April 25, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARK LENTZ SELECTED AS KSHSAA ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Executive Board of the Kansas State High School Activities Association has selected Mark A. Lentz, of Paola, Kansas, as Assistant Executive Director effective July 1, 2011. Mr. Lentz was selected in a national search from a field of sixty candidates and will succeed Rick Bowden, who is retiring from the KSHSAA staff on June 30, 2011 after eighteen years of service. For the past twelve years, Mr. Lentz has served as Assistant Principal and Activities Director of Paola High School in USD #368 Paola, Kansas. Prior to his tenure at Paola, Lentz served three years as Principal of Jayhawk-Linn Jr./Sr. High School in Mound City, Kansas. Before beginning his career in administration, Lentz taught and served as head coach in football, wrestling and track and field, during a nine year career at Reeds Spring and Seneca high schools in Missouri A native of Fort Scott, Kansas, Lentz participated in football, wrestling and track at Fort Scott High School, and upon graduation attended and played football at Fort Scott Community College, Baker University and Pittsburg State University, graduating from PSU in 1987 with a B.S. in Education. He continued his education by completing a Masters degree in 1995 at Southwest Missouri State University and district level administrator certification in 2003 at Pittsburg State University. Mr. Lentz and his wife Janet, are the parents of two daughters, Janae, 22, and Jordyn, 20. Mr. Lentz responsibilities for the KSHSAA will include the administration of football, wrestling and track and field. “Mr. Lentz is an experienced and respected Kansas educator. His twenty-four years in education have enabled him serve in many capacities and perform a wide variety of responsibilities in schools of differing size. His participation as a high school and collegiate athlete, coupled with his coaching and background in athletic administration, make him well suited to the job. Mark has demonstrated that he is dedicated to serving Kansas students and schools and is committed to carrying on the outstanding work in the activities Rick Bowden so capably administered, “said KSHSAA Executive Director, Gary Musselman. -30-