Johnson named executive director among IBCA leadership changes
Beach receives new title for coaches' group; Witty now executive director emeritus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Pat McKee, 317-403-1665
July 25, 2022 IBCA Director of Special Projects
Marty Johnson has been named executive director of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association as part of various leadership changes in the organization, it was announced Monday (July 25).
Johnson, formerly the group's associate executive director, athletic director at Perry Meridian and a varsity boys' basketball coach at three schools, was elected to the position in a vote of IBCA executive board. He succeeds Steve Witty, who will remain a part of the organization as executive director emeritus.
In addition, Tom Beach has been named IBCA associate executive director/chief operating officer. Beach previously had held the title of assistant director/chief operating officer.
"It is an honor to represent the more than 2,000 men and women who comprise the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association," said Johnson, who compiled a 359-238 record over 26 seasons as a coach at Pendleton Heights, East Noble and Whiteland. "Since the IBCA's inception in 1971, it has been the organization's goal to provide the best possible experience for the coaches and players who make Hoosier Hysteria great."
Johnson becomes the IBCA's sixth executive director since the group's founding. The late Marion Crawley was the first person in the role, serving from 1971 to 1977. He was followed by Virgil Sweet from 1977 to 1984, the late Bob King from 1984 to 1994, George Griffith from 1994 to 2002 and Witty from 2002 to 2022.
"It is humbling to follow in the footsteps of those who have made Indiana high school basketball what it is," Johnson said, noting all those who preceded him as IBCA executive director. "Steve Witty assumed the position in the summer of 2002, and I have been honored to work alongside him as an assistant director and associate executive director since that time."
Johnson also was on the IBCA board of directors in 1990-91, was its president from 1998 to 2000 and served as past president from 2000 to 2002.
Beach, formerly the boys' varsity coach at Forest Park and Shelbyville, continues in a key leadership role for the IBCA. He served as IBCA president from 2008 to 2011 and as past president from 2011 to 2014. He has been an IBCA assistant director the past eight years, adding the title of chief operating officer in 2021-22.
"I have been a member of the IBCA for more than 30 years and have been directly involved in some capacity for more than 20 years," said Beach, who compiled a 227-98 record in 14 seasons as a varsity coach. "It is humbling and exciting to move into this next chapter of my life. I will do my best to continue the traditions of the past while being excited about the future of the organization."
Witty, the IBCA's longest tenured executive director, moves into an emeritus role where he will continue to consult and advise IBCA leadership but no longer be in charge of the organization's day-to-day operations.
"I would like to thank all past and present IBCA board members," said Witty, who compiled a 266-68 record as varsity boys' basketball coach at Ben Davis from 1989 to 2002 and has totaled 53 years in basketball as a head coach, assistant coach or IBCA executive director.
"It has been an honor to work with these individuals while we served coaches and players across the state and strived to give back to the game we all know and love. I also want to thank all IBCA member coaches for their support of our professional organization as well as the corporate partners and other individuals who have always been there for the IBCA through the years."
Witty noted that while he is stepping down as executive director, he still will maintain a role within the group that he has led for 20 years.
"As I assume emeritus status with the IBCA, I will continue to perform various duties for the organization," Witty said. "But it is time for the day-to-day leadership of the organization to be turned over to a new generation of leaders who care about our game, the coaches, the players and the IBCA as much as I do. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the IBCA."
Johnson, meanwhile, said the IBCA leadership will continue to serve players and coaches while striving to be aware of issues that basketball may face as it moves forward.
"I along with the 11-member board of directors and the 15 elected district representatives will honor the legacy of all who came before us," he said. "We will do everything possible to continue with the storied tradition of the IBCA."
The IBCA membership year runs from Aug. 1 to July 31 each year. These leadership changes take effect with the new 2022-23 membership year beginning on Monday (Aug. 1).
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MORE COMPLETE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Johnson became coach at Whiteland in 2006, posting a 32-35 over three seasons and being named 2009 IndyStar South Coach of the Year. He stepped down as coach at Whiteland for family health concerns. He then served as athletic director at Perry Meridian from 2012 to 2016 before moving into an administrative role for Perry Township Schools.
Johnson is 1976 graduate of Highland High School. He attended University of Indianapolis, playing four years of basketball and graduating in 1980. He was voted second-team all-Great Lakes Valley Conference as a senior at UIndy. Johnson later earned a master's degree from Ball State in business education and a second master's degree from IPFW in administration.
After college, Johnson spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Pendleton Heights. He then went 21-21 in two seasons as the Pendleton Heights' varsity coach (1983-85) before becoming the coach at East Noble. Overall, Johnson posted a career mark of 359-238 in 26 seasons as a varsity coach.
Johnson served on the IBCA board of directors in 1990-91, was the IBCA president in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and the IBCA past president from 2000 to 2002. He was an IBCA assistant executive director from 2002-14 and associate executive director from 2014-22 prior to becoming the IBCA executive director in June 2022.
Johnson was inducted into the East Noble Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
He and his wife, Traci, have two adult children -- Kyle and Morgan.
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Tom Beach was a two-time state championship coach at Forest Park, guiding the Rangers to Class 2A trophies in 2005 and 2006.
In 10 seasons as the Forest Park varsity coach, Beach's teams posted a 194-46 record with championships in five sectionals, three regionals and three semi-states in addition to the two state crowns. Beach then coached at Shelbyville for four seasons, posting a 33-52 mark with the Golden Bears. He followed by serving as an assistant coach for the Anderson University men's program for six seasons, stepping down after the 2018-19 season.
His overall record in 14 seasons as a varsity coach is 227-98.
Beach is a 1975 graduate of Vincennes Lincoln, where he officiated and helped organized the Vincennes elementary program under the direction of Alices coach Gunner Wyman while Beach attended high school. Beach then attended Purdue University, graduating in 1979 with a degree in education and a desire to become a coach. He earned a master's degree in education in 1982 from Indiana University.
Beach landed his first teaching job at Forest Park, where he coached freshman boys' basketball for five years and JV boys' basketball for 15 years before being named the Rangers' varsity coach.
He was named IBCA District 5 Coach of the Year in 2000, and he was a Hoosier Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2000, 2003 and 2006. He was a Junior All-Star assistant coach in 2000 and an Indiana All-Star assistant coach in 2004. He also coached in the 2003 Indiana North-South All-Star Classic and in the 2006 "Hoosiers" Reunion All-Star Classic.
Beach was an IBCA district representative in 2000-01 and was the IBCA president from 2008 to 2011. He served as IBCA past president from 2011 to 2014. He was an IBCA assistant director from 2014 to 2022 and added the title of IBCA chief operating officer in 2021-22.
Beach and his wife, Vicki, have two adult children -- Tori and Seve.
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Steve Witty led Ben Davis to two boys' basketball state championships and an unprecedented four consecutive State Finals appearances during a 13-year run as a varsity coach. His Giants compiled a 266-68 record during his tenure on the Giants' sideline, winning 1995 and 1996 state titles after a state runner-up finish in 1993 and another State Finals berth in 1994.
In addition, Witty's teams won seven sectionals, six regionals, four semi-state and three Marion County Tournament championships. His teams also won 64 consecutive games against Marion County opponents, and they were ranked No. 1 in the state for portions of 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001 and 2002.
A 1965 graduate of Center Grove, Witty was a three-year letterman for the Trojans and was a winner of the Mid-State Conference Mental Attitude Award. He matriculated to Franklin College, earning a bachelor's degree in education in 1969 while earning three letters for the Grizzlies. He later earned a master's degree from Indiana University in 1974 and a secondary administrative degree from Butler University in 1980.
Witty started his coaching career in 1969 as an assistant coach for six seasons at Indianapolis Manual. He followed by assisting for two seasons at Beech Grove, one season at Franklin and 11 seasons at Ben Davis before following Gayle Towles as the Ben Davis head coach from 1989-90 through 2001-02.
As a head coach, Witty was honored six times as Marion County Coach of the Year, three times as an IBCA District 3 Coach of the Year (1993, 2001 and 2002) and twice as Indiana's state Coach of the Year (1995 and 1996). He was named Indiana All-Star head coach in 1994, inducted into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007 and was inducted to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
In addition to his role with the IBCA, where he has served as executive director from 2002 to 2022, Witty was instrumental in the founding of the National High School Basketball Coaches Association in 2004. He served as NHSBCA vice president from 2004 to 2016, was chosen for the NHSBCA's inaugural class of its Court of Honor in 2012 and remains an NHSBCA board member emeritus. He also is a past president of the National Organization of Coaches Association Directors.
Witty also was involved in the leadership of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, serving as executive vice president from 2015-17, president from 2017-19 and past president from 2019-21.
Witty and his wife, Jeanie, are parents of two adult children -- Derick and Kara.