Wayne Carney,  the executive director of the South Dakota High School Activities association, has announced he is retiring one year from now, effective at the end of the 2016-17 school year.

Carney has spent 42 years working for schools and activities programs in the state.  His career began in Agar, followed by stops in Hamlin and Sioux Falls Washington prior to joining the SDHSAA in 2001 as executive director.

Carney has also served in leadership positions on many national boards.

Carney’s career has featured a great deal of growth for the association, including the reimbursement of over two million dollars in revenue to member schools, the addition of both athletic and fine arts activities, and the development of a broadcast relationship with South Dakota Public Broadcasting that provides more coverage than in any other state.

The board of directors will discuss a timeline for hiring a replacement for Carney at its next regularly scheduled meeting in August.