Unprecedented Unity Among Principals (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Las Vegas – Principals from 30 Clark County School District high schools delivered a unified message to the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association this week. Their football programs will operate independently for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, sidestepping NIAA playoffs entirely.[1][2] The move stems from long-simmering frustrations with a system principals describe as fundamentally unfair, particularly in matchups against dominant private schools.
Unprecedented Unity Among Principals
Leaders from Open Division, Class 5A, and Class 4A programs coordinated the defection after months of private discussions that turned public following the 2025 season. Cimarron-Memorial principal Colin McNaught captured the sentiment during a media briefing: “The decision was made by individual principals who believed the current system is broken. Everyone must play by the same rules, both on and off the field.”[1]
Centennial principal Keith Wipperman echoed the frustration, noting years of ignored pleas for change. “It’s been pretty frustrating. We feel like this has been a problem for a long time. We wanted fairness and equity in the rules, and that was just falling on deaf ears.”[1] The Clark County School District endorsed the action through associate superintendent Kevin McPartlin, who emphasized protecting student-athletes at a competitive disadvantage.[1]
Private School Advantages Fuel the Divide
Public schools face strict zoning rules that limit rosters to local boundaries, while private institutions like Bishop Gorman and Faith Lutheran draw talent from across Southern Nevada. Charter schools enjoy similar flexibility, exacerbating the imbalance. Liberty coach Rich Muraco highlighted the disparity: “When people start looking at what we have to play by as CCSD schools and what Gorman and the charter schools get to play by, are two different sets of rules.”[2]
Bishop Gorman has claimed 16 of the past 17 large-school state titles, including lopsided finals like 69-7 and 44-7 victories in recent years.[2] This dominance prompted public programs to seek independence, ensuring no required games against the Gaels, ranked No. 6 nationally, for two years. The strategy allows internal matchups and potential out-of-state opponents while adhering to NIAA bylaws on scheduling and eligibility.
NIAA’s Troubled Ranking System Sparks Backlash
The association’s Head-to-Head Rating Model (HRM), rolled out last season, drew widespread criticism for its complexity and errors. McNaught described it bluntly: “With that HRM system, you needed calculus to figure out who was playing who.”[1] Multiple revisions marred the 2025 playoffs, including issues with MaxPreps data and unreported forfeits.
Earlier proposals, like a 10-team Open Division, faced legal pushback from Gorman’s archdiocese, which argued violations of NIAA bylaws. Public principals dismissed the lawsuit threat as irrelevant to their decision. Eldorado principal Christina Brockett clarified: “That was not even a talking point amongst the principals.”[1] The unified front of 30 leaders underscores the severity, as Muraco noted: “It’s really unprecedented… To have 30 principals all agree on anything… that should tell you how serious this issue is.”[2]
Practical Impacts and Scheduling Shifts
Independent status bars these teams from postseason play, including leagues, regionals, or state championships. They must limit regular seasons to nine games and cannot promote contests as official titles. Yet, the arrangement promises more competitive schedules tailored by principals and coaches.
- Public schools will primarily face each other, fostering balanced rivalries.
- Out-of-state games remain possible, as with Hawaii opponents.
- Private and charter schools – about seven in the South – fill the NIAA playoff bracket alone.[3]
- Schedules for independents expected within days, with final tweaks underway.[1]
- No changes affect lower classifications like 3A or below.
CCSD trustee Linda Cavazos praised the principals: “I am extremely proud of our principals for pushing forward with a plan that is in the best interest of our 4A and 5A football players.”[2] Community support has bolstered the effort, McNaught reported.
Key Takeaways
- 30 CCSD schools independent for two years to avoid inequities.
- Focus on fairer matchups without private school dominance.
- NIAA playoffs proceed with privates and charters only.
This bold step challenges the NIAA to address systemic flaws before the 2028 realignment. Principals like Brockett express optimism: “Within the next couple of years, I hope to see a competitive balance when schedules are created.”[1] The coming schedules will test whether independence delivers the equity long sought by Las Vegas public programs. What do you think about this shake-up in high school football? Tell us in the comments.
