LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) Board of Directors has named six finalists for the position of NSAA Executive Director. The finalists, listed alphabetically, are:
• Mike Brockhaus, Superintendent, Elgin Public Schools. Brockhaus is in his 36th year in education and his seventh as Elgin's superintendent.
• Dr. Chad Denker, Superintendent, David City Public Schools. Denker has led David City since 2013 and has 24 years of administrative experience.
• Dade McDonald, Superintendent, McCool Junction Public School. McDonald has been superintendent since 2021. Before that, he spent nine years as the district's K-12 principal.
• Dr. Josh McDowell, Superintendent, Crete Public Schools. McDowell has led Crete since 2019 and previously served as Chief Transformation Officer for Grand Island Public Schools.
• Jason Ryan, Principal, Papillion-La Vista High School. Ryan has been principal since 2022. He spent the nine years before that as the school's Assistant Principal and Director of Athletics and Activities.
• Dr. Troy Unzicker, Superintendent, Alliance Public Schools. Unzicker has been Alliance's superintendent since 2013 and has been a Nebraska superintendent for 21 years.
The Board will interview the finalists on November 18, 2026, at the NSAA office in Lincoln. The Board expects to announce its selection after contract negotiations are concluded and to approve the new Executive Director's contract at its December 10 meeting.
The NSAA is a nonprofit organization of 307 member high schools. It sanctions 24 sports, 5 performing arts activities, 6 Unified activities and directs 29 state championships for nearly 100,000 student participants each year.