The eleven-member administrative team at the Illinois High School Association includes a trio of former Fighting Scots — Craig Anderson '91 (speaking), Chris Schwarz '09 (left), and Matt Troha ('04), who was unable to attend the event
MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (May 19, 2025) — The Monmouth College alumni office arranged for alumni Craig Anderson ('91) and Chris Schwarz ('09) to speak at the final Monmouth Associates luncheon of the academic year so that the campus and local community could gain some insight into the workings of the Illinois High School Association.
But it was treat for Anderson and Schwarz, too, who enjoy returning to their alma mater.
"It's refreshing to be here," said Anderson, who serves as the IHSA's executive director and has had several relatives attend Monmouth. "I always find an opportunity on my calendar to make my way back here. . . Monmouth College is very important to my family."
Schwarz, who joined the IHSA as an assistant executive director last year after serving as principal of United High School just outside Monmouth, said "family" was one of the major ways that Monmouth shaped his life.
"I can take you right to the second-floor classroom in Wallace Hall where I first saw my wife [the former Breanna Webb ('09)]," he told the Associates audience. The couple has two children.
"Monmouth is special because of the people," he added. "Communication skills and relationship skills are something I developed on this campus."
After starring at Cambridge High School, Anderson was a quarterback for the Fighting Scots in the fall and a guard on the basketball team in the winter. But his most impactful experience was student teaching at Monmouth High School, where he met Marty Hickman, who left after that year to work for the IHSA. Hickman served as executive director from 2002-16.
"[As a college student,] I had no thought to what the IHSA was and what it did," said Anderson who, roughly twenty years later, interviewed for an administrative position with the organization. Six years later, he succeeded Hickman upon his retirement.
Working for the IHSA
Matt Troha, a 2004 Monmouth alum who was recently promoted to associate executive director, was unable to attend the Associates luncheon.
"So that makes three Monmouth graduates out of eleven administrators," said a proud Anderson, adding, "I like the balance we have."
Among the lessons Schwarz said he learned on campus was discipline. He played baseball for Monmouth and recalled "waking up early for morning workouts and seeing the results of that work."
Before becoming a Fighting Scot, Schwarz was a Maroon.
"I have so many great memories of playing baseball for Moline High School," he said. "And that's how I look at my job now with the IHSA. I'm in the memory-making business."
Both men discussed some of the pressing matters the IHSA is currently handling, which includes a major change to a major sport.
"The shot clock is coming," said Schwarz of a 35-second shot clock that will be a part of Illinois high school basketball in the 2026-27 season. Roughly half of the states in the US have implemented a high school shot clock or will by 2026-27.
Already in Illinois high schools is girls flag football, a sport Schwarz said is gaining traction nationally and globally.
"We had 150 teams in our first season, which ended with Palatine [Fremd] winning the state championship," he said. "It's neat to see the interest we've had across the state."
A "fan stir" was also created by the gradual reveal throughout the past year of the top 50 football and volleyball champions since the IHSA began those state tournaments in 1974.
What Anderson called the "crazy" transfer model in the NCAA is trickling down to high schools, which has been a major area of his focus, as has House Bill 3037 — the "Right to Play" bill — which essentially would allow athletes to compete in a club or travel season during their sport's IHSA season. The likelihood of increases in injuries is one of the pitfalls of the bill passing, said Anderson. For instance, baseball pitchers would be able to throw non-regulated innings on a weekend in addition to what they might've thrown for their high school team during the week.
