Eddie Hartnett, CHSAA’s board president, speaking at the All-School Summit on Tuesday. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
LONE TREE — Eddie Hartnett held up a book of CHSAA’s bylaws, and motioned out to the crowd seated in front of him.
“This book that I hold up in front of you is just a book,” said Hartnett, speaking publicly for the first time as the new president of CHSAA’s Board of Directors. “You need to understand that it works through you, that you are CHSAA. The bylaws in the book change with the times and the culture, and it is through you that changes can and should be made.
“You are invited and encouraged to make changes, and affirmations, of existing bylaws. It is through you, and your leagues, that this happens. You are part of it.”
Harnett, the athletic director at Boulder High School, became the Association’s 60th board president in June. Speaking Tuesday morning at the All-School Summit, he reflected on his early years as an athletic director. Hartnett eventually became district athletic director at Adams 12, before accepting the job at Boulder in May.
Eddie Hartnett. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
“I remember my first few years as an athletic director, and seeing the president,” Hartnett said. “I truly wondered if that person understood the challenges I faced at a high school as an assistant principal and athletic director. And I do not want you to feel that way with me. I am honored and humbled to stand before you.
“I am one of you,” Hartnett continued. “I am the Boulder High School athletic director. And as your president, I am here to serve you and the 352 member schools and all the coaches and staff members and student-athletes. I felt that in order for me to represent our schools, it was important that I return to the front and experience, once again, what you experience daily at your schools, in your leagues, and in your school districts — through the eyes of a high school athletic/activities directors.
“As I spoke with (CHSAA commissioner) Paul (Angelico), I knew (changing jobs) was a bold move: The president of CHSAA, a district athletic director, going back to the front. It was what I wanted to do, but more importantly, what I needed to do. It is also what I felt the membership needed, to be represented by one of their own, a true high school and activities director.”
Hartnett acknowledged that he had a tough act to follow in Curt Wilson, now the superintendent at Centauri Schools, and Harry Bull (the superintendent at Cherry Creek Schools) before him.
“I want to continue the dramatic growth and development that Harry Bull and Curt Wilson established by honoring those two past presidents, recognizing their great contributions of presenting and passing bylaws that made Colorado student-athletes — all Colorado student-athletes — feel welcome and safe to participate in athletics and activities. They did great work,” Hartnett said.
“Looking over the 95 years of CHSAA history, I believe those two CHSAA presidents were the most influential presidents in CHSAA history,” Hartnett added. “They made a great impact, and I hope to live up to their standard and the high bar that they set. It was these two men who repeatedly said and emphasized, ‘We are CHSAA.’ We all came together under that slogan, and we are living it.”
Again, Hartnett implored the athletic directors to take ownership in the association.
“You, your communities, students, staff, leagues, schools and school districts — you are CHSAA,” he said. “Make a difference. Please make changes when needed. You, my friends and colleagues, you are CHSAA.”
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)