HERMITAGE - - -Richard McWhirter of Clarksville has been named to the position of Assistant Executive Director with the TSSAA. He comes to TSSAA after serving as the Activities Coordinator for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System for the past five years. He will oversee the sports of Track & Field and Football. Other responsibilities will include the Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association (TMSAA), the A.F. Bridges Sportsmanship Program, Eligibility, and day-to-day operations of the state office. He replaces Robert Cole, former Assistant Executive Director, who resigned from his position with the state office in August.
Mr. McWhirter has been involved in education for 22 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Austin Peay State University in 1989 and his Masters Degree +45 in Administration & Supervision in 1994.
He began his career in Houston County in 1989 where he served as the Physical Education teacher at Tennessee Ridge Elementary School and was the Middle & High School Girls’ Basketball and Golf Coach. In 1994 he became the Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Houston County High School and continued to serve as the Girls’ Basketball Coach.
In 1997, Richard became the Girls’ Basketball and Golf Coach at Clarksville High School. After three years he took the position of Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Northeast High School in Clarksville. From 2003-2006 he served as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Rossview High School.
Richard has been a TSSAA baseball and softball official for eight years. He has officiated football at the high school level for over 20 years. He has also recently served as the District 10-AAA District Coordinator and was Chair of the Sportsmanship Committee for Athletic District 5.
Mr. McWhirter will assume his duties with the TSSAA on October 1, 2010.