Wulkow to retire from IHSAA, Beste will replace

BOONE - Iowa High School Athletic Association Executive Director Rick Wulkow will retire January 31, the association announced Monday.

Wulkow served as executive director for 10 years and has been with the IHSAA for 35. He will be replaced by Assistant/Associate Executive Director Alan Beste.

'I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve the IHSAA member schools and students for 35 years,” Wulkow said in a press release. 'I have never considered my career opportunities as work, and I have been fortunate to interact and be part of programs that have been led by so many great people.”

Wulkow, 69, replaced Bernie Saggau in January 2005 as just the fourth executive director for the 109-year-old IHSAA. Among his accomplishments were the expansion of the state football playoffs and moving the state basketball, wrestling and baseball tournaments to Wells Fargo Arena (basketball and wrestling) and Principal Park (baseball) in Des Moines, respectively.

Beste, 58, has been with the IHSAA since 1989. The Sauk Centre, Minn., native came to the association after serving as a teacher and athletic trainer at Pleasant Valley.

'Alan has developed an outstanding relationship with school administrators and those skills will serve him well as the Executive Director,” Keating said. 'We believe he has the vision to continue to develop the IHSAA as an organization that serves the young people of Iowa and provide them with incredible opportunities for participation in outstanding activities programs.”

'I am excited the Board of Control has the confidence in me to be the next Executive Director,” Beste said. 'I am proud to have a great staff in place and I will do my best to follow two of the best leaders in the business - Bernie and Rick.”

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