June 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM - BOARD OF CONTROL
| Regular Board | |
| Attendance Taken on 6/10/2025 at 1:43 PM | |
| Dennis Goodwin | Present |
| Mark Price | Present |
| Mike Reed | Present |
| Greg Scott | Present |
| Stephen Sheaffer | Present |
| Patrick Spangler | Present |
| Dr. Jon Stencel | Present |
| Grant Swallows | Present |
| Bryan True | Present |
| Scott Vogel | Present |
| Dexter Williams | Present |
| Jody Wright | Present |
| Present: 12, Absent: 0 | |
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Comments:
Ex officio members present were Dan Black, President of the Legislative Council; Dirk Ash, representing the Tennessee Association of Secondary School Principals; Mike Ellson, representing the Tennessee Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association; and Russ Plummer representing the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association. Rick Colbert and Sarah Ingalls, representing Thompson Burton, attorneys for the association, was also present. Present from the state office staff were Mark Reeves, Matthew Gillespie, Richard McWhirter, Emily Crowell, Joe Blair, Bradley Lambert, Brenda Dwyer, Courtney Brunetz, Shonnie Speicher, Heather Carter, Kim Alley, and Lauren Jones.
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| Regular Board | |
| Attendance Taken on 6/11/2025 at 11:03 AM | |
| Dennis Goodwin | Present |
| Mark Price | Present |
| Mike Reed | Present |
| Greg Scott | Present |
| Stephen Sheaffer | Present |
| Patrick Spangler | Absent |
| Dr. Jon Stencel | Present |
| Grant Swallows | Present |
| Bryan True | Present |
| Scott Vogel | Present |
| Dexter Williams | Present |
| Jody Wright | Present |
| Present: 11, Absent: 1 | |
| Minutes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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I. Call to Order
Speaker(s):
Grant Swallows
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II. Roll Call
Speaker(s):
Grant Swallows
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III. Approval of Minutes
Speaker(s):
Grant Swallows
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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IV. Financial Reports
Speaker(s):
Mark Reeves
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IV.A. 2025 Basketball Tournament Series Financial Report
Speaker(s):
Mark Reeves
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Mark Reeves brought this information to the members of the Board. No action was required.
Attachments:
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IV.B. 2025 State Basketball Tournament Allotments
Speaker(s):
Mark Reeves
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Mark Reeves brought this information to the members of the Board. No action was required.
Attachments:
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IV.C. 2025 Wrestling Tournament Series Financial Report
Speaker(s):
Mark Reeves
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Mark Reeves brought this information to the members of the Board. No action was required.
Attachments:
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IV.D. 2025 Cheerleading Coaches Conference Financial Report
Speaker(s):
Mark Reeves
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Mark Reeves brought this information to the members of the Board. No action was required.
Attachments:
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V. Reports & Updates
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V.A. TSSAA Office Building Update
Speaker(s):
Mark Reeves
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Jamie Spencer, representing Hewlett Spencer, reported to the members of the Board and Council on the status of the TSSAA Building Project. Mark Reeves discussed the potential financial implications of the project. The Board will determine what is feasible in August once the audit is completed. There is also the potential to sell the current building and subdivide the lot. Members of the Board also asked Mr. Reeves to ask about other potential long-term sources of revenue if TSSAA were to retain the existing property.
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V.B. Division II Need-Based Financial Aid Final Report
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Mark Reeves brought this information to the members of the Board. No action was required.
Attachments:
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V.C. Sportsmanship - Review of the 2024-2025 School Year
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Mark Reeves brought this information to the members of the Board. No action was required.
Attachments:
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V.D. 2025-26 Administrators' Meetings & Regional Meetings
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Mark Reeves brought this information to the Board. No action was required.
Attachments:
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V.E. Media Update
Speaker(s):
Matthew Gillespie
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Matthew Gillespie brought this information to the members of the Board. No action was required.
Attachments:
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V.F. Sports Medicine Update
Speaker(s):
Joe Blair
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Joe Blair brought this information to the members of the Board. Joe explained the Legislative Council's action to amend the Middle School Football Sports Calendar, bringing heat acclimatization in line with high school protocols. Clarifying language was also added to the Heat Policy by the Legislative Council about what teams can wear during periods of increased heat ranges. A mental health professional will be added to the TSSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. No action was required.
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V.G. Technology Update
Speaker(s):
Bradley Lambert
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Bradley Lambert brought this information to the members of the Board. The Board reviewed the submission process for students transferring under the new transfer rule. There was discussion about whether there is a need to update the definition of "enrolled" in the Bylaws. No action was required.
Attachments:
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V.H. TSSAA Student Advisory Committee Update
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Mark Reeves brought this information to the members of the Board. No action was required.
Attachments:
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V.I. Basketball Shot Clock Update from BCAT
Speaker(s):
Shelly Collier
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
BCAT representatives provided an update on implementing the shot clock. They plan to present a formal proposal in June 2026. No action was required.
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V.J. Game Administrator Requirements
Speaker(s):
Mark Reeves
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Mark Reeves brought this item to the Board members for discussion to determine whether the Board of Control should consider expanding the list of sports where a game administrator is required. Game Administrators are currently required for tackle football, basketball, and soccer. There may be a need to add boys' lacrosse. No action was required.
