Alabama Independent School Association to End Athletic Program After 2026-2027 School Year
- The Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Board of Directors voted on Wednesday to discontinue its athletic program at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year, marking the end...
- Private school officials across Alabama previously voted in July to begin preparations for a new, multi-state athletic association named the Gulf States Independent Athletic Association.
- Glynn Lott, who serves as the headmaster and head football coach at Macon East Academy, is the primary founder of the newly formed Gulf States Independent Athletic Association.
The Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Board of Directors voted on Wednesday to discontinue its athletic program at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year, marking the end of more than half a century of organized sports competition for the private school organization, according to reports from 1819 News.
Private school officials across Alabama previously voted in July to begin preparations for a new, multi-state athletic association named the Gulf States Independent Athletic Association. This upcoming transition follows public friction between the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) and private schools regarding postseason play and reclassification throughout recent months, as reported by 1819 News.
A New Private School Association Takes Shape
Glynn Lott, who serves as the headmaster and head football coach at Macon East Academy, is the primary founder of the newly formed Gulf States Independent Athletic Association. Lott told 1819 News in an interview that the organization has scheduled another board meeting in October to coordinate the transition of AISA athletic programs into the new setup.
Official confirmation regarding their membership status is unlikely to arrive before late October or early November.
Glynn Lott via 1819 News
Lott added that the provisional framework involves welcoming schools that choose to join following their initial year operating within the Alabama High School Athletic Association alignment. According to statements given to 1819 News, organizers have already established a board, drafted bylaws, submitted paