Lexington, KY - When Brigid DeVries announced in December that she would be retiring as commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, most people assumed Julian Tackett would be her successor.
That assumption came true when the Board of Control of the KHSAA selected Tackett to be the organization's seventh commissioner.
Tackett, 49, has been with the KHSAA since 1984, and has been an assistant commissioner the past 15 years.
But board president Dave Weedman said Tackett was not a rubber-stamp hire.
"It wasn't his 26 years that got him the job, although that was important," Weedman said. "It was his sense of leadership, his sense of history, his desire to communicate up the ladder and down the ladder, and his vision about what the KHSAA can be.
"That's what impressed the board."
Tackett was chosen from 24 initial applicants, and two other finalists — Mason County superintendent Tim Moore, and Montgomery County assistant superintendent Phil Rison.
Just because Tackett has been with the KHSAA for almost three decades, he said don't expect him to follow a trodden path.
"I may have been here a long time, but I want to stress I'm very much my own man," he said. "I'm not married to doing things the way we always have.
"I've already told the staff, brace yourself, because things are going to change for everybody. We're going to look at things top to bottom. It might mean a change in rules, a change in championships, location changes for some of our events...
"We're not going to be afraid to try something new."
Tackett said he doesn't like "big long studies and panels," so some changes may come fairly quickly after he takes over as commissioner in July.
Tackett's greatest strength might be his communication skills. As assistant commissioner, he has been regarded as the KHSAA's go-to guy for media, officials and administrators when they wanted comments or explanations on and off the record.
"I think everybody in the free world has my cell phone number," he said. "I would like to think that accessibility will stay there. I want it to stay there."
Tackett said communicating effectively, and proactively, with coaches, parents, officials, administrators and legislators will be his primary goal.
"In the past, we've sometimes relied on waiting until something became an issue to deal with it," he said. "We've got to get out there first and make sure people understand what we intend on doing is what's best for the kids."
Tackett, a graduate of Bryan Station and Transylvania University, was a high school college official in football and basketball for 20 years. He currently is chairman of the football rules committee for the National Federation of State High School Associations.
"Julian has the right combination of management and sports knowledge to continue to move the association to the next level," DeVries said.
Tackett's promotion means an assistant commissioner's position opens up. Tackett said that spot will be filled by a female.
Tackett was given a four-year contract, although his job is up for annual review.