ABC was heavy hearted to learn that Steve Ellison would be stepping down from his role as Athletic Director of Walnut Hills High School, effective June 30, 2022, but we are incredibly grateful for his tenure. Since taking the position in 2017, Ellison dedicated himself to serving the student athletes of Walnut Hills High School. Under his leadership, he shifted core values within the department, increased awareness of student athletes in the community, and implemented the Student Athlete Leadership Team, as well as countless other initiatives that helped provide student athletes with support and mentorship.
Steve was recognized for his amazing work as Athletic Director in 2019, when he was named Athletic Director of the Year by the Southwest Ohio Athletic Director Association (SWOADA) and Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (OIAAA). In 2020, he was named the recipient of SWOADA/OIAAA’s Distinguished Service Award, in recognition of his length of service, special accomplishments, and contributions to athletic administration at the local, state, and national levels.
Steve is the President and co-founder of the Minority Athletic Director Association (MADA), a group of men and women that serve as mentors to the next generation of athletic directors and share information and strategies to facilitate success in high school athletic administration. MADA seeks to bring racial equity to Athletic Directors, providing support, professional development, and social strength to minority AD’s in Southwest Ohio. MADA currently has 21 members, representing 13 different schools.
We are incredibly grateful for his nine-year tenure at ABC, which began when he started as the Athletic Director of Woodward High School. During his tenure at Woodward, Steve oversaw the addition of programs such as softball and wrestling, increased student participation on all levels, and implemented an academic accountability program.
On behalf of everyone at ABC, we would like to send our most sincere thanks to Steve Ellison for his nine years with our organization, and would like to wish him the very best at Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, and all of his future endeavors.
