PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — David Price had time to ponder what his first day as Executive Director of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission would be like.
Announced June 13 as the replacement for the retired Bernie Dolan, Price started Wednesday in his new role, and the journey began with a commute from Charleston to SSAC offices in Parkersburg.
“I’ll be back and forth. I’ve commuted from Charleston to Beckley for eleven years,” said Price, who was Superintendent of Raleigh County Schools for nine years after serving as Assistant Superintendent the previous two years. ”Now I’m just traveling [Interstate] 77 North. It’s not a bad commute or drive. I’m used to that my entire career.”
While Price is traveling a different road to work, his career path has also taken quite a turn. Price announced his retirement in May from his position as Superintendent, and it was thought a successful career in education that spanned 40 years had come to an end.
While the start of competition in the 2023-24 high school athletics season remains nearly a month away, Price says this is a critical time in his adjustment.
“What people don’t understand is that when athletics start, the busy season for us is not only then, but prior to getting everything ready,” Price said. “It’s just like the school system. People don’t understand when school is not going on, that’s a very busy time for administrators.”
Starting July 26, SSAC officials begin traveling across West Virginia to conduct training for principals, coaches and officials in an effort to better understand procedures and requirements for what’s ahead.
“We have a lot of people wanting to get involved and take that training,” Price said. “We’re trying to get all that together, so it’s a very busy time.”
The SSAC Board of Directors meets next week and the State Board of Education meets July 12, with several SSAC items sure to arise.
“We don’t expect too much from that,” Price said, “but we always want to be prepared and be able to answer any questions that might come up.”
As Price’s tenure as Executive Director gets going, one of the hot high school athletics topics across the state is House Bill 2820, which has created liberalized rules that allow students to transfer schools once and maintain athletic eligibility.
Previously, any student transferring after ninth grade was required by the SSAC to sit out one year unless he or she could verify a change of address into the district of the new school or won an appeal by petitioning the SSAC.
“The first thing we’re dealing with is the transfer rule and everyone trying to be acclimated to that and what it truly means,” Price said. “The transfer rule doesn’t mean recruiting is allowed, so we’re in the process of fielding a lot of questions about that and some of the other rules that will be taking place.
“I look at that right now as the first step, but at the same time, being prepared for what’s to come and planning for reclassification, planning for the work that it’ll take to reset regionals and sectionals with reclassification. There’s going to be a lot of time and a lot of effort put into that. Those are the first things we’ll be looking at right up front, plus the unexpected.”
Reclassification, which happens every four years, will occur next in November. It’s possible — and perhaps even likely — several sports, including football, will operate in a four-class system in the future, which girls and boys basketball have utilized each of the last three seasons. That wouldn’t be in effect until the 2024-25 athletics season at the earliest, but Price knows reclassification will be a hot topic before long.
“The month of June, I don’t know where it went. I know July is going to be much quicker, because we’ve been in here meeting this morning and we’re already on July 26 in our minds,” Price said. “It’s a blur and we’ll be in season before you know it. As somebody said the other day, we’re closer to Christmas coming up than we are to last Christmas. It’s going to move fast.”
In the meantime, the SSAC is also working to fill an important vacancy on its staff.
Following the unexpected passing of then-Assistant Executive Director Greg Reed in January, the SSAC has been working with two Assistant Executive Directors — Wayne Ryan and Dr. Cindy Daniel.
With Price in place as Dolan’s replacement, a third Assistant Executive Director is expected to be named in the near future.
“Spent this morning meeting with Dr. Daniel and Wayne Ryan and getting some plans together for the next three weeks, and the rest of the morning was spent interviewing candidates for the vacant Assistant Executive Director position that was held by the late Greg Reed,” said Price, who added a recommendation will be made to the Board of Directors on July 11.
For now, Price is getting acclimated to working alongside Ryan and Daniel before a third Assistant Executive Director onboards.
“In terms of knowing someone personally and then working together every day, there’s a difference,” Price said. “But their work ethic and the type of work they’ve always done is second to none. I know it’s very professional and in great hands and very knowledgeable, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to learn from them.”