Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association names Cate Sgroi executive director after its first pick falls through

What happened

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association has selected Cate Sgroi as its new executive director, the Las Vegas Sun reported Friday, citing a news release from the association. Sgroi is set to begin her duties Monday.

According to the Sun, Sgroi will be the association's seventh full-time executive director. She replaces Timothy Jackson in the role.

How the search unfolded

A first choice that did not work out

Sgroi was not the association's first pick for the job. The Sun reported that the NIAA Board of Control originally named Todd Cutler, superintendent of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District, as executive director.

That plan ended because the two sides could not agree on contract terms, according to the Sun. The board then turned to Sgroi, its second choice to replace Jackson.

A hire from inside the association

Sgroi already works for the NIAA. She has been an assistant director at the association since July 2024, the Sun reported, so she moves into the executive director post from within its own staff.

Sgroi's background

Clark County School District athletics

Before joining the NIAA staff, Sgroi spent two years as a director in the Clark County School District athletics office, according to the Sun. That district job followed many years of work at a single high school.

Years at Sierra Vista High School

Sgroi started her career in education as a biology teacher at Sierra Vista High School, where she also coached track and girls volleyball, the Sun reported. In 2016 she became the school's athletic director and stayed in that position for four years.

She then worked as an assistant principal at Sierra Vista for nearly two years before moving to the CCSD athletics office. Her path runs from teaching and coaching to school administration, then to district athletics and finally to the association.

What Sgroi said

In a statement released with the announcement, Sgroi said, "I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next executive director."

She said she looks forward to building on what she described as the NIAA's strong foundation and bringing all stakeholders together around a shared vision. According to the Sun, she also said she wants to find "meaningful ways to enhance the experience of Nevada's student-athletes."

Why it matters

The appointment places a former Clark County School District athletics administrator and longtime Sierra Vista High School teacher, coach and athletic director in the NIAA's executive director post. In her statement, Sgroi named Nevada's student-athletes as a focus of her work.

The decision also closes a search that began with a different candidate. As the Sun reported, the board's original choice did not take the job after the two sides failed to agree on contract terms, which led the board to its second choice.

What to watch next

• Sgroi is scheduled to begin her duties as executive director Monday, according to the NIAA release reported by the Las Vegas Sun.
• Sgroi has said she plans to bring stakeholders together around a shared vision and look for ways to improve the experience of Nevada's student-athletes.