Sports Is Education - Bios

Marty Hickman
Executive Director, IHSA

Marty Hickman was named an assistant executive director by the IHSA Board of Directors and joined the administrative staff July 1, 1991 and promoted to Associate Executive Director on July 1, 1999. On June 14, 2001, Hickman was named to replace Dave Fry as executive director of the IHSA, upon Fry's retirement in June, 2002.

A Colorado native who grew up in Illinois and graduated from New Berlin High School, Marty earned his bachelor's degree in education from Eastern Illinois University and a master's degree in educational administration from University of Illinois - Springfield. In 1994, he received his doctorate in education from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

He began his career in education as a teacher and a coach at Girard High School from 1980-83. From 1983-85 Marty was the principal of Bluffs Jr.-Sr. High School. For the next two years he was the principal of Westmer Secondary School and in 1987 was named the principal of Monmouth High School where he remained until joining the IHSA staff.

Marty recently served as the Chairperson of the National Federation of State High School Association's Strategic Planning Team. He has also served on the NFHS Citizenship Committee, the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee, and the NASSP's Contests and Activities Committee. Marty is also a member of the Lakeview Museum Board of Directors.