A former Marion coach and school administrator has been selected to help lead the association that oversees high school athletics and activities statewide.

Rod Garman, who was principal at Marion Elementary School from 2007 to 2011, will become assistant executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association on July 1.

His primary responsibilities will be supervising soccer, swimming, diving, and scholar bowl competitions and student council activities.

Selected after a nationwide search, he most recently has been director of elementary education for the Topeka-Seaman school district, where he also coaches boys and girls swimming.

He previously worked as director of secondary education, assistant director of curriculum, and principal of North Fairview Elementary there.

Before coming to Marion, he worked in Minneola, in Windsor, Colorado, and previously at Topeka-Seaman. A Kiowa native and Bethel College and Washburn University alumnus, he has been a school or club swimming coach since 1991.

He and his wife, Kristin, will remain in Topeka after he joins KSHSAA. Their twin sons will graduate from Topeka-Seaman this spring.