From player to basketball coach to assistant director of the Utah High School Activities Association, there really aren't many aspects of high school sports that Rob Cuff hasn't experienced firsthand.

That diverse experience is one of the reasons the UHSAA's Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to name Cuff the association's new director.

"Eight years ago, I left a job I really loved, left a very successful program to come to work for the association," he said of being hired as an assistant director in 2001. "When I was interviewing for that job, I was asked if I ever saw myself as the director and I had to answer yes. Since then I've prepared myself, never knowing if it would happen or not, by learning from and observing two great mentors."

Cuff said he relied on former director Evan Excell and outgoing director Dave Wilkey to learn more than just how the association operates. From those men he learned about the importance of cooperation, communication and how to lead an organization that means so much to so many.

Cuff has overseen eight different sports and currently oversees basketball, baseball and football. He is also responsible for site administration, sanctioning, rules interpretation, coaching clinics, officials training and state tournament event management.

Cuff was selected from four finalists, including assistant director Bart Thompson, Ben Lomond principal Ben Smith and North Summit principal Jerre Holmes.

A graduate of Richfield High School, the father of four coached at Mountain View High School from 1994-2001.

"I had about 100 people in my graduating class and I think I had that many kids show up for my first tryouts at Mountain View," Cuff said after Tuesday's announcement. "From small schools to big, I have been able to see the whole gamut."

He said his focus will be on recruiting and retaining officials, dealing with the tough economic issues and working on legislative issues, as well as the state's transfer rule.

"I think the transfer rule needs to be looked at and re-evaluated," he said. "There are 51 associations (including Washington D.C.) and there are 51 different transfer rules. Nobody has the perfect answer ... But it's time to look at it again."

Cuff said he believes in the value of "education-based athletics" and their ability to teach "principles, positive values and philosophies that will last a lifetime. Winning is important, but it's a by-product of what we're really trying to do in our programs."

"Everyone can't be a champion," he said. "But all can be winners."

E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com