Today’s interviewee is Tommy Marshall, the commissioner of the Georgia Independent Athletic Association, a new division of the Georgia Independent School Association. The GISA announced the formation of the GIAA last week. It came in the wake of 16 Georgia High School Association members announcing over the past six weeks that they would be joining GISA next year. The 16 are Brookstone, Deerfield-Windsor, First Presbyterian, George Walton Academy, Heritage of Newnan, Lakeview Academy, Loganville Christian, Mount de Sales, Our Lady of Mercy, Riverside Military, St. Anne-Pacelli, Stratford Academy, Strong Rock Christian and Tattnall Square, plus non-football schools Atlanta Jewish Academy and Brandon Hall. Another 11 schools are coming from other associations for a total of 27 new members. Marshall had been Marist’s athletic director for 25 years when he retired last spring. He spent many of those years on the GHSA’s executive committee.
Tommy Marshall, GIAA commissioner
1. What is the purpose of the GIAA? “GISA is an independent school organization that understands the nature of independent schools. The GIAA’s purpose is to provide a premier and competitive platform for Georgia’s independent schools and their student-athletes. This new organization is an extension of the great work the GISA has already established with its member institutions since its inception in 1986. The GIAA is a fresh start to welcome 27 new members since Aug. 1, 2021.”
2. What is your role as commissioner and why did you decide to take the job? “My role as commissioner is to provide leadership for our GIAA staff. Dr. Jackson and the GISA Board of Trustees made a commitment to help better serve our schools and student-athletes by adding new members to the GIAA staff since last spring. As we all know, athletics is all about the strength of the TEAM! We have a great staff!
“After announcing my retirement from Marist over a year ago, I was looking for an opportunity to continue to work with athletics in a different capacity. I have always considered my involvement in education and athletics as a ministry more than a job. My goal as commissioner is to draw from my different experiences as a high school coach and teacher, college coach and administrator as well as a private school athletic director at Marist for 25 years to help provide insight and positive leadership. I have had opportunities to serve in different capacities with the GHSA over my time at Marist that will prove valuable in my new role as commissioner. In addition, working with the GADA [Georgia Athletic Directors Association] for over 25 years has allowed me to interact with ADs from around the state. I am excited because the opportunity as commissioner allows me to continue to work with schools and communities. athletic directors, coaches and student-athletes throughout our state.”
3. There will be 16 GISA members that come from the GHSA. What do you feel that the GIAA has to offer to make it a better fit for those schools? “The GIAA has worked hard to react to the feedback of its existing and new members. We have developed a competitive and fair environment for all of our existing and new schools. All schools have input in our rules, regulations, calendar and classifications. Members do not have a service area, and transfer rules are in place to protect each member school. The interscholastic calendar has less overlap and allows for and encourages multi-sport athletes to participate. The calendar also takes into account the AP exams and semester exams as a vital component of the success of student-athletes.”
4. What is the excitement level and practical implications moving forward for the GIAA? “This is a very exciting time for independent schools and our student athletes. The GIAA will have premier competition and provide a platform for growth. With the additional resources of Trenches and Hope-Beckham, we will be working to build our media reach across the state for all of our schools. The GIAA will be focused on extending the amazing play of our student athletes through new media partnerships, social media and new statewide partnerships. Adding Trenches and Hope-Beckham to our team will greatly enhance our ability to build a better brand as we provide a premier and competitive athletic association for Georgia’s independent schools and their student athletes.
“One of the goals of the GIAA is to continue to work side by side with the GHSA and other state organizations to provide the best in high school athletics throughout the state of Georgia for all of our student athletes.
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