Congrats to Charlie Nimz of Washburn Rural High School on being named the KIAAA - Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association AD of the Week. Nimz currently serves as the Athletics & Activities Director at Washburn Rural, where he has been for 11 total years, including seven years as Assistant Principal and the past four years as AD. Prior to Washburn Rural, he spent eight years at Topeka West, teaching and coaching basketball for six years before serving two years as Athletic Director. He also served four years as Assistant Principal at Royal Valley High School. A 1996 graduate of Hayden High School, Nimz was a four-sport athlete in football, basketball, baseball, and golf. He later graduated from the University of Kansas in 2001 with a degree in Athletic Training, earned his teaching certification in 2003, and completed his Master’s in School Leadership from Baker University in 2009. “Serving as the Athletic Director at Washburn Rural High School is truly a privilege,” Nimz said. “I’m grateful to work alongside an outstanding coaching staff and exceptional student-athletes, all within a community that provides tremendous support and understands the importance of high school athletics and activities.” Nimz said high school sports played a major role in shaping his life and he is motivated by the chance to give Washburn Rural student-athletes those same life-changing opportunities. His leadership philosophy centers around supporting coaches and providing them the resources needed to help student-athletes have the best possible high school experience. “Leadership is about hiring and developing the right people,” Nimz said. “It’s about building a culture centered on character, hard work, improvement, and unity. When those things are in place, success on the scoreboard often follows.” One of the most rewarding parts of the job for Nimz is seeing students succeed, especially those who may not always be in the spotlight. “State championships are meaningful, but there is something equally special about a senior earning a varsity spot or a student-athlete achieving a personal record,” he said. Nimz credits many outstanding coaches for shaping the way he leads today, especially Coach Tom Stringer, whose balance of accountability and encouragement made a lasting impact. He believes successful teams create an energy throughout the building that unites students and strengthens school spirit. “What I am most proud of are the relationships I’ve built with our coaches, student-athletes, and fellow athletic directors across the state,” Nimz said. “This profession is filled with outstanding individuals, and I’m grateful to call many of them both colleagues and friends.” Among his honors, Nimz was named 2023 KWCA Girls AD of the Year, 2025 KIAAA District 2 AD of the Year, and now serves as the 2026 KIAAA District 2 Representative. Charlie and his wife Misty have three sons, Darian, Cohen, and Dominic, all of whom have been active in youth and high school sports. #sportsinkansas #KIAAA #KansasInterscholasticAthleticAdministratorsAssociation @KIAAAks