Niwot's Joe Brown to lead CHSAA board

Niwot High School Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Joe Brown has been elected President of the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Board of Directors. His two-year term begins on July 1, 2025, following three years of service as the District 2 representative, a role that covers schools in the Centennial, Frontier, Northern Colorado Athletic Conference, and Longs Peak leagues.

Brown has been part of Niwot High's staff since 2019.

The presidency, Brown explained, is an elected position determined by a vote among fellow board members. To be eligible, a candidate must serve on the board for at least three years. Brown was voted onto the board by his district's member leagues, and now in the final year of his first team, he was chosen by colleagues to lead the board.

"This is only possible because I have a great support system," Brown said. "We have outstanding coaches at Niwot, an incredible assistant in Danielle Maloit, and support from our administration and district. I could not do this without them."

As president, Brown will help oversee board operations while also working closely with CHSAA Commissioner Mike Krueger and the rest of the CHSAA staff. He said that official goals for his term have not yet been set, but that discussions will begin in the coming weeks. He emphasized the importance of seeking input from others before deciding on a path forward.

"I am a big believer in getting input from all sides," Brown said. "The goal is to make the best decisions possible for kids, and that requires a balanced, thoughtful approach."

Brown brings a broad background in education and athletics. Over the course of his career, he has served as a teacher, coach, and athletic director in various schools across Colorado. He is also a former president of the Colorado High School Coaches Association and has sat on the executive board for the Colorado Athletic Directors Association.

He credits those experiences, as well as the example of past CHSAA presidents, for preparing him for this next step.

"I have been really fortunate to serve with and learn from some outstanding leaders on the board," Brown said. "But it is not just about what you see in meetings. It is about understanding the wide ranges of experiences our schools have across the state."

Brown has seen that variety firsthand. He grew up attending Plateau Valley High School on the Western Slope, where he graduated with a class of just 22 students. He began his professional career at Roosevelt High School, which had around 450 students at the time. He now leads Niwot, a school pushing 1,500 students.

The range of his experience has shown him how decisions at the state level can impact schools differently. Brown said he will work to ensure that the board considers the needs of both small and large schools.

"What works for one school might not work for another," he said. "That is why it is so important to take a step back and really consider how each decision will impact different communities. We need to avoid sweeping changes without looking at the full picture."

Brown has always believed in the power of high school sports. While athletic competition matters, he said the true value lies in how it helps students grow.

"For me, it always comes back to one question. Is this what is best for the kids?" he said. "That is the guiding principle. If the answer is yes, even if it is not the easiest or most popular decision, then it is worth doing."