MIDVALE — Current Utah High School Activities Association assistant director Dave Wilkey woke up Tuesday morning looking forward to a full day of realignment hearings.
But before the hearings began, he was called into executive session by the UHSAA's board of trustees. They asked him a question that nearly knocked him out of his chair:
Would he accept the position of executive director when Evan Excell retires?
Wilkey said yes, and will become just the UHSAA's fifth executive director in 81 years when Excell steps down on June 30.
"Frankly, I did not see this coming," Wilkey said. "I was more than a little stunned. I guess you could say I was speechless, because I was."
The fact that Wilkey will be the UHSAA's executive director isn't a big shock. The timing of his appointment, however, was a surprise, but necessary according to board of trustees Chairwoman Laura Baker. She asked her trustees on Tuesday morning how they felt about Wilkey taking Excell's spot, and their thoughts were unanimous.
"If we have someone in-house that is that good, why should we spend everyone's time taking applications?" asked Baker, who works for the Murray School District. "He has the greatest knowledge of the entire association. Everyone who knows him likes him. He was the man for the job at this time."
The board of trustees has complete confidence that the appointing of Wilkey will help the UHSAA make a smooth transition in leadership following the highly successful tenure of Excell, who 14 years ago took over what was a financially strapped organization that now has more than $1 million in its endowment fund.
Wilkey has been the UHSAA's assistant director for nearly 30 years. It was just his second job after earning his master's degree from BYU.
"For the most part, this is all I've ever done," Wilkey said.
Wilkey, 56, has worked under three of the previous four UHSAA executive directors. He realizes he will face several challenges as the association's main boss, including continued meddling by the state legislature, player transfers and sportsmanship issues.
"It's an interesting time because the landscape has changed so much, even in the last year," Wilkey said. "It will keep changing and that's OK. That's good. We need to grow with the times."
Growing with the times is a big part of what's made Wilkey so valuable to the UHSAA. He credits his being hired as the assistant director back in July of 1978 to the rise of women's sports. He never forgot it, and he became a champion for them.
"I owe this opportunity to women," Wilkey said. "I'm really proud of the women's movement. I'm grateful it occurred, so that I had the chance to be hired here and it created opportunities for young women."
Wilkey can relate to today's athletes and understands the value of participating in high school sports and activities. He played three sports in high school. At North Sanpete, he helped the Hawks to their only state boys basketball championship in 1969 while playing for his father, Mack.
"I know what they did for me and I know what they do for young people now," Wilkey said. "We're really shaping attitudes and the feelings of young people. I believe in the product."
And many people believe that Wilkey will do a fine job in a pressure-packed position.
"I'm thrilled for Dave and I'm thrilled for the association," Excell said. "It's a great job — most of the time — and he knows that."
E-mail: aaragon@desnews.com