Chris Schwarz was named to the position of Assistant Executive Director by the IHSA Board of Directors on January 10th, 2024. Schwarz becomes the 38th individual to serve as an Assistant Executive Director for the IHSA. He began his duties at the IHSA on July 1st, 2024.
Schwarz comes to the IHSA after serving the United School District #304 as the principal of United High School. Previously, Schwarz was principal at United Junior High from 2017 to 2020. He was appointed to serve as the Superintendent of District #304 beginning with the 2024-25 school year.
Schwarz’s tenure in United School District #304 coincided with the development of several new programs and initiatives that positively impacted students and teachers. That included the implementation of a high school advisory period that reduced semester failures by nearly 50 percent and a kindness club that created volunteer opportunities in the community. He also oversaw renovations of the junior high media center and weight room, while implementing a sports broadcasting program there. Schwarz served as the high school baseball coach at Monmouth-Roseville from 2011-2014 and went on to create and coach bass fishing programs at United’s junior high and high school levels. He was named the IPA Middle School Principal of the Year for the Western Region 2020-2021.
Schwarz is a 2005 graduate of Moline High School, where he participated in football and baseball. An all-conference pitcher, he helped the Maroons to an IHSA Super-Sectional appearance as a senior in 2005.
After high school, he continued his baseball career at Monmouth College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 2009. He completed his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Western Illinois University (WIU) in 2014, and then returned to WIU to obtain his Superintendent Licensure in 2021. Schwarz is currently in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at WIU.
Schwarz began his career in education as a science teacher at La Harpe Junior High School in 2011, before accepting the Assistant Principal position at Notre Dame in Burlington, Iowa, a position he held until joining United in 2017. Schwarz has been active at his collegiate alma mater and in the local community, in addition to being a frequent speaker and presenter at various educational events. He returned to the Monmouth College baseball program as its pitching coach in 2016 and 2017 and currently sits on the College’s Alumni Board.
Chris’ wife, Breanna, serves as a junior high counselor. They have two children, Stanton and Stella.