By Zach Zook

BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois High School Association is preparing for another year of sports across all levels, but this year they’ll be doing so with a new member on its staff.

Sam Knox joins the IHSA this year and will be taking over many of the responsibilities previously held by Craig Anderson, who became the executive director in April.

Knox’s duties include overseeing the officials department, as well as the sports of baseball and football.

The retention rate for officials in the IHSA is at 65 percent, which is the highest its been in a number of years.

Knox acknowledged that while he’s happy with the statistic, there is still work to be done in the state’s more rural areas.

“We hear quite frequently that the folks in Southern Illinois have a very difficult time finding football officials,” said Knox.

He explained that because there are less people in those rural areas, there’s simply less people who want to officiate.

Knox still views that fact as a positive, however.

Because there are less officials in rural areas than in suburban areas, it’s easier to climb up the post-season ladder.

Knox knows he’ll have a lot on his plate once fall sports start up again.

“From what I understand, once the football season gets rolling and games start being played, that’s when the busy times really happen,” Knox said.

A three-sport letter winner in high school at Unity High School in Mendon (football, basketball and baseball), Knox is prepared for the uniqueness high school football in Illinois presents.

“Football is our only sport that we offer in IHSA schools where you have to qualify for the post-season,” said Knox. “In every other sport, every team qualifies.

“Whether you’re undefeated or haven’t won a game yet, everyone plays in the regional and sectional level.”

Knox takes over a lot of responsibilities with the selection of teams to the football playoffs and is confident in the system they have in place.

Schools are divided into six classes and are split geographically into two brackets of 16 teams, but 7A and 8A are divided differently.

“In 7 and 8A, when a large majority of our schools are in the Chicago suburban area, all 32 schools are in the same bracket,” Knox explained.

“So in the first round you could have a team from the Edwardsville, Metro St. Louis area playing a team from Chicago.”

The football season kicks off Aug. 26 with the High School Football Extravaganza airing on WJBC and WJBC.com beginning at 6:00 p.m. Friday throughout the season.

Zach Zook can be reached at [email protected].