STEVE ADAMS

Maine South High School, Prospect High School

Steve has been a member of the Illinois Athletic Directors Association since 1994.  In that time, he has served the IADA on both the registration committee and the registration chair, and he has been a conference presenter and presider.  Steve has been the conference co-chair twice; in both instances, he had to work around hotel closures to secure a new venue for our annual conference.

Steve has been involved in education and athletics for the past 39 years.  Starting in 1983, he began his career in Lanark as a high school math teacher and an assistant football and boys basketball coach.  In 1984, Steve moved to Gladbrook, IA, where he taught math and was the JH football coach, head boys basketball coach, and head baseball coach.  In 1985, Steve returned to Illinois as a math teacher and an assistant baseball, football, and boys basketball coach at Prospect High School.  In 1998, Steve moved to Elk Grove High School where he continued to teach math, work as an assistant coach in basketball and golf, and work as the head baseball coach.  In 1994, Steve went back to Prospect High School where he became the boys athletic director at Prospect High School: a position he held for 10 years. During this tenure at Prospect, Steve was an assistant golf and boys basketball coach.  In 2004, Steve was named the athletic director at Maine South High School: a position he held until his retirement in 2016.  In his retirement, he continues to work in the athletic and education field as the Athletics Facilities & Events Manager for Cornell College in Iowa. In addition to the Athletics Facilities & Events Manager position, Steve was also named the IADA Division 2 Athletic Director of the year in 2011, and he has served the IHSA as a member of the Sportsmanship Advisory Committee.

Dave Claypool, former administrator with Steve at Maine South High School, said, “His relentless pursuit of excellence as a leader of a very strong athletics program was surpassed only by his unwavering commitment to help his coaches and athletes achieve at even greater levels.  Respected by athletes, parents, coaches, and his peers, Mr. Adams represented the best of his profession.””

Former athletic administration colleague Steve Rockrohr stated, “He is calm, personable, reflective, organized, and not afraid to make a decision.  These characteristics shined a light on his ability to serve the principals, athletic directors, and coaches from all over the state and do so in a productive and professional manner.”

Steve’s extensive contributions to high school athletics and his dedication to the IADA are a few of the many reasons that led to his selection as a member of the IADA Hall of Fame.