McKay leaving prep post

Adam Candee

Thursday, April 10, 2003 | 10:15 a.m.

Larry McKay, one of the most influential figures in Nevada prep athletics, will retire as athletics director for Clark County School District after the school year, the Sun learned Wednesday.

McKay will step down in late June after 30 years with the CCSD. McKay, 55, said he wrestled with the decision for the past year, but feels at peace with his choice to retire in order to "recharge my batteries and reinvent myself."

"When you get to this point, you have to be a little selfish and do what's in the best interests of your family," McKay said Wednesday.

"There's some ego involved in that, and it's a tough decision to make," McKay said.

The process of finding McKay's replacement has not begun, as McKay has yet to submit his retirement papers.

McKay also operates the adidas Big Time Tournament, one of the nation's largest prep basketball showcases, during the summer in Las Vegas. He plans to continue directing the tournament, and McKay also left open the possibility of expanding to more tournaments.

"I'm going to stay involved in athletics," McKay said.

McKay said the state budget crisis and its expected impact on CCSD did not factor into his decision to retire. He plans to guide the athletics program through the budgeting process for the 2003-04 school year.

However, considering Nevada's financial instability and the likelihood of no immediate pay raises, McKay decided it would be best to retire sooner than later.

"If we were getting proper salaries, I think a lot of people would have stayed (longer in the district)," McKay said.

With three decades of service to CCSD, McKay will receive the maximum possible pension under the Public Employees' Retirement System of Nevada.

McKay believes he brought clarity, organization and order to the district's athletics operation.

"It's the way I run my life, and it's the way I run my office," McKay said.

McKay came from an assistant principal slot at Durango to take control of CCSD's athletics programs. He began his CCSD career as a teacher at Bridger Middle School, and an assistant basketball and baseball coach at Rancho High School.

Moving into administration, McKay spent 14 years as an assistant principal at Rancho. He went to Valley as an assistant principal for two years before moving to Durango, where he spent four years.

McKay also serves on the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association's Board of Control. He is well known in officiating circles for his years as a basketball referee, many at the college level.