Wulkow to Chair NASO Board of Directors


Richard Wulkow, Executive Director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, recently was selected as chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Sports Officials. He has been on the NASO Board for two years.

NASO, which among its broad services prints Referee magazine, is the largest group of its kind, literally serving officials in all sports in the United States and Canada. The largest contingent served by NASO is high school officials.

Wulkow, by a vote of the board of directors, was chosen to be their chairperson for the 2010-11 year. His leadership has been valuable not just to the state of Iowa but to the National Federation of High Schools’ state activities association as a member of their Board of Directors. His extensive background of over three decades in officiating as an observer, evaluator and assigner at the high school and NCAA Division I levels offers the group a broad perspective.

He has been the executive director of the IHSAA since January, 2005 after serving 25 years as an Assistant Executive Director. As a former high school educator, coach and administrator, he brings that additional experience to NASO and Referee publications. Throughout his career he has been a valued and trusted voice in education, athletic administration and officiating.

The NASO Board of Directors represents some of the most outstanding officials and sports leaders in America including Mike Port, vice-president of umpiring for major league baseball; Bill Kennedy, veteran NBA official who worked the 2010 playoffs;; Bill Carollo former Super Bowl Official and now head of the Big 10 Football Officials; Patty Viverito, associate commissioner of the Missouri Valley; Steve Shaw veteran Southeast Conference football official who worked Orange Bowl this year; Dale Kelley, former NCAA basketball official and assigner for five Division I Conferences; Kathy Strahn, NCAA softball officiating coordinator; Don Collins, commissioner of Northern Section of the California Interscholastic Federation (high school); and Ron Foxcroft – President of Fox Whistles – used by sports officials and those in public safety in 144 different countries. Also, newly selected members Ralph Swearington, executive director of the Georgia High School Athletic Association, and Patty Broderick, Women’s Basketball Officiating Consortium Coordinator join the board.