Brad Alford serves as Commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, becoming the eighth leader of the Association on October 1, 2026. He was selected by the NCHSAA Board of Directors in July 2026 to succeed Commissioner Que Tucker and returned to the Association on August 24, 2026, for a planned leadership transition.
Alford returned to the NCHSAA after serving as Director of the Office of Athletics for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, where he served as the State Superintendent’s designee for interscholastic athletics and represented the Department on the NCHSAA Board of Directors. Prior to joining the Department, he served the NCHSAA for nearly 15 years in progressively responsible leadership roles, culminating as Assistant Commissioner for Sports, Championships, and Compliance.
Throughout his career, Alford has provided leadership in governance, championships, compliance, strategic planning, policy development, communications, and organizational operations. His previous tenure with the Association included leadership in several significant initiatives, including the expansion from four to eight classifications, implementation of North Carolina’s Name, Image, and Likeness policy, modernization of championship administration, advancement of student-athlete health and safety initiatives, and expansion of participation opportunities across multiple sports.
As Commissioner, Alford serves as a voting member of the NCHSAA Board of Directors and works alongside the Board’s President, Vice President, and Past President as part of the Association’s executive leadership. He represents North Carolina on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National Council, the Federation’s legislative and policy-making body. He also serves as an affiliate member of the Boards of Directors of the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association and the North Carolina Coaches Association.
Alford has contributed to education-based athletics at the national level through service on the NFHS Swimming & Diving Rules Committee, Soccer Rules Committee, and Records Committee. He also served as host liaison for the 2024 NFHS Section 3 Meeting in Cherokee, North Carolina. He is a Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA), the highest professional certification awarded by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, a Certified Leadership Training Institute Instructor, and holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Elon University’s ElonNEXT program.
Alford earned a Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Science with a concentration in Sport Management from East Carolina University and bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Management and Recreation & Leisure Studies with a concentration in Sports Management from Mount Olive College.
Alford believes education-based athletics is the most powerful enhancement to education, providing students with opportunities to develop leadership, character, teamwork, resilience, and lifelong skills. As Commissioner, he is committed to listening to and engaging with the Association’s membership, strengthening relationships with stakeholders, and leading the NCHSAA with transparency, accountability, and trust. He looks forward to working alongside the Board of Directors, member schools, administrators, coaches, officials, students, parents, and community partners to strengthen education-based athletics across North Carolina and ensure student-athletes have meaningful opportunities to learn, compete, grow, and succeed.
Alford and his wife, Tina, live in Granville County with their two daughters, Reese and Harper.
