The Nebraska State Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association has named SHS Activities Director, Dave Hoxworth, as their 2023-2024 Athletic Director of the Year. Hoxworth was selected from among his peers throughout the state for this prestigious award. The criteria for selection included:
- Current membership of the NSIAAA / NIAAA
- Can be an active or retired AD
- Eight years experience as an Athletic Administrator
- Consideration of involvement from local to national level
- Special contributions and accomplishments toward secondary school athletics in the State of Nebraska
Mr. Hoxworth has spent 30 years in education with Scottsbluff Public Schools. During this time, he taught elementary and middle school physical education, served as the Dean of Students/Assistant Activities Director at Bluffs Middle School and is currently in his 10th year as the Activities Director for Scottsbluff Public Schools. Dave’s coaching career spans 17 years encompassing football and both boys’ and girls’ basketball. He has been a member of NSIAAA for 13 years and has served as the District 6 Board Representative since 2020.
Dave has held several roles supporting the Nebraska School Activities Association. He has served as the Class B Caucus Representative. He has been a basketball official for the past 20 years and has officiated at two state basketball tournaments and numerous district finals. Dave, along with a group of committee members, were awarded the honor for western Nebraska to host both Girls’ and Boys’ State Golf beginning in the fall of 2020. In 2023, Dave was the recipient of the NSAA Distinguished Service Award.
In October of 2023, Scottsbluff High School inducted its inaugural class of 25 individuals and seven teams into the Scottsbluff High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Dave was the driving force behind the idea, and development of the committee, that made this happen.
One of Dave’s favorite parts of his job as the Activities Director is to host a “great event.” His goal is that when a team travels to the west, whether it is for regular competition, tournament, playoff game or a state event, that each competitor, coach, and attendee will leave having experienced western Nebraska’s hospitality. He wants to host an event where teams know that they will be treated well and leave with a great experience.
Dave has been an integral part of multiple community groups supporting athletics in the Panhandle. He has served on the West Nebraska All-Star Sports Board for over 20 years. He has held the position of President of the Board for 10 years. Dave has also supported the Human Performance Project in the Panhandle. This is a group that organizes leadership opportunities two to three times a year for coaches and student athletes.