CIF’s Future at a Crossroads With Hiring of Executive Director

The next month will be a telling one for the California Interscholastic Federation, the state’s high school athletic governing body.

Its leaders say it is time for the organization to move in a direction that will make the state a national power, and that process will start with the selection of a new executive director.

Thomas Byrnes, CIF commissioner since 1980, will retire this summer. A replacement is expected to be named by early May so that he or she can spend some time with Byrnes. The title will switch from commissioner to executive director.

Byrnes, 57, has done an admirable job. He has kept peace in an organization that can be volatile because of its complicated structure. He has wisely left most of the governing to the CIF’s 10 sections. And he helped ease some financial worries by encouraging corporate support.

But for the most part, the CIF is not much different from what it was when he took over. It is still made up of odd-sized sections that vary greatly in numbers of member schools. Most sports do not have state playoffs or a tournament. Growth seems to have no direction.

“There is no doubt it is important we hire someone who can communicate extremely well,” said Marie Ishida, president of the CIF’s Executive Committee and principal of Carmel High. “A little political savvy wouldn’t hurt either.”

Ishida emphasized that it is important for the CIF to have more national clout and that its new leader must share that vision.

“I think our organization will decide to move into a pro-active role, so our new leader must handle that large responsibility,” she said.

The application deadline was Monday, and Ishida said the Executive Committee hopes to interview six to eight candidates. A finalist is expected to be selected before the CIF’s next council meeting, May 5-6 in Burlingame.

The position was advertised nationally and the salary is negotiable. Byrnes’ annual salary is $94,000.

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The CIF hired a search firm to advertise the job and paper-screen the applications. An advisory committee will narrow the field for final interviews, which will be conducted by the seven-member Executive Committee.

Although Ishida would not disclose names and said the position is wide-open, candidates have began to surface:

--Margaret Davis: A former Southern Section administrator, Davis, 50, joined the state CIF office in 1980 and has been associate commissioner since ’83. She has been vital in the growth of girls’ sports and has been involved in corporate partnerships and strategic planning.

--Daryl Talken: A member of the CIF Executive Committee, Talken, 58, has been the principal at Fremont Washington High for the last 13 years. The former coach also has been president of the North Coast Section for four years.

--Ed Seal: Superintendent of the Brea-Olinda Unified School District from 1982-94, Seal, 60, was a force in trying to form an Orange County Section. He has been working as a private consultant for the last year.

--Nancy Lazenby Blaser: Commissioner of the Central Coast Section since 1989, Blaser, 42, is the only section commissioner believed to be interested in the job.

--Hal Harkness: The City Section commissioner from 1986-93, Harkness, 56, has been working as a consultant to the CIF for the last two years. Among other things, he manages the state track and field meet.

--Ray Plutko: The principal at Temple City High for the last two years, Plutko, 56, was the Southern Section commissioner from 1980-86. He was the Colorado High School Activities Assn. commissioner from 1986-90. He is a former coach who is still active in numerous athletic associations.

Another possible candidate, Rick Stout, is the principal at Paradise High in Northern California and co-chairman of the strategic planning committee.

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Davis acknowledged having applied for the executive director’s job, but most of the others contacted would neither confirm nor deny interest.

Although Davis seems a logical choice because of her long association with the organization, several other candidates could emerge.

Ishida said she had heard there was strong national interest in the position, so the Executive Committee could well decide to go outside the state.

It would be wise for a group trying to improve its image, however, to hire someone familiar with the organization.

Prep Notes

Mike Kelly has been hired to replace Bob Richards as football coach at Thousand Oaks High. Kelly was an assistant at Thousand Oaks for 12 of the last 15 years. Richards, who led the Lancers to six Marmonte League titles and a Southern Section title in 12 years as coach, resigned in January to spend more time with his family, the school announced.

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Times’ Top 20 Baseball Poll

The Times’ top 20 high school baseball poll, with teams from the City and Southern sections.

School Sect. Div. Rec. LW 1. Fountain Valley SS I 9-1 1 2. Millikan SS I 11-0 2 3. Bishop Amat SS I 11-1 3 4. Peninsula SS I 8-1 8 5. Quartz Hill SS III 8-0 11 6. Glendora SS II 10-1 18 7. El Dorado SS I 10-2 4 8. Simi Valley SS I 10-2 14 9. Mater Dei SS I 8-2 9 10. Norte Vista SS III 11-0 NR 11. Marina SS I 9-2 NR 12. Nogales SS I 8-3 6 13. Arcadia SS I 8-2 15 14. La Quinta SS III 12-1 20 15. Temecula Vly. SS II 9-1 16 16. South Hills SS II 8-0 NR 17. Lakewood SS I 11-4 7 18. West Torrance SS I 8-3 10 19. Calabasas SS IV 8-0 NR 20. Sonora SS II 9-1 13