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V.K. Future Postseason/State Tournament Formats
Speaker(s):
Mark Reeves
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Mark Reeves brought this item to the members of the Board for discussion. The existing state tournament format for Division I in softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball, and soccer is creating strain on infrastructure for staffing, scheduling, facility hosts, and game officials. The weather may cause some tournaments not to be completed. The staff can provide the Board with potential brackets, schedules, and financial implications of format changes that could address some of these concerns. Board members and staff can use this calendar year to explore these options and get feedback from schools. If a change is considered, it will need to be made no later than the June 2026 Board meeting.
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V.L. Litigation Report
Speaker(s):
Rick Colbert
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
An update was provided in Executive Session.
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VI. Business Items
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VI.A. Approval of New Assistant Executive Director
Speaker(s):
Mark Reeves
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
The members of the Board voted to hire E.J. Wood as an Assistant Executive Director.
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VI.B. Drawing for 2025-26 Tournaments
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
The board expressed concern that the draw no longer occurs in person. The staff indicated that it would not release the results of the draw before the completion of the subsectional contests.
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VI.C. A. F. Bridges Sportsmanship Program
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Board of control members should submit any A.F. Bridges award nomination to Paul Griffith by August 1st.
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VI.D. District 7AAAA Tournament Request
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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VI.E. Region 2AAAA Requests Change to Basketball Tournament Format
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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VI.F. Sports Regulations Updates
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VI.F.1. Post-season Basketball & Volleyball Games Times
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
DI Sectional Basketball and Volleyball games shall be played at 7:00 local time unless mutually agreed upon by both schools to play at an earlier time.
DII First Round and Quarterfinal Basketball game times need to be determined in August.
Attachments:
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VI.F.2. Volleyball State Tournament Format
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
The recommendation is to change from a modified double elimination bracket to a single elimination with a consolation bracket in Division I. The draw for the state tournament would be released after the completion of all sectional matches. This item will be tabled until the August meeting.
Attachments:
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VI.F.3. Bowling
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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VI.F.4. Tennis
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
The Tennis committee recommends going to a 3rd set tiebreaker instead of a full 3rd set. The second recommendation is to change the DI AA format to 3 doubles, 6 singles. This item will be tabled until the August meeting.
Attachments:
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VI.F.5. Golf Proposal from Page High School
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Benji Gray presented this proposal on behalf of Page High School. The proposal reduces the number of individual qualifiers from each Region and reallocates those spots to wildcard qualifiers.
Attachments:
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VI.G. 2025-2026 State Tournament Ticket Price Recommendations
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
The goal of this proposal is to offset some facility expenses for large venues while also stopping the practice of charging for parking when possible. There may also be an option to provide a reduced price during a pre-sale period. The staff will work with site hosts individually who have been receiving revenue for parking on mutually beneficial agreements.
Attachments:
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VI.H. Discussion of DII Brackets for All Sports Except Football
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
Action was required on this item after a previous tabling. No significant changes were proposed for DII A brackets. For Division II AA, recommendations were made for four years of girls' brackets and 4 years of boys' brackets.
The Board recommended allowing DII A East/West teams to mutually agree to play at a different site and find the alternative site. The members of the Board will discuss this with their schools, and it will be brought back to the Board during the August meeting.
Attachments:
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VI.I. Valor College Prep is Recommending Approval of a State Championship in Unified Flag Football
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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VI.J. Spring Sports Championship Sites Selection Update/Recommendations
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
The recommendation for Spring Fling is as follows:
Week 1: HS Tennis - Chattanooga, Champions Club - UTC MS softball - Chattanooga, Warner Park or Summit of Softball MS baseball - Chattanooga, venue TBD MS soccer - Murfreesboro, Richard Siegel Soccer Complex HS girls flag football - Murfreesboro, Richard Siegel Soccer Complex HS lacrosse - Williamson County or Chattanooga, venue TBD HS Pentathlon/Decathlon - Knoxville, Tom Black Track - UTK or local high school Week 2: MS track - Knoxville, Tom Black Track - UTK HS track - Knoxville, Tom Black Track - UTK HS baseball - Murfreesboro, local high schools and MTSU Reese Smith Field HS softball - Murfreesboro, Starplex, McKnight, and MTSU Blue Raider Field HS soccer - Murfreesboro, Richard Siegel Soccer Complex
Attachments:
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VI.K. 2027 Dead Period
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
June 28 - July 11 is confirmed for the 2027 Dead Period.
Attachments:
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VI.L. Gibbs High School Appeals Disciplinary Action
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
The request from Gibbs High School was to remove the restrictive probation and the accompanying fine and have one year of probation for the 2025-26 school year.
Attachments:
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VI.M. Johnson County High School Appeals Disciplinary Action
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
The request from Johnson County High School is to remove the second year of probation (2025-26). The school had no significant sportsmanship issues during the 2024-25 school year. The team also participated in several volunteer opportunities over the past year.
Attachments:
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VI.N. J. Frank White Academy Co-op Exception Request for Girls' Soccer
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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VI.O. Christ's Legacy Academy Co-op Exception Request for Football
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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VI.P. Christ's Legacy Academy Co-op Exception Request with McMinn Central High School
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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VI.Q. Official Appeals Suspension of Registration
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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VI.R. Official Appeals Suspension of Registration
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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VI.S. Memphis East High School Requests Classification Change
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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VI.T. Southwind High School Requests Classification Change
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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VI.U. TSSAA Membership Requests
Speaker(s):
Mark Reeves
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VI.U.1. PURE Academy, Memphis
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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VII. Adjournment
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion (Appears on Minutes Report):
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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