New NFHS Officers, Board Members Elected for 2026-27

Lance Taylor, executive director of the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), is the new president of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for 2026-27. Taylor, the 67^th president of the NFHS, began his one-year term July 1 following the NFHS Summer Meeting, which was held this year in Salt Lake City, Utah.      

Stephanie Hauser, executive director of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), was elected by the NFHS Board of Directors to the position of president-elect for the upcoming year.     

The following individuals were approved by the NFHS National Council for four-year terms on the NFHS Board of Directors: Rickey Neaves, executive director, Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA), Section 3; Chris Chun, executive director, Hawaii High School Athletic Association, Section 7; and Lacey Holcomb, principal, Simsboro (Louisiana) School, at large, Sections 3 and 7.       

 Lance Taylor was named executive director of the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) in 2006, after seven years as the organization’s associate executive director (2000-03), deputy executive director (2003-05) and executive director-elect (2005-06). Prior to joining the AAA in 2000, he was a teacher, coach and principal at three Arkansas schools for 13 years.

After graduating from Arkansas State University (ASU) in 1987, Taylor began his career as a teacher and coach at Hot Springs (Arkansas) Cutter Morning Star High School (1988-93) and Greenwood (Arkansas) High School (1993-98). He then served two one-year stints as a high school principal at Greenwood High School and Batesville (Arkansas) High School.

Taylor is serving his second term on the NFHS Board of Directors after previously serving a term from 2011 to 2015. At 20 years of service, Taylor is the longest-tenured active state association executive director. 

Taylor’s other involvement on NFHS committees has been extensive. He has held positions on the Football Rules Committee, Soccer Rules Committee, Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, Citizenship Committee, Appeal Board, Summer Meeting Advisory Committee, NFHS HOLDCO Board and the NFHS Foundation Board of Directors. In addition, he has been a member of two NFHS Strategic Planning Committees, including chair of the 2016-2021 committee.

A certified principal and superintendent and Arkansas native, Taylor received his master’s degree in secondary administration from ASU in 1992.

Stephanie Hauser has been executive director of the WIAA since July 2021 after serving as assistant director from 2015 to 2021. In addition to overseeing administrative operations for the WIAA, Hauser’s responsibilities include classifications, elections, contracts, and legislative and legal matters.

During her time as an assistant director, Hauser handled the sports of gymnastics, softball and volleyball, as well as track and field, and cross country in her first two years. She was also responsible for overseeing the Coaches Advisory Committee and conference realignment.

Since joining the WIAA, Hauser has been involved at the national level as well, serving as chair of the NFHS Gymnastics Rules Committee from 2018 to 2024. She also served on the NFHS Student Services Committee and made a workshop presentation at the 2018 Summer Meeting, and she is a current member of the NFHS Education Committee.

Hauser came to the WIAA from Stevens Point Area Senior High School, where she served eight years as athletic director/assistant principal. From 2003 to 2007, she served in a similar capacity at New London School District. During her time at Stevens Point Area Senior High School, Hauser was a member of the WIAA Sports Advisory Committee and the Volleyball Coaches Advisory Committee.

Hauser is a member of two halls of fame – the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association and the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association – and she was selected as the distinguished alumna to give the commencement speech at her alma mater, Antigo (Wisconsin) High School.

Hauser is a 1991 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a degree in secondary chemistry education, and she received a master’s degree in education leadership from Marian College in 1997. Hauser was a member of the UW-Superior women’s basketball and softball teams, and was named team captain and most valuable player of the women’s volleyball team, receiving all-conference honorable mention.

Rickey Neaves has been executive director of the Mississippi High School Activities Association since January 1, 2021, and is the association’s seventh director. In addition to his upcoming service on the Board of Directors, Neaves will begin a four-year term on the NFHS Hall of Fame Screening Committee. 

Neaves joined the MHSAA in 2011 as associate director of athletics, which included duties related to eligibility rulings for MHSAA sports and officiating. He was director for the sports of baseball, basketball, powerlifting, soccer, tennis, volleyball, golf and football. During that time, he served on the NFHS Middle School Advisory Committee and NFHS Football Rules Committee. Before joining the MHSAA staff, Neaves was a member of the MHSAA Executive Committee for eight years.

Neaves has 32 years in education, including 15 years as a principal and superintendent with Booneville Public Schools. Prior to his administrative duties, he was a teacher, coach, athletic director and assistant principal for Lee County Schools for 17 years. He was inducted into two halls of fame – the Jackson Diamond Club and the Northeast Mississippi Coaches Association for Better Baseball.

Neaves graduated from Saltillo High School before earning his bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and recreation from Delta State University. He earned master’s degrees in physical education (Mississippi State University) and administration (University of Mississippi).

Chris Chun has served as executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) since February 2010, leading the organization’s statewide business and athletic operations and representing Hawaii high school athletics at the state and national levels.

During his tenure, Chun has positioned the HHSAA as a statewide leader in student-athlete and official health, safety and equity. He advanced concussion protocols, secured funding for baseline concussion testing, and helped provide Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to all member schools. He also implemented mandatory background checks for game officials, supported legislation protecting officials from harassment and assault, drafted uniform student eligibility rules, established the HHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, and strengthened the association’s infrastructure through the incorporation of the Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association and the addition of its first permanent financial officer.

Under his leadership, the HHSAA has expanded competitive opportunities while improving long-term financial stability. Chun’s agreement with Teall Properties Group secured a guaranteed, increasing budget framework to support the HHSAA for the next decade and beyond. He has broadened state tournament access across the islands, introduced esports, flag football and surfing, and added new competitive divisions, including Football’s Open Division and Division II classifications for cross country, canoe paddling and flag football. Today, Hawaii offers 21 sanctioned high school sports, ranking fourth highest in the nation.

Nationally, Chun has served as chair of the NFHS Foundation Board and as a member of the NFHS Appeal Board, Football Rules Committee and Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. He holds Accredited and Certified Interscholastic Coach credentials, along with numerous advanced NFHS certifications.

Before joining the HHSAA, Chun practiced as a civil litigation attorney. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, a Master of Science from Chaminade University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Hawaii. A graduate of Iolani School, he remains active in Hawaii’s sports community through committee service and coaching.

Lacey Holcomb is entering her fifth year as principal at Simsboro School, a Pre-Kindergarten through 12^th grade school in Simsboro, Louisiana. Under her leadership, Simsboro School received an “A” rating for the 2024-25 school year and was recognized as a Top Gains Honoree. Holcomb was recently recognized as Principal of the Year for Lincoln Parish and a semi-finalist for Louisiana State Principal of the Year.

Holcomb earned her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and later earned her Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Louisiana Tech University. She taught English and served as an instructional coach before stepping into her role as principal. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Holcomb is from Monroe, Louisiana, but currently resides in Ruston, Louisiana.