The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors approved the promotion of Tracie Henry and Matt Troha to Associate Executive Director positions during the Board’s March meeting, which was held in Champaign on Saturday, March 15.
Henry and Troha both currently hold Assistant Executive Director titles on the IHSA staff and will assume their new roles on July 1.
“The IHSA Board of Directors and I are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to Tracie and Matt,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “They have each shown strong leadership skills and worked diligently on behalf of the IHSA membership to achieve our mission. They have diverse backgrounds and experiences that I believe will help shape the future of the Association, and I look forward to supporting them as they adapt to their new roles.”
In December, as a part of the IHSA’s annual legislative process, the IHSA membership approved a by-law change that would allow for the IHSA Executive Director to establish Associate Executive Director positions, while giving the Associates the ability to make eligibility rulings. Previously, IHSA by-laws only allowed for the Executive Duirector to make eligibility rulings.
A bio on each is provided below:
Tracie Henry
Tracie Henry joined the IHSA staff in August of 2010 as the Coordinator of Special Programs and was promoted to Assistant Executive Director in April of 2012. She is currently the IHSA administrator for girls flag football, competitive dance, girls gymnastics, and softball. She also oversees sanctioning, wheelchair basketball, the IHSA’s internship program, and is the staff liaison to the IHSA Foundation. Henry had the unique experience of starting two different IHSA sports thus far in her career, as she oversaw the creation of the Competitive Dance State Series in 2013 and followed suit with Girls Flag Football in the fall of 2025. She has served on four different national rules committees for the NFHS, including in flag football, gymnastics, spirit, and softball.
"I am truly honored for the opportunity to serve the IHSA as an Associate Executive Director,” said Tracie Henry. “High school sports and activities have a profound impact on students, schools, and communities, and I am excited to continue supporting and growing these experiences. It is a privilege to serve the Association in this new role, and I look forward to working to uphold the mission and values of the IHSA."
A 2001 graduate of Stillman Valley High School, Henry was a three-sport athlete lettering in volleyball, basketball and soccer. The 2001 Stillman Valley Female Athlete of the year graduated from Illinois State University (ISU) in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Education and then earned her Master’s Degree in Sports Management from ISU in 2008. Prior to joining the IHSA, she was the Director of Events and Game Operations at ISU from 2005-2008 and continued in ISU Athletic Development until 2010. Henry serves on the ISU Recreation and Sport Management Advisory Council and is also on the Bloomington-Normal YMCA Board of Directors.
Matt Troha
Matt Troha was hired by the IHSA as an Assistant Executive Director in August of 2008. Troha’s main role initially was communications, media relations, publications, and serving as the administrator of the sport of softball. Over time, his responsibilities grew to include broadcasting, social media, digital ticketing, and administering the Journalism State Series. He also helped bring the IHSA’s Boys Lacrosse and Girls Lacrosse State Series to fruition, serving as the sport administrator for both from 2018 to 2022. He currently sits on the IHSA Equity Committee and has served on multiple national committees for the NFHS.
“I feel both humbled and privileged to be selected to serve the IHSA in the Associate Executive Director role,” said Troha. “My high school coaches had an immense impact on shaping me into the husband, father, and professional I am today, so it means a great deal to me to be able to continue to support the IHSA’s mission in this new role. I remain appreciative of the opportunity Dr. Marty Hickman gave me nearly 20 years ago at the IHSA, and the continued support I have received from Craig Anderson and the IHSA Board of Directors in the time since."
Troha is a 2000 graduate of Joliet Catholic Academy, where he participated in football and served on the sports staff of the high school yearbook. He worked as a sportswriter while attending Monmouth College, where he graduated with a Communications Degree in 2004, and later went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Marian University. Troha was the Sports Information Director for the Midwest Conference for three years prior to joining the IHSA staff. He is currently an elected member of his community Board of Education and also officiates IHSA basketball, baseball, and softball.