Byers set to take PIAA leadership helm
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Mark Byers, who has worked for the PIAA since 1999, officially becomes Executive Director of the state’s high school athletics governing body on Thursday,
Byers, who succeeds Dr. Robert Lombardi, becomes the ninth Executive Director since the non-profit organization was founded in 1913. Lombardi announced his retirement in October.
Byers has been a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association administrative staff for 26 years. He was brought on board as an assistant executive director and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2012.
Byers is a 1993 graduate of Carlisle High School, where he participated in soccer, football, and wrestling. He played soccer for four years at East Stroudsburg, where he was a two-year captain.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from ESU in 1997 in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management and a Masters’ Degree in Education in 2002, with a concentration in Sport Management.
Byers’ duties have included serving as the tournament director for golf, cross country, soccer, wrestling, basketball, track & field and baseball.
In addition, Byers directed the PIAA Foundation Cross Country Invitational and handles many of the day-to-day inquiries regarding interpretations of the PIAA By-Laws, Policies and Procedures and Rules and Regulations compliance and eligibility provisions to member schools’ administration.
Byers serves as the staff liaison to Market Street Sports Group, the marketing firm that has helped facilitate corporate sponsorships/partnerships for the PIAA since 2006.
Byers oversaw the PIAA’s “Sportsmanship: The Only Missing Piece Is You!” program.
“On behalf of the entire PIAA Board of Directors, we are delighted to have Mark step into the role of executive director,” Frank Majikes, PIAA Board of Directors President, said in a release. “His knowledge and tenure at the association will help continue to bring the best for student-athletes in Pennsylvania.”
The PIAA is the fourth-largest state in the nation for interscholastic athletics by way of student athlete participation.
Byers played an integral role in the addition of two girls’ sports: wrestling and flag football. He helped bring exposure to flag football by partnering with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The sport has seen rapid growth in its first a year.
Byers also helped in the integration of Unified Special Olympics of Pennsylvania Championships into PIAA Championships, including hosting the Unified Bocce Championships during the PIAA Basketball Championship and Unified Track and Field Championships during the PIAA Track and Field Championships.
In 2021 Byers was honored by the National Federation of High School Associations and awarded the NFHS Citation for his contributions and service to high school activity programs throughout the nation.
