ROANOKE, W.Va. — The West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission selected Bernie Dolan as its new executive director.
The SSAC, during its yearly Board of Control meeting Monday and Tuesday at the Stonewall Resort, was seeking a successor for Gary Ray, who plans to retire in January 2016 after a 15-year run with the organization, including the last nine years as chief.
“Bernie has come through the system and what stuck out with him has been his experience,” SSAC board president David Cottrell said. “He knows the process that is in place and he’s just a good candidate.”
Dolan, a former Wheeling Park High School principal, has served as assistant superintendent for Ohio County Schools since July 2012. Most significant to his appointment, he was a high ranking member of the SSAC Board of Directors and led Wheeling’s Super Six committee that stages the high school football state championships.
“He’s a very good man and a very well-respected man,” Cottrell said. “Mr. Ray has done a very good job for us and Bernie will fill his shoes well.”
A 1979 graduate of Wheeling Park High, Dolan attended West Virginia University before returning to his hometown to become a teacher, track and football coach and athletics director.
The SSAC oversees high school and middle school athletics across West Virginia, spanning 12 sports along with cheerleading and band activities.
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