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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --May 14, 2003
Contact: John Johnson or Jack Roberts-- 517.332.5046
EAST LANSING, Mich. – May 14 – Thomas M. Rashid, Director of Physical Education and Athletics for the Archdiocese of Detroit and Director of the Catholic High School League, has been selected Associate Director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association. He will be relocating to the Lansing area and assuming duties later this summer.
“In a field of very strong candidates, Tom stood out for many reasons,” said MHSAA Executive Director John E. “Jack” Roberts. “First, his office is a microcosm of the MHSAA, so he knows the work and the pressures. He deals with large schools and small, with eligibility rules and playing rules, with coaches and officials and administrators.
“Outside of the current MHSAA staff, there may be no one who knows the MHSAA Handbook better than Tom or who has done more to advocate respect for the rules by all schools.
“Tom is an excellent communicator, one of the finest I know, both speaking and writing. He’s forceful and persuasive when it’s needed; he listens well and he finds compromise effectively.
“Even though he’s from a large city, there has been no greater champion for the small schools of this state than Tom Rashid,” Roberts continued. “And while the MHSAA’s relationship with the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) has always been excellent, it rose to a higher level of strength and partnership as Tom rose through its ranks to president.”
On March 17, Rashid was presented the MIAAA’s prestigious Athletic Director of the Year Award at the organization’s Mid-Winter Conference in Traverse City.
A product of Catholic education, Rashid graduated from St. Alphonsus High School in Dearborn in 1973. He obtained his baccalaureate degree in History from Eastern Michigan University, and his Master’s degree in Urban Education from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. In his current position with the Archdiocese of Detroit, he coordinates athletic schedules and tournaments for the 37 schools participating in the Catholic High School League.
The Dearborn native has served the Archdiocese of Detroit as an Educator and Athletic Administrator for 25 years. In that time, Rashid has helped solidify the funding base of the CHSL through corporate partnerships with Adidas, Coca-Cola, Buddy’s Pizza, Wilson Sporting Goods and Nationwide Insurance.
Vic Michaels, Associate Director of the Detroit Catholic High School League says, “Tom Rashid has helped our member schools connect their Catholic faith to their athletic programs. He has done this by placing the ideals of sportsmanship before competitiveness, and without question, the schools in our league have benefited greatly from his leadership.
“I have had many encounters with public school administrators throughout the state who say one of the best things to happen to the relationship between public and non-public schools has been Tom Rashid.”
Rashid has received numerous awards for his contributions to interscholastic athletics. He received national recognition in 1999 when he was presented with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s State Award of Merit.
In 2001, Rashid was honored with the MHSAA’s Allen W. Bush Award, which recognizes noteworthy support and the promise of continuing commitment to the MHSAA and interscholastic athletics.
Rashid served as MIAAA President in 1998, and sat on the organization’s Board of Directors from 1988-2000.
George Lovich, Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the MIAAA says, “Rashid’s leadership as President of our organization could serve as a blueprint for future presidents to follow. He is a strong, efficient, dedicated leader, who continues to look for ways to improve athletic participation opportunities for our state’s high school students.”
Rashid is currently a member of the MHSAA’s Representative Council, and is Secretary-Treasurer of the MHSAA’s Executive Committee. He has served on the Representative Council since 1988.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by over 1,300 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract approximately 1.6 million spectators each year.
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