The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association will be looking for its third executive director since 2024, as Timothy Jackson submitted his resignation last week as executive director, effective Aug. 1.
He previously served as the director of athletics for Clark County School District (CCSD) and athletic director at Durango High School.
It was a rough 2025-26 school year for Jackson and the NIAA, as the realignment battle in football raged for much of the year, mostly in southern Nevada and Clark County.
The new playoff format was flawed and brackets for the 5A Open and 5A had to be redone twice.
Recently all the large public schools in Clark County decided to play as independent in football in oppose to facing Bishop Gorman. That charge was led by Cimarron-Memorial principal Colin McNaught and other principals.
As of now, private schools in the Las Vegas area will compete for a state title. The schools that went independent will play in their own playoff system that will not be recognized by the NIAA. However, they still have to abide by NIAA bylaws. There are 30 4A and 5A schools that made that decision to play independent.
In a release from the NIAA, the organization stated that he led the association through a period of significant legislative change and administrative modernization, and Jackson will step down to pursue new opportunities.
"It has been an honor to serve Nevada’s member schools and student-athletes," said Jackson. "I am proud of the strides we have made in professionalizing our operations, expanding opportunities for students, and strengthening our relationships with state leaders.”
Earlier in 2026 at one of the NIAA board meetings, McNaught and many Clark County principals voiced concerns about granting a three-year extension to Jackson’s contract. They felt that Jackson and the NIAA are not treating the school district fairly and not listening to their concerns.
During his tenure, Jackson prioritized the professional development of Nevada’s athletic administrators, and the NIAA achieved large increases in coaches' education and educational programs.
He was key in launching the inaugural Nevada Athletics Summer Institute, a statewide professional learning event providing free training to hundreds of administrators. To further support school staff, Jackson
developed a comprehensive digital NIAA Video Library, offering on-demand guidance on eligibility, scheduling, and compliance.
Jackson was a steadfast advocate for the Association at the state level. He worked closely with the Nevada Legislature to navigate the complexities of Assembly Bill 184, ensuring that transfer regulations remained equitable and transparent.
He was instrumental in securing a formal Legislative Liaison position on the Board of Control to foster direct communication with lawmakers.
Jackson’s term saw the historic sanctioning and implementation of Boys' and Girls' Lacrosse and girls wrestling as a standalone state championship sport.
Furthermore, Jackson oversaw the modernization of the association’s internal policies, including the first major update to the NIAA Policy
Manual in over a decade and the transition to cost-saving digital activity cards.
"The Board of Control thanks Mr. Jackson for his dedicated service and his commitment to the students of Nevada," said Pamela Sloan, President of the NIAA Board of Control.
The NIAA Board of Control will meet in the coming weeks to discuss the transition plan and the search for a new executive director. Bartt Davis, an assistant director with the NIAA could not confirm if a new executive director would be in place for the 2026-27 school, saying that will be determined by the NIAA Board of Control.
Davis also did not comment when asked if this decision will affect the independent status of the Clark County schools. He added that is a board de
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