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07/01/16 – Associate Commissioner Cope Receives NFHS Citation

July 1, 2016 2015-2016 News Releases

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KHSAA Associate Commissioner Butch Cope was one of eight recipients on Friday of the NFHS Citation for State Athletic and Activity Association personnel. The Citation award is designed to honor individuals who have made contributions to the NFHS, state high school associations and is one of the most highly regarded achievements in high school athletics. Each of the eight NFHS Sections selects an honoree, primarily from among the Assistant and Associate Directors of the various states and those who have served in that position in the past.

Cope received his award on Friday at the 97th annual NFHS Summer Meeting in Reno, Nevada. Cope is the fourth KHSAA recipient of the award since its inception in 1997, following Brigid DeVries (1999), Louis Stout (2002) and Larry Boucher (2009).

Cope is in his 21st year with the KHSAA. He began his tenure as the KHSAA sports information director before being promoted to director of promotions and media relations, then assistant commissioner and his current position of associate commissioner.

Prior to joining the KHSAA staff, Cope worked for Host Communications, Inc., in Lexington servicing printing and publishing projects for HCI’s local and national field offices. Cope also served as an intern in the sports information office for the University of Kentucky Athletics Department for three years.

Cope currently manages the sports of volleyball and baseball, and the sport-activity of competitive cheer for the KHSAA, and he is supervisor of the Officials Division. He assists with the sports of football, basketball, tennis and swimming and diving and works with special programs including the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame, the KHSAA HYPE Student Leadership Conferences and the KHSAA participation in the NFHS Student Leadership Summit.

Among his previous duties with the KHSAA, Cope assisted with the development of the original KHSAA website and management of the statewide radio network for the KHSAA Boys and Girls Sweet 16® Basketball Tournaments; managed golf and tennis; coordinated corporate sponsorship solicitation and fulfillment; and was the contact person for the membership with regard to the initial implementation of the governance of middle school athletics.

Cope has been involved at the national level with the NFHS, having served on the initial Student Leadership Committee and a term on the Citizenship and Equity Committee (now Student Services Committee). He has conducted several presentations at the National Athletic DIrectors Conference and the NFHS Summer Meeting, moderated a variety of other sessions, and served as the master of ceremonies for the NFHS Hall of Fame banquet.

Cope received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a masters in sports management from the University of Kentucky.

 

 

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