MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Members of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association:
I want to welcome you to the 2025-2026 school year. Without a doubt, the
2025-2026 school year will be filled with exciting and successful times for high
school athletics in North Carolina. In addition, I am confident that a high level of
competition, teamwork, and good sportsmanship will be observed in high school
athletic contests across the state during the upcoming school year. Please know
that I greatly appreciate you and your efforts to provide special opportunities for
the student-athletes involved in high school athletics in North Carolina.
In addition to my high level of appreciation for the members of the North
Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), I want to "thank" the many
partners who support the NCHSAA. These partners include: the North Carolina
Coaches Association, the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association, the North Carolina School Boards
Association, the State Board of Education, and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The
dedication and partnership of our officials, umpires, and referees across the state also can not be
overlooked. Thus, I want to "thank" them for their great work for, and loyalty to, high school athletics on
an annual basis. I want to "thank" the colleges, universities, andcorporate sponsors for their continued
support of our organization as well. While the NCHSAA has a great staff in Chapel Hill and great member
schools throughout the state, its success of more than 100 years would not have been a reality without
the partnership of the previously-noted groups.
During the 2024-2025 school year, the re-alignment of the member schools into eight classifications was
a major challenge. However, through the hard work of the member schools, the staff of the NCHSAA,
the Board of Directors, and the members of the Re-alignment Committee, this challenge was confronted
and completed with a successful result. While the 2025-2026 school year may involve some unexpected
challenges as a result of this historic change in the operation of the NCHSAA, I am confident that everyone
will keep their focus on "what is best for the student-athletes of North Carolina." In the end, all of the
work of the NCHSAA has occurred, and will continue to occur, in support of the great student-athletes in
North Carolina in past years, today, tomorrow, and for many years in the future.
The opportunity to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the NCHSAA has been one of the
highlights of my career. I want to "thank" you for allowing me to serve as a representative of one of the
all-time great organizations in our state and country. Please know that I will do all possible to help
maintain this organization's work at the highest level.
I look forward to another great year of high school athletics in North Carolina. Through the partnership
and teamwork of the very talented high school coaches, high school athletic directors, and high school
principals in all parts of our state, high school athletics in North Carolina will continue to provide great
opportunities for the children of our great state. Without a doubt, it is a great time to be a member of the
NCHSAA!
Respectfully,
Stephen Gainey
NCHSAA President
Dr. Stephen Gainey
Superintendent
Randolph Co. Schools