FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2001


Ron Balazs to receive NIAAA Award of Excellence

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Ron Balazs, CAA, athletic director of Felix Varela Senior High School in Miami, Florida, is the 2001 recipient of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Thomas E. Frederick Award of Excellence.

Balazs will receive his award Sunday, December 16, at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Florida, during luncheon festivities at the 32nd NFHS National Conference of High School Directors of Athletics.

The Award of Excellence is presented annually to an NIAAA member whose loyalty to the association and contributions to the athletic directors’ profession represents excellence in achievement. The award is named in honor of the late Tom Frederick, an NFHS associate director from 1967 to 1989 who was instrumental in starting the NIAAA and the National Conference.

Since 1969, Ron Balazs, CAA, has service Miami-Dade County Public Schools athletics, and has distinguished himself as an athletic administrator at the local, statewide and national levels. In recognition of these outstanding accomplishments, Balazs is the 2001 recipient of the Thomas E. Frederick Award.

After graduating from Ohio State University, Balazs came to Miami Coral Park Senior High School as the head wrestling coach and assistant football coach. In 1976, he became the school’s head football coach, and in 1983, he became the school’s athletic director. In 2000, Balazs assumed athletic director duties at Felix Varela Senior High School.

A member of the NIAAA since 1983 and a voting delegate since 1988, Balazs has received the NIAAA State Award of Merit, the NIAAA Special Commendation, and the National Federation Citation. Balazs has been a member, vice chairman and chairman of the NIAAA Credentials Committee, and a member of the NIAAA Professional Development Committee.

At the state level, Balazs has been very active with the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, serving as district director, president, state conference chairperson, member of the Florida host committee, and member of its board of directors. For his efforts, Balazs was named FIAAA Athletic Administrator of the Year.

Balazs is also highly involved with the Florida High School Activities Association. He is chairman of both the athletic directors and wrestling coaches advisory committees.

Locally, he is on the Greater Miami Athletic Conference Executive Committee, serving on several committees, including the Superintendents Athletic Advisory Committee and the Athletic Transfer Policy Committee.

Contact:
Bruce Howard or John Gillis
NFHS
(317) 972-6900