Shafranski announces retirement from WIAA

Assistant Director Tom Shafranski announced his retirement from the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) to the executive staff Thursday to be effective Feb. 7, 2025.  

“To serve the WIAA membership and to work with so many quality student-athletes, coaches and school administrators has been an honor and a privilege,” Shafranski said. “No one has had more ‘fun’ in their job than I have had at the WIAA.

“I could not have asked to work in a better industry than high school athletics in Wisconsin as this 42-year career has been a dream come true,” he continued. “My wife, Lori, and I are very excited to spend more time with our two young granddaughters.”

Shafranski began his work on the executive staff in June of 2002. During his tenure he has served as the administrator for several sports of football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, swimming & diving and tennis. 

Other administrative duties included the direction of the prestigious WIAA Scholar-Athlete program and serving as the staff liaison with the Sports Advisory Committee and the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association.

“The service that Tom has provided to the member schools during his tenure of over 22 years has positively impacted the lives of so many,” Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said.  “Our staff and the association will miss him and be forever indebted to what he has given to all of us.”

In 2009, he was honored as the Wisconsin High School Golf Coaches Association Friend of Golf recipient. In 2022, Shafranski was the recipient of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association Andy Anderson Award, presented to individuals who best serve the Association with unselfish dedication, time and effort.

In addition to his contributions at the state association level, he has been active and influential on the national level. He received the National Federation of State High School Associations Citation in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the mission of the association in 2017. Shafranski was a member of the NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Committee from 2003-04 and again from 2008-2014. He served as the chairman of that committee from 2010-14, and he also served as a member of the NFHS Swimming & Diving Rules Committee from 2005-2009. Most recently, he served on the NFHS Hall of Fame Selection Committee from 2021-23.

Prior to joining the WIAA, Shafranski served as athletic director at Stevens Point Area High School for one year. Prior to his appointment at SPASH, he held an associate principal position at Wausau East High School for one year.

From 1996-2000, Shafranski was the activities director for grades 6-12 in the School District of Rhinelander after serving as the associate principal and activities director for just the senior high school from 1993-96. Other high school administrative experience included a one-year stint as principal at Hortonville High School from 1992-93. He taught business education classes at West Bend East from 1982-87 when he was named the district’s AODA coordinator in 1987. He was chosen assistant principal in 1989, a position he held from 1989-1992. 

In addition to his school responsibilities, Shafranski had been active in state- and conference-affiliated activities. He was an American Sport Coaches Education Program and a Program for Athletic Coaches Education instructor. He served on the WIAA Scholar-Athlete Selection Committee from 1998-2000 and was a mentor for new athletic directors for the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association. He also has served as the chairman of the Wisconsin Valley Conference Sportsmanship Committee.

Shafranski received a bachelor’s degree in business education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1982. He earned a master’s degree in education from National Louis University in Evanston, Ill., in 1985. In 1991, he received an Administrative Leadership Certificate in School Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

A vacancy notice to fill the assistant director position was slated to be available on the WIAA website Monday.