The North Dakota High School Activities Association announced on May 12 the hiring of four former or retiring athletic administrators to serve as mentors for new athletic directors at member schools across the state, beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
The announcement marks the launch of NDHSAA’s “AD Compass” Program, which aims to provide support and guidance to individuals taking on new roles as athletic administrators. The program is designed to help ease the transition into these positions and encourage higher retention rates among newly hired staff.
The first group of part-time mentors includes Dr. Jim Haussler, former Athletic Director for Bismarck Public Schools; Gregg Grinsteinner, retiring Athletic Director at Dickinson Trinity High School; Jason Ermer, former Athletic Director at Garrison High School; and Vicky Bender, former Athletic Director at Wilton High School. Each mentor will be assigned a group of new athletic administrators and will provide support through a combination of in-person meetings, virtual sessions, and regular communication via phone, email, or text throughout the academic year.
According to NDHSAA, each school year will see mentorship positions re-opened within the “AD Compass” Program. This approach is intended to promote ongoing engagement between experienced leaders and those new to their roles in athletics administration.
Looking ahead, NDHSAA plans for this initiative to foster professional growth among its members while also ensuring stability within high school sports programs across North Dakota.
