Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commissioner Julian Tackett announced Monday his retirement from the organization effective later this school year.Tackett, just the seventh commissioner in KHSAA history, has a distingu ished career with the organization that spans more than four decades, starting as KHSAA sports information director in 1984.He manages football and postseason basketball and is also responsible for constitution and bylaw interpretations, Board of Control meetings and agenda, finances, state event location and contracts among several other duties.Tackett, who has been the commissioner since 2010, works with the General Assembly and the boards advisory lobby groups, sports medicine, athletic directors and other meetings and technology design and development. Tackett has also managed wrestling, baseball, track and field and business affairs.Mark Twain is attributed with the quote that says The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why, Tackett said in a statement.For me, the day Tom Mills called my house to offer me the Sports Information job and I got into the work, was when I found that to be true, and it still is. And it has been that way throughout my journey. My career has been blessed with trials, tribulations, challenges, and accomplishments, all the while staying focused on helping keep kids involved in this great field of school-based athletics. I will leave with nothing but gratitude for the dozens of co-workers, hundreds of event workers, thousands of officials, school administrators and coaches, and literally millions of participants who have allowed me to have a small part in their high school experience.The KHSAA has enjoyed the greatest expansion and growth of opportunities for student-athletes in the 109-history of the KHSAA, according to a news release. Several sports were added including bowling (2012), competitive cheer (2012), archery (2013), bass fishing (2013), field hockey (2014), Unified Sports Opportunities in track (2015), dance (2017), Esports (2018), indoor track and field (2024), boys and girls lacrosse (2025), boys volleyball (2025) and the adoption of pickle ball and girls flag football starting in the 2027-28 school year.The KHSAAs Board of Control expressed its appreciation for Tacketts service and leadership.On behalf of the Board of Control, I want to express our sincere appreciation to Commissioner Julian Tackett for more than four decades of dedicated service to the KHSAA, including 16 years as Commissioner, said Damon Kelley, president of the KHSAA Board of Control, in a statement.Tackett also oversaw the KHSAAs development of the first-ever statewide radio network for the Boys Girls Sweet 16 and the development of its first public website. In addition, he guided the KHSAAs governance efforts regarding middle school athletics beginning in 2013 and helped increase the number of licensed sports officials by creating the Junior Officials program (14-to-17-year-olds) in 2023-24.Tacketts list of accomplishments at the national level is just as impressive, having served on numerous National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) committees such as the Strategic Planning (Chair) and involvement with three different iterations, Football Rules (Chair), Baseball Rules, Basketball Rules, Records, Hall of Fame (Chair), Technology (Chair), Sports Medicine, and NFHS Network (Chair). He has given many presentations at the NFHS Summer Meeting, National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Conferences, and dozens of other conferences, commencement ceremonies, and local group meetings.In addition to Tacketts announcement, KHSAA Associate Commissioner Butch Cope announced his retirement from the organization effective July 1, 2027.In his 32nd year with the KHSAA, Cope manages girls and boys volleyball, regular-season basketball, archery, and baseball. In addition, he oversees the officials division and student services, including the HYPE student conferences, and serves as the liaison with the KHSAA's marketing agent, TPG.Cope previously managed competitive cheer, dance, boys and girls golf, boys and girls swimming and diving, and boys and girls tennis with the KHSAA.Im thankful to former commissioners Louis Stout and Brigid DeVries and current commissioner Julian Tackett for the honor and privilege of working at the KHSAA, Cope said in a statement. A lot has changed over the years, and the opportunity for growth along the way has helped create memories that will last forever. To the many board members, staff members, event workers, host venues, officials, coaches, and administrators, thank you for the most rewarding career opportunity of which I hope I served well.SIGN UP: Subscribe to our high school sports newsletter ...read more read less