About CIAC

Dr. Karissa Niehoff began her career in Connecticut public education in 1989 as a physical education instructor at Greenwich High School. In the succeeding years, she worked as a physical education and health teacher both at the middle and high school levels, first at Joel Barlow High School in Redding and then at Bethel Middle School. In 1993, she joined the staff of Litchfield High School where, over the course of six years, she taught Personal Wellness and Latin and served as the K-12 Wellness/Exercise Science Department Coordinator and as athletic director. In 2000, Karissa was appointed assistant principal of Har-Bur Middle School in Burlington. Four years later, she assumed the position of principal of Lewis Mills High School, a post she held until being named Deputy Executive Director of CAS-CIAC on July 1, 2010. On January 1, 2011 she succeeded Michael H. Savage as CAS-CIAC’s Executive Director.

A sports enthusiast, Karissa served for four years on the Education Committee of the United States Olympic Committee, authoring the “OlympiKids School Celebration Guide,” acting as U.S. delegate to International Olympic Academies in Greece and Canada, and representing the USOC at numerous national conventions, conferences and educational programs. Karissa was also co-founder and dean of the “Passing The Torch” Academy For Youth Sport Leadership, a USOC initiative to promote leadership and the spirit of Olympism within the realm of youth sport.

A successful high school field hockey coach at Joel Barlow and Litchfield, Karissa’s teams earned four conference titles and one state championship. Karissa has served on the United States Field Hockey Association Board of Ethics since 1996 and, in the summer of 1996, she was the field hockey program leader at the International Youth Camp during the Atlanta Olympic Games. Karissa also coached high school volleyball, softball, basketball and track. In 1997, she coached a girls basketball team at the World Scholar Athlete Games which involved over 2,000 coaches and athletes from 150 countries.

Karissa has conducted numerous in-service workshops and presentations at the local, regional and national levels. She has led forums on topics such as NEASC standards and the accreditation process, Professional Learning Communities, block scheduling, literacy development, using student performance data to drive program development, brain research, curriculum mapping, and NCLB and other legislative issues.

Prior to assuming the position of executive director, Karissa served on numerous CAS and CIAC boards and committees, including:

• Sportsmanship Committee(2005-2010 / Chair: 2005-2010)
• Michaels Cup Committee (2007-2010)
• Field Hockey Committee (2007-2010)
• CIAC Board of Control – Class M Representative (2006-2010)
• High School Professional Studies Committee (2004-2010)
• Committee for the Advancement of Young Girls and Women in Sports (1996-2000)

E-Mail: kniehoffcasciacorg  (kniehoffcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3903

Paul Hoey, long-time principal of Newington High School, joined the Central Office staff in 2004 as associate executive director for the CIAC. Paul acts as liaison to the CIAC Eligibility Committee and the CIAC Eligibility Review Board. As such, he is responsible for processing and monitoring all appeals of Eligibility Committee decisions. He also serves as a consultant and recording secretary to the CIAC Board of Control, and to general CIAC committees including the Season Limitation, Eligibility Revision, Rules Modification, and By-Laws Revision committees. Among other responsibilities, Paul oversees the drafting and execution of game officials contracts; administers the CIAC Cooperative Team Program; assists with the annual Scholar-Athlete banquet; and coordinates CIAC citizenship and sportsmanship activities.

Paul graduated from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield with a bachelor’s degree in History. He began his career in education as a History teacher at Granby Memorial Junior-Senior High School. After twelve years as a teacher and assistant principal in Granby, Paul became principal of East Granby Middle and High School. He then served as principal of Rocky Hill High School for six years before assuming the principalship of Newington High School, where he worked until his retirement in 2004.

During his years as a high school principal Paul was an active and influential member of CAS-CIAC. He served as chair of some of the association’s most important and challenging boards and committees, including the CIAC Board of Control, the Financial Development Committee, the Girls’ Swimming Committee, and the Cooperative Team Committee. He also served on the Gymnastics Committee, the Boys’ Tennis Committee, the Boys’ Swimming Committee, the CAS Nominating Committee, the High School Program Committee, the Student Activities Board of Control, the High School of Control, and the CAS Board of Directors.

E-Mail: phoeycasciacorg  (phoeycasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3916

Ken Bragg has an extensive background in education and sports, having retired after 36 years as a physical educator in Hartford. Specializing in adapted physical education, Ken has been a Unified Sports coach since the time of the program’s inception in 1993. A longtime Special Olympics Area Director, Ken proudly led several Team Connecticut squads to national competitions!

His background in Special Olympics and his experience, especially in the urban schools, make him an invaluable resource for the expanding Unified Sports program at CIAC. As an assistant director of Unified Sports, Ken is serving as both a tournament director and as an outreach person.

E-Mail: kbraggcasciacorg  (kbraggcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3931

Joel Cookson, Assistant Commissioner of the Landmark Conference for the past five years and a former collegiate Sports Information Director, was selected from a pool of highly qualified candidates to join the CAS-CIAC staff as the organization’s first-ever Director of Media and Sports Information on July 1, 2012.

Cookson served as the assistant commissioner of the Landmark Conference, an association of eight NCAA Division III universities, since its inception in the Spring of 2007. While there he collaborated with the commissioner on all conference business and decisions, served as primary conference contact for member institution staff, worked with several standing committees including the Chief Executive Officers and Athletics Directors Committees, supervised the Landmark awards selection process, represented the conference at numerous championships and created conferences schedules for team sports.

Joel was also responsible for serving as the Landmark Conference’s primary media contact, crafting press releases and weekly recaps, maintaining the conference website, collecting and verifying statistics and working with the NCAA statistics staff to insure proper reporting of statistical data.

Prior to joining the Landmark Conference, Cookson spent five years (Fall 2002 – Spring 2007) as the Sports Information Director at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania where he promoted and managed the information service for 19 varsity sports at the NCAA Division III school. A native of Vermont, Cookson served as a student Sports Information Assistant at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia before graduating in May, 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. While at Emory he also served as radio announcer and producer for Teamline Sports Services in Atlanta, broadcasting baseball, basketball and soccer games.

E-Mail: jcooksoncasciacorg  (jcooksoncasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3927

Matt Fischer joined the Central Office staff full-time in July of 2003. A former collegiate sports information director and Major League Baseball media relations director, Matt directed the media efforts for the San Francisco Giants for several years, including the 1989 season which ended with the earthquake-interrupted Bay Bridge World Series.

From 1995-2005 Matt served as president of e-fish solutions, inc., a full service web site design and programming firm. In that capacity he designed and programmed sites for private companies, professional sports teams and government agencies. Also in that role he worked with the central office staff on the development of the original CAS-CIAC website in 1997, and has since programmed all of the site’s enhancements including the online eligibility and tournament forms center, the membership and committee databases and the legislative bill tracking system. Matt, a 2003 recipient of the CAS Appreciation Award for Excellence of Service, serves as CAS-CIAC’s Director of Technology Services, webmaster and network administrator.

E-Mail: mfischercasciacorg  (mfischercasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3918

Stephanie Ford joined the central office staff in July 2008 as the director of marketing. Her position was created to expand the association’s marketing activities and, in turn, generate resources to enhance and promote association programs and services. In addition to working to develop corporate partnerships, Stephanie serves as the association’s media liaison and works to improve the association’s image and name recognition within the educational community as well as among the general public. Stephanie is a graduate of Salve Regina University where she earned a degree in English/Communications. After graduation, Stephanie worked at John Blair Television in New York before settling in Connecticut. Once in Connecticut, Stephanie went to work for WTXX-TV in Waterbury as an account executive before being promoted to local sales manager there. Later, Stephanie signed on with WTIC-TV, the Fox affiliate, where she continued her sales career as part of a job share team so that she could spend more time with her growing family. In the five years prior to joining the central office staff, Stephanie worked closely with Director of Development Bob Ford to secure corporate sponsors for CAS-CIAC’s many sports tournaments, banquets, and workshops.

E-Mail: sfordcasciacorg  (sfordcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3917

Dr. Robert Lehr, long-time Coordinator of Health, Physical Education and Athletics for the Southington Public Schools, brings a wealth of talent and experience to the association. He began his career as a teacher and multi-sport coach in high schools in Pennsylvania and Maryland. His early successes led to a position as dean of students at Penn State University and later as associate athletic director at Yale University.

A decorated athletic administrator, Bob garnered numerous awards during his tenure as an athletic director in Connecticut, including the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Athletic Director of the Year Award; the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Athletic Director of the Year Award; and the NIAAA State Award of Merit. Bob’s extensive background in both high school and college athletics provides a rich framework for his work as a CIAC executive staff member. Bob is overseeing six CIAC sports committees/tournaments and is assisting in the administration of the new CIAC program evaluation initiative. He is also responsible for implementing CIAC corporate sponsorship agreements.

E-Mail: rlehrcasciacorg  (blehrcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3935

Cheryl Novicelli joined the CAS-CIAC staff in April, 2012 as the first Business Manager in the Association’s long history.

Cheryl came to CAS with 20 years of experience in various financial positions, including 15 years working with the unique financial issues of non-profits. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts she began her career with the firm of Tofias, Fleishman, Shapiro & Co. in Cambridge MA. Prior to joining CAS she spent 10 years as the Controller at Wallingford (CT) Country Club, where she was responsible for all aspects of the general ledger and financial presentation, preparation for the year end audit, and weekly payroll preparation and all human resource items. Before that she spent three years as the Director of Finance for the Meriden (CT) YMCA.

E-Mail: cnovicellicasciacorg  (cnovicellicasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3928

Lou Pear had a long and distinguished professional career in Rocky Hill, having served as a physical education teacher at the elementary level, as a soccer coach at Rocky Hill High School, and as a building principal at each of the district’s three elementary schools. During his 32-years as an educator, he garnered two “West Hill School Teacher of the Year” awards as well as the National Distinguished Principals Award.

Lou served as district director for the Elementary and Middle School Principals’ Association of Connecticut (EMSPAC) and was instrumental in the merger of EMSPAC and CAS. Lou also served as chair of the Connecticut Association of Elementary School Principals Board of Directors and as state representative to the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). Lou is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University where he earned his bachelor, master and sixth-year degrees.

As director of Unified Sports®, Lou is responsible for the overall administration and operation of the CIAC/Special Olympics Unified Sports® Program. His responsibilities include: coordinating all Unified Sports® events/tournaments; preparing and administering the overall budget; working in the area of public relations to recruit new schools into the program; training all Unified Sports® coaches and volunteers; and providing leadership and direction to the volunteer committees that help administer the program.

E-Mail: lpearcasciacorg  (lpearcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3904

Berlin resident and parent of a Unified Sports® partner, Beth Rasmussen is the coordinator of the Young Athlete Program. A graduate of Boston College, Beth brings a broad range of professional experience to the position, having worked in sales at Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) and in advertising at American Cheerleading Magazine. She also organized trade shows for Chemical Week Magazine. Beth joined the Unified Sports® staff to make a difference in the lives of Connecticut’s children and their families.

E-Mail: brasmussencasciacorg  (brasmussencasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3937

George Synnott joined the CAS Central Office staff upon his retirement from Berlin High School in 2010. George is a 41-year veteran educator and administrator who has extensive experience in both public and parochial schools in Connecticut. Prior to joining the administrative team at Berlin High School, George was a teacher, department chair and dean of students at St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol. There he also coached varsity baseball and varsity women’s basketball. During his twenty-three years in Berlin, George was an active and influential member of CAS-CIAC. His rich history with the association includes two years of service as chair of the CIAC Board of Control. He also served on the Sportsmanship, High School Unified Sports®, Financial Development, Boys Basketball, Cooperative Team, Eligibility Revision, Season Limitations, Legislation, Eligibility, and Eligibility Review Committees.

As assistant director of Unified Sports®, George is responsible for tournament operations as well as outreach. He will work in the area of public relations to recruit new schools into the program; train Unified Sports® coaches and volunteers; and assist in coordinating all Unified Sports® events.

George is a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland. He earned two master’s degrees at Central Connecticut State University.

E-Mail: gsynnottcasciacorg  (gsynnottcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3932

Joseph A. Tonelli, retired athletic director of Notre Dame High School in West Haven, serves as a member of the CIAC Executive Staff and Director of the CIAC Officials’ Association.

Joe is a 1962 graduate of Notre Dame High School and was a teacher, coach and athletic director at his alma mater for 39 years. Before becoming the school’s athletic director, Joe was Notre Dame’s basketball coach for 11 years. In addition, he served as the assistant baseball coach at the University of New Haven for 14 seasons. His coaching accomplishments earned him induction into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Joe was a 1966 graduate of the University of South Carolina where he captained the baseball team. He received his master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University and he was among the first of the nation’s athletic directors to achieve the status of Certified Athletic Administrator by the NIAAA.

Joe is a past president and “founding father” of the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors. He became active in the work of the CIAC in 1979 and served the association in the following capacities:

• CIAC Board of Control (CAAD Consultant)
• Season Limitations Committee
• CIAC Eligibility Review Committee
• Officials Coordinator for Baseball Tournament
• CIAC Representative to the National Federation Athletic Directors Advisory Committee

Joe also served as a member of the CIAC Officials Committee for 27 years and was a liaison to the football, basketball and swimming officials. In 2000, Joe received the prestigious CAS Citation, the association’s highest honor.

E-Mail: jtonellicasciacorg  (jtonellicasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3929

• Karol Brzozowski – Secretary for Unified Sports
  

  E-Mail: kbrzozowskicasciacorg  (kbrzozowskicasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3950

• Jadwiga Herrmann-Brown – Receptionist, Secretary for CIAC Officials Association
  

  E-Mail: jbrowncasciacorg  (jbrowncasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3940

• Barbara Horn – Secretary for Unified Sports
  

  E-Mail: bhorncasciacorg  (bhorncasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111

• Joyce Smith – CIAC Rule Books
  

  E-Mail: jsmithcasciacorg  (jsmithcasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3905

• Judy Sylvester – Secretary for All CIAC Executive Staff and CAAD
  

  E-Mail: jsylvestercasciacorg  (jsylvestercasciacorg)   Telephone: 203-250-1111, ext. 3907