BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Bryan Deal, Princeton's football coach, doesn't intend to waste.
"My top priority will be to improve communications between the state associations," Deal said. "We'll tighten the web and everyone will benefit."
Today in Kansas City (Mo.), Deal takes over as the president of the National Federation of High School Coaches Association (NFHSCA). "It's very flattering and very unique for an average coach like me to serve as president," Deal said. "I'm very excited and if we can make just a little dent, it will be rewarding."
The NFHSCA is the governing body of all the state coaches association throughout the United States. The eight-person board works closely with appointed state representatives.
Besides dealing with national recognition programs, the NFHSCA also works on developing training programs for new coaches and officials.
"We have nothing to do with rules changes in the different sports," Deal said.
"That's a different branch that oversees the publications and rules."
Deal, who graduated from the University of Dayton with a masters degree in 1982, previously taught and coached football at Sidney (1984-87) and Dublin (1988-97).
He was hired by Princeton in 1997 to replace Pat Mancuso as football coach.
Clair Muscaro, Commissioner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, nominated Deal three years ago to served as Region 8 representative on the NFHSCA.
As a result, Deal is the representative for Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington D.C.
Each term is for three years and rotates between the states in the region. An Ohio representative serves only once every 24-28 years and Deal is believed to be the first from Cincinnati.
"Now that I will be serving as president, I'll be in the NFHSCA four years rather than three," Deal said. "I've already served two years and my term will now end in 2000."
Deal has dealt with numerous state associations during the past two years, and has come to appreciate the Ohio and Kentucky High School Athletic Associations and the commissioners.
"We have very competent associations in both Ohio and Kentucky and many of the commissioners serve on committees at the national level," Deal said.
"Many people have the wrong impression of the commissioners. They look at them as bad guys sitting behind a desk making tough decisions because someone violated a rule. It's not like that at all."
Deal pointed out that Ohio and has one of the best liability insurance packages available to the member schools.
The OHSAA is also very solvent and for the past three years has waived the normal entry fees charged to participate in the various state tournaments. This practice will probably continue indefinitely. The NFHSCA meets three times a year in Kansas City with the representatives working more than 10 hours a day.
"We don't see the sunlight but we have fun in the evening," Deal said. "I've met so many nice people and this has been a very rewarding experience."
