Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Ray Brewer:

New NIAA boss Thompson to separate real issues from perception in dealing with Gorman, others

Gorman Wins

L.E. Baskow

Bishop Gorman’s Nick Blair (23) is cheered on by teammates after a tough basket and foul during the state title game Friday, Feb. 27, 2015.

Gorman Beats Palo Verde in Title Game

Bishop Gorman's Nick Blair (23) is cheered on by teammates after a tough basket and foul during the state title game Friday, Feb. 27, 2015. Launch slideshow »

Bart Thompson doesn’t have an immediate solution to your concerns about high school sports in Nevada, but at least he’s willing to listen before making a decision.

At least he won’t go into his new job with a pre-conceived notion about what the problems are and what changes must be instituted.

Those were my first impressions of Thompson, who was named this week as the executive director of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association. He comes from Utah — which is a good thing.

While each of the other four finalists to replace Eddie Bonine were accomplished in athletics and had a strong resume, none had the one trait that makes Thompson attractive. Thompson is an outsider from another state association; the others were from Nevada.

Thompson will quickly learn Nevada has a more than its share of problems, which is why when news spread of Bonine leaving for the same job in Louisiana some rejoiced as if they just hit a halfcourt shot to win the state championship.

Here are some of the problems I shared with Thompson: four of five teams make the playoffs in some leagues, realignment is a mess, the NIAA office is headquartered in the wrong part of the state, programs can’t develop because of coaching turnover and resources are limited.

And, of course, the biggest problem according to most, which really isn’t a problem at all: Nobody can beat Bishop Gorman in football or basketball or marbles, because, they say, Bishop Gorman has unfair advantages.

Welcome to Nevada, Bart.

“It allows me to be neutral,” Thompson said of being an outsider. “I don’t have a dog in the fight. Nobody can say I came in with a specific set of ideas.”

Phone calls to the NIAA office to complain about Gorman, the six-time defending football state champions and four-time basketball champs, are sure to be frequent. Some want Gorman booted from the NIAA. Others suggest putting them in a super-division, and from away from Northern Nevada schools who have grown frustrated of not winning state titles.

The flip side of the argument won’t make Gorman-haters happy: Gorman, despite being under constant scrutiny, more than any other school in the association, hasn’t broken association rules.

“My plan right now is to get myself on top of what the issues are and sort out the real issues versus perception,” Thompson said. “There will be a little bit of education time for me. I am going to need some time to get on top of what the issues are, to visit schools, get to know administrators and find out exactly where we are.”

He might learn complaints about Gorman are a perception and nothing more. He might learn certain association rules need to be altered. But, unlike Bonine who at one point tried to create a separate private-school league to get rid of Gorman despite only a handful of private schools in the state, at least Thompson is willing to listen.

He’s an outsider without a dog in the fight. That’s exactly what high school sports in Nevada needed.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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