2020-21 tourneys; $25 entry fees will be required for participation in several tournaments, including cross country, track & field, tennis and swimming; and the OHSAA will not pay for bowling lane fees or golf greens fees. The OHSAA last week announced that the state dual team wrestling tournament will be suspended. The OHSAA, which receives about 80 percent of its revenue from tournament ticket sales, also is eliminating three full-time staff positions and cutting salaries of senior staff members by 20 percent. "We are all aware of the uncertainties that are before us due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I know that together we can and will be stronger together," Ute said. "My focus has always been on helping students become better people, and athletics are such an important part in that. That is true now more than ever. I can't wait to get started and help lead our member schools." Ute stepped down at Newark last spring to take a job as deputy director of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), which is the state's superintendents association. At the OHSAA, he will take over for interim executive director Bob Goldring, the OHSAA's senior director of operations. Goldring reportedly did not apply for the executive director position. "The prospect of conducting all of our tournaments for the 2020-21 school year with spectator capacity limits of 15 percent, with no more than 1,500 permitted for outdoor events and 300 for indoor events, has already had a significant impact on the Association from a financial standpoint," Goldring said. "Since the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic became a reality for the OHSAA, the Association has undergone major modifications to our business practices and overall procedures. This has included cuts of not only personnel but also salaries and benefits for full-time staff. "We also have explored new, untraditional revenue streams that could prove to be beneficial, but even those are not guaranteed with the status of the world's economy and no real end in sight for the pandemic." Jeff Cassella, president of the OHSAA Board of Directors and the athletic director at Mentor High School, touted Ute's experience and called him "a great fit." "We are excited to have someone lead our organization with Doug's experience, both in working with student-athletes and with his experience in the workings of the OHSAA," said Cassella. "The board of directors is confident that Doug's leadership style and experience is a great fit to lead the OHSAA through this unique year." Ute began his career in 1988 as a basketball coach and part-time business teacher at Shenandoah High School in Sarahsville in eastern Ohio. He then went to Buckeye Central in New Washington as a teacher and coach, while also serving as the athletic administrator. In 1996 he became principal at Marion Elgin and took over as superintendent in 2000. Ute became superintendent in Newark in 2009. He served on the OHSAA's Central District Athletic Board in 2008-09 and has been the Central District's secretary since the 2011-12 school year. Ute was a standout student-athlete at Clear Fork High School, graduating in 1980. He played basketball at Ashland University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing. He later earned a master's degree from Ashland. Ute and his wife, Kory, have four children and eight grandchildren. ----- OHSAA cuts, other financial changes Standard Ticket Pricing: All sectional and district tournament tickets will be sold online at $8.00. Presale Ticket Shares/Bonuses: Football and basketball presale ticket shares/bonuses will not be paid out to member schools participating in 202021 OHSAA tournaments. Online Tickets: Presale tournament tickets will be available for all sports and will be sold online. At this point we do not expect gate tickets will be offered. Team Tournament Expenses: No team expenses will be paid to member schools participating in 2020-21 OHSAA tournaments. Tournament Entry Fees: $25 tournament entry fees will be incorporated for the following sports: boys and girls bowling; boys and girls golf; gymnastics; boys and girls cross country; boys and girls tennis; boys and girls track & field, and boys and girls swimming & diving. As OHSAA "emerging" sports, boys and girls lacrosse will continue to have a $100 fee per gender. Other Fees: Bowling tournament lane fees and golf tournament greens fees will not be paid by the OHSAA in 2020-21. Tournament Suspension: The regional and state dual team wrestling tournaments will be suspended for the 2020-21 school year (although the 83rd season of the individual wrestling tournaments will continue). Other recent changes made by the OHSAA include: Reduction of three full-time staff positions and 20-percent pay cut for senior staff members. In addition, all part-time staff and intern positions have been eliminated. Suspension of several OHSAA publications, including OHSAA Magazine, the School Directory, Year in Review and Pocket Calendar. Suspension of the OHSAA Radio Network. Suspension of video production for annual public service announcements. Printing the OHSAA Handbook in-house and continue printing many state tournament programs in-house.