Lance Taylor Named Incoming President of National Federation of State High School Associations
Lance Taylor, the longtime executive director of the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), has been elected to serve as the 67th president of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for the 2026-27 school year.
Taylor, who has led the AAA since 2006, was selected by the NFHS Board of Directors after serving the past two years as a board member for both the NFHS and the NFHS Network. His appointment marks a significant national recognition of his leadership and dedication to high school athletics and activities.
“It is truly humbling to earn the respect of my peers on the NFHS board of directors and will be an honor to serve as their president starting in the summer of 2026,” Taylor said. “My goal has always been to do what is best for students and athletes in Arkansas, and that has not changed. I look forward to working with other state leaders on how we can continue to put the students first.”
Taylor is currently the second-longest tenured executive director of any state high school association, with 19 years at the helm of the AAA. Only Jerome Singleton of South Carolina, who took over in 2005, has served longer.
This will be Taylor’s second term on the NFHS Board of Directors, having previously served from 2011 to 2015. His extensive resume of service within the NFHS includes roles on numerous key committees, including:
Football Rules Committee
Soccer Rules Committee
Sports Medicine Advisory Committee
Citizenship Committee
Appeal Board
Summer Meeting Advisory Committee
NFHS HOLDCO Committee
NFHS Foundation Board of Directors
Additionally, Taylor played a significant role in shaping the organization's future through his involvement with two NFHS Strategic Planning Committees, serving as chair of the 2016–2021 committee.
Before his appointment as AAA executive director, Taylor worked his way through the ranks within the organization, serving as associate executive director from 2000 to 2003, deputy executive director from 2003 to 2005, and executive director-elect from 2005 to 2006.
Taylor began his career in education as a teacher and coach, working at Cutter Morning Star High School (1988–93) and Greenwood High School (1993–98). He later served as principal at Greenwood and Batesville for one year each before joining the AAA.