FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2006


Hester, Thornton, Young assume new roles on FHSAA staff

GAINESVILLE – FHSAA administrators Sonny Hester, Denarvise Thornton and Shanell Young have assumed new positions on the Association's staff, the FHSAA Office announced today. Hester will be the new associate commissioner for compliance & eligibility. He takes over for the departed Bill Grey, who resigned his position effective Jan. 15. Thornton assumes Hester's former role as senior director of athletic operations and officials. Young, meanwhile, will take Thornton's position of associate director of athletics. "I'm glad to announce these promotions of Sonny Hester, Denarvise Thornton and Shanell Young," said Stewart. "The knowledge and energy they bring to these positions will be a benefit to the membership." Prior to joining the FHSAA staff in January 2005 as senior director of athletic operations and officials, Hester spent 29 years as an administrator, teacher and coach at Jesuit High School in Tampa, including seven years as athletic director. He also served as assistant principal for administration & athletics at Brandon High School for a year-and-a-half. Thornton joined the FHSAA staff in August 1999 in the role of associate director of athletics, and has administered the sports of boys & girls basketball, cross country, track & field, and boys weightlifting. Prior to his tenure at the FHSAA, Thornton spent three years in athletic administration at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale. After completing a one-year internship with the Gainesville Sports Organizing Committee, Young joined the FHSAA staff in September 2003 as communications assistant before transferring to athletics coordinator in February 2004. About the FHSAA Headquartered in Gainesville, the Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 720 middle and senior public and private high schools. More than 175,000 student-athletes annually participate in one or more of the FHSAA’s 28 championship sports programs. More information is available at www.fhsaa.org. Contacts: Jack Watford Director of Communications, FHSAA (352) 372-9551 ext. 170 jwatford@fhsaa.org	Hester
	Thornton
	Young