Jerry Snodgrass
A 1973 graduate of Upper Sandusky High School, Jerry Snodgrass played high school basketball for veteran coach Ron Jump and football until his 3rd knee surgery cut his playing days short. His continued involvement in basketball and sport administration began early in his professional career volunteering in the BGSU men’s basketball program where he graduated with honors in 1977. Hired in the Defiance City Schools teaching science and working in the very successful basketball program under legendary head coach Roger Renz, he also served as an assistant football and baseball coach. His first head coaching opportunity presented itself at Ridgedale High School in 1980. When the opportunity to enter athletic administration presented itself, Snodgrass left the coaching ranks to accept a position as Assistant Athletic Director responsible for all junior high sports in the Bryan City Schools. The strong desire to coach never left and the opportunity to reunite with Coach Renz, who had moved on to Findlay High School presented itself in 1983. Snodgrass spent the next 27 years of his professional career at Findlay that including teaching in the science department and serving as the assistant basketball coach. When Coach Renz passed away in 1991, Snodgrass took over as the head boys’ basketball coach. Jerry was hired as the school’s Athletic Director in 1992, serving both roles until 1999. Jerry continued as the Findlay’s Athletic Director until he was hired by the Ohio High School Athletic Association in 2008.
Serving the member schools in athletic leadership positions across Ohio began when Snodgrass was elected to the NW District Athletic Board while serving as the Athletic Director at Findlay. This initiated an extensive resume of service to OHSAA member schools, as he was also elected to serve a 2-year term on the OHSAA’s Board of Directors while a member of the NW District Athletic Board, serving as it’s president in the 2005-06 academic year.
After 31 years in public education, Snodgrass was hired in 2008 as an Assistant Commissioner under Dr. Dan Ross at the OHSAA. His responsibilities included serving as the liaison to athletic directors in Ohio, overseeing the implementation of mandatory Coach Education and administrating the sports of soccer, basketball and baseball. Eventually, while serving in this role, he administrated 13 sports with the assistance of a loyal staff working closely to enhance the athletic experience for junior high and high school athletes. The position also included conducting the state tournaments in those sports, developing many different events taking place simultaneous with the tournaments. Utilizing National Anthem singers from member schools, recognizing former state champions, and utilizing half-time entertainment at state tournaments were a small part of enhancing the state tournament experience. Creating the nationally recognized “Golden Megaphone” program promoting leadership and sportsmanship among fast-evolving student cheer groups at athletic events, and the development of “Military Appreciation Night” at basketball games were proud achievements during his 10 years as an Assistant Commissioner.
Beyond sport administration, Jerry made his mark by serving on various committees both nationally and within the state. A member of the NFHS Coach Education Committee he oversaw the statewide mandate for over 70,000 school coaches, serving on the Sportsmanship Ethics and Integrity Committee, the OHSAA Foundation Board of Directors, the Ohio Opioid Alliance and also was a presenter at the NFHS National Conference. While administrating the sports and serving as the liaison to Athletic Director’s Jerry implemented in-season communications in the sports he administered such as his “Rebounders Reports” to basketball coaches as well as semi-weekly Athletic Director communications.
In 2018, Snodgrass was hired as the 10th Executive Director (formerly called “Commissioner”) of the OHSAA. Taking over the position and facing deficit spending, Snodgrass re-negotiated several contracts; including state tournament site contracts, athletic department data entry contracts while overseeing the final steps that converted the OHSAA’s employee pension plan while also restructuring staff responsibilities to increase organizational efficiency and becoming the first state to partner with an online ticketing platform to provide options for tournament ticket purchases.
The unfortunate onset of the Covid pandemic that began in January of 2020 began a chain of events that eventually ended with his departure from the OHSAA in July of that year. The unfortunate canceling of most winter sport state tournaments and all spring sports was one of the most challenging issues that faced all state Executive Directors. Snodgrass orchestrated the push for Ohio’s schools to return to participation before his departure in July.
Snodgrass has been recognized numerous times for his servant leadership to Ohio’s schools and student-athletes through honors from the Ohio House of Representatives, the Ohio Senate, the OHSAA’s Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award, the National VFW, the Ohio and National Athletic Administrators Associations awards and his honorary membership in the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association and the NE Ohio Athletic Administrators Association’s Distinguished Service Award. His leadership was recognized by induction into the Wyandot County Sports Hall of Fame, Upper Sandusky’s Hall of Fame, the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, Hancock County Sports Hall of Fame, the Ohio Athletic Administrator’s (OIAAA) Hall of Fame, and the Ohio HS Baseball Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame. Snodgrass is also very involved with the “Do It For 19” foundation – created in the name of his son Mark who passed away unexpectedly in 2019.
Jerry continues his service to schools and student-athletes serving as a color analyst for WOSN-TV in Lima covering high school football and basketball games across western Ohio and a public speaker on leadership. His greatest accomplishments remain the success of many his former players and student-athletes impacted by his leadership. Jerry resides in Findlay along with his wife (Barbara) of 45 years. They have a daughter (Katie) and son-in-law (Mike) and 3 grandchildren (Declan, Caroline and Corrine) living in Perrysburg. Their son, Mark passed away unexpectedly in 2019.