26 Mar 2025 Brodell announces retirement after 25 years at the AAA

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Don Brodell has served the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) in various roles for more than 25 years but his run will come to an end as he has announced his decision to retire this summer. 

Brodell served in many roles as associate director of the AAA including rules interpreter for basketball, football, softball, and wrestling. In addition to those responsibilities, Brodell has spent more than 45 years involved in officiating in Arkansas including all 25 years while at the AAA as the liaison between the organization and the Arkansas Officials Association.

 “I would like to thank former executive director Jimmy Coats and current executive director Lance Taylor for their leadership and support during my 25-year tenure with the Arkansas Activities Association,” Brodell said. “Thank you to the member schools of the AAA and the men and women of the Arkansas Officials Association. I am very proud of our officials and grateful for their dedication to the student-athletes of our state.” 

Brodell will finish his tenure as rules interpreter for baseball, wrestling, and his position as liaison to the AOA when he officially retires on June 30, 2025. “Don has been an incredible asset to not only the Arkansas Activities Association but to the men and women across the state within the Arkansas Officials Association,” AAA executive director Lance Taylor said. “His tireless work over the past 25 years might go unnoticed or unappreciated to the untrained eye, but it has certainly been noticed here, and he is truly going to be missed.” 

On the national level, Brodell served on multiple National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) committees, including the Football Rules Editorial Committee and the Baseball Rules Committee. Brodell received one of the NFHS’s highest honors in 2022 as he was presented a Citation Award for his contributions that have impacted high school activity programs through the AAA. “I have been a part of officiating for 45 years. My time with the AAA has allowed me to continue teaching and working with our officials, providing them with the leadership needed to become better officials,” Brodell said. “I will miss working with the AAA staff and the friendships I have made over the years.” 

Brodell started with the AOA as a game official in 1978 and, through the years, he called numerous basketball and football championships, an AHSCA all-star game, and an overall basketball state championship. Brodell was inducted into the AOA Hall of Fame as a member of the 2007 class. Prior to joining the AAA staff, Brodell earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas Little Rock and served as the assistant director for admissions at UALR. 

“I would like to thank the late Jerry Hall and Glen Siler for their confidence in my ability to lead the officials of our state,” Brodell said. “If we didn’t have officials, it would be recess.”