Ute to be next OHSAA leader

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has its next leader.

The OHSAA Board of Directors announced this morning Doug Ute has been named the OHSAA’s next Executive Director.

Ute, pronounced “Yoot,” becomes the 11th executive director in the organization’s 113-year history. He enters the role after spending the last 20 years as superintendent, including the last 11 at Newark City Schools and the previous nine years at Marion Elgin Local Schools. Ute, who replaces interim executive director Bob Goldring, coached and taught at Noble Local Schools and Buckeye Central High Schools.

“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,” Jeff Cassella, president of the OHSAA Board of Directors and athletic director at Mentor High School, said in a statement. “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, a standout athlete at Clear Fork High School and a basketball player at Ashland University, coached basketball at Shenandoah High School. He was an athletic administrator while at Buckeye Central before becoming principal at Marion Elgin in 1996. He later served on the OHSAA’s Central District Athletic Board, and was its secretary since the 2011-12 school year.

“I have always thought like a former coach and athletic director, and the OHSAA is where I want to be,” Ute said in a release. “I am humbled to be selected by the Board of Directors for this position and join a great team in the OHSAA office.

“We are all aware of the uncertainties that are before us due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I know that together we can be stronger together. 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.”