When Brad Garrett was hired by the Oregon School Activities Association as an Executive Assistant, it was the culmination of a dream. But little did he know that his time with the statewide athletics and activities organization would involve two of the biggest calamities in United States history. Now, as he retires from his position, Garrett reflects on his time with the OSAA.
Garrett joined the OSAA in the summer of 2001 after a career that involved teaching, coaching, and time as athletic director at Gresham’s Sam Barlow High School. His responsibilities at the OSAA included administration of state championships in Cross Country, Football, Wrestling, Speech and Debate, and Track and Field. But just as he started to figure out some of his roles, Garrett was faced with a world event that shook the entire nation: the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
“It reminded all of us how important athletics are to the fabric of our nation,” Garrett recalls.
“Sports provided an important pathway back towards normalcy.”
And they certainly did, with the American flag being carried onto the playing surface for most fall sports that year. Says Garrett about that time: “American pride was on display.”
Oregon prep athletes, like many others across the nation, did get back to everyday routines. It took time, but by the end of the year, most regular practices were back in place. And Brad Garrett kept honing his skills for the job he loved.
“This was a job I aspired to,” laughed Garrett.
“[The OSAA] has allowed me to influence kids and coaches, not just locally, but statewide, and even nationally.”
He has done it not only through operation of state championship events, but by being a part of other organizations statewide and nationally.
Garrett serves as the OSAA liaison to the Oregon Athletic Officials Association— the training and certification arm of prep officials—which continues to battle a decline in the number of available referees. He also was an Oregon representative on various committees with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). And Garrett, the former football lineman at Baker High School and Western Oregon University, also served on the board of USA Football for six years, as well as a task force for USA Wrestling.
“I had to learn to communicate with different people from other parts of the country, to gain new perspectives and ideas,” says Garrett.
“It really does help you to understand others when you examine sports issues.”
Garrett has noticed a major change in high school sports in his time with OSAA. It involves what he describes as the rise of the “club sector” and the loss of multisport athletes to an era of specialization.
This club sector is having an impact everywhere, according to Garrett. Club volleyball and soccer, 7 on 7 football passing leagues, AAU and related basketball travel squads, and long-standing travel teams for baseball and softball. It has all led many athletes now specializing in one sport.
“It impacts our smaller schools even more than larger schools—as kids are taken away from the multi-sport experience… some teams are hurt by it, especially many of the so-called have-not schools.”
Still, Garrett has hope for the future of prep sports, especially after enduring the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“The pandemic reminded all of us how important athletics is to all that we do,” Garrett recalled ruefully.
The OSAA was essentially shut out of its normal role during the pandemic, serving as advisors to the coaches and athletic directors tasked with piecing together shortened sports schedules as allowed by the Governor and the Oregon Health Authority.
“We were in a weird place,” admits Garrett. “We weren’t leading like we were used to.”
“During that time, coaches (and administrators) showed how much they cared about kids getting that athletic experience. It was inspiring.”
Garrett could have retired during the pandemic, but acknowledges there was no way he would do it, because he realized the OSAA would take on added importance on the other side of the shutdown.
“We understood that once we were out of it, we would more important than ever.”
And he was right.
The 2021-22 school year still had a few health-related protocols in place for some sports, but nothing like the previous year. And the OSAA again led the its school members into state championship events, scheduling games, locating venues, and scheduling officials just like they always had done. And a sense of normalcy returned to a degree for everyone, Garrett included.
With just weeks left on the job, Garrett continues to savor his 45-minute commute from his 10 acres of property in the Columbia Gorge to the OSAA offices in Wilsonville. He calls the daily trip a major component of his mental health program to stay balanced while doing his job. And now, a new routine will soon have to be established.
When Garrett and wife Heather retire at the end of June, the pair won’t be sitting around for long. Brad loves to fly fish. Both he and his bride are involved in local charity work, and they plan to monitor the sports career of their 15 year old son, Mac—who is a three-sport athlete at Corbett High School. Brad will do his part to personally help the Cardinal athletic program.
“Beginning July first, every Monday through Thursday, from 7 to 9 am, I will be operating the Corbett High weight room,” he announced with a sense of pride.
Still, Garrett admits he will greatly miss the OSAA position that filled so many hours of life the past 21 years.
“I worked with some really talented people. I learned to rely on the skills of so many of them to make our events a success, and I never was sorry that I did,” he reminisced.
And the OSAA is certain they made the right call in hiring Brad Garrett so many years ago.