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Stafford High AD Frassinelli steps up to national tole

kyle maher, journal inquirer, manchester, conn.
·5 min read

Aug. 2—Mike Blackburn, the Executive Director of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, called Damian Frassinelli in late June to offer him one of the organization's most prestigious jobs.

The NIAAA's president-elect, Becky Moran of Illinois, had left the position after five months and accepted a role as an Assistant Executive Director in the organization. Blackburn asked Frassinelli, who finished runner-up to Moran in the presidential election in December, if he would be interested in succeeding her.

Frassinelli, who has served as the athletic director at Stafford High since 2005, eagerly accepted.

"It's an honor to serve in this role," Frassinelli said. "It's a wonderful position for a wonderful association. The number one role is to be an ambassador for the association and to talk about its philosophies. Our goals are to continue to focus on the health and wellness of the school administrators, coaches and student-athletes. That's very important. Asking people, what can we do for them. It's so rewarding to be the person who can assist those people."

Frassinelli was announced as the association's 44th president at its summer meetings July 9-13 in Indianapolis. He will serve as the president-elect, or vice president, until December 14, at which time he'll assume the head position.

Frassinelli will serve as president in 2023 and for 11 months of 2024 before passing the baton to the next person in line on December 18, 2024.

As president, Frassinelli will be responsible for coordinating meetings, forming agendas and facilitating discussion on a number of topics pertaining to high school sports.

"There are a lot of topics that are talked about at the national level," Frassinelli said. "Certainly the transgender discussion comes up a lot. Diversity, equity and inclusion is a big discussion. Certainly it's where athletic administration is involved. We want to create opportunities for student athletes. We want to help under-represented groups. Budgets are always a big discussion, NIL is a big item. The two years of COVID, what did it do to the athletes who were not able to compete? Or only allowed to compete on a limited basis? The mental wellness of athletic administrators and student athletes is a big goal of this association. Who is looking out for those looking out for everyone else? The athletic administrator is looking out for every single other person. But is that AD OK? That's what we focus on."

Frassinelli joined the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors Board as its Region A representative in 2009 before becoming the association's president from 2016-2018. He then ran for and was elected to the 16-member NIAAA Board as its Region A representative in 2019.

Frassinelli decided to enter his name into consideration for NIAAA president in 2021 and was one of six finalists who advanced to the final two rounds of interviews conducted by the board at the association's national conference held in Denver in December.

Each candidate was interviewed by the association's previous three presidents and Frassinelli and Moran advanced to the second round of the process.

In the that round, Frassinelli and Moran sat in front of the entire board and answered questions on their leadership philosophies. The board then took a vote.

"They came back and said the winner is Becky Moran," Frassinelli said. "You sit there trying to catch your breath and think to yourself, 'I didn't win.' Really, I was more sad for the people who supported me back home. Becky and I served together on the Strategic Plan Committee and the National Conference Committee for the NIAAA, so we know each other extremely well. The two of us were holding hands when they made the announcement. She's a fantastic woman. I was very happy for her. You do your best and it doesn't work out. I said everything I wanted to in the interview. At the end of the day, they went with someone else."

Six months later, the association was in need of a new president. So it turned to Frassinelli.

"My first question was, 'Is Becky OK?' And then it was, 'Whatever the organization needs from me, I will do,'" Frassinelli said. "It was humbling. When such an impressive organization asks you to do something for them, it really makes you feel good about what you're able to do."

Frassinelli has a number of goals in mind for his tenure, including expanding training and support for athletic administrators, developing better communication between the organization and its members, and enhancing its relationship with the NFHS—the governing body of high school sports in the country—as the two organizations work together to develop policies and regulations for administrators, coaches and athletes.

"Being a young AD is like getting your license and immediately driving in the Indy 500," Frassinelli said. "It goes fast and furious. So we want to help slow it down and walk them through it. We share ideas. We provide resources and databases to give them ideas. We have developed over 55 leadership training courses, and they teach health and fitness and all the laws of being an AD. How to write course work and student athlete and coach handbooks. Technology, diversity, retaining coaches, evaluating coaches. Leadership training for doing the job of athletic administrator. We want to give support and help them support their coaches and kids and communities."

Frassinelli will add his duties as NIAAA president to his roles as Stafford athletic director, North Central Connecticut Conference president, CAAD Board member, CAAD liaison to the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Board of Control, and CIAC Sport Committee Director.

"I try to stay busy," Frassinelli said with a laugh. "I love it. I am so proud to serve my community of Stafford. I love the kids and the families and the community. That's why I've been there 18 years. I love it, and I'm proud to serve at both the state and national level. It's all about serving others."

For daily updates on high school sports in JI's coverage area, follow Kyle Maher on Twitter: @KyleBMaher, Facebook: Kyle Maher, and Instagram: @KyleBMaher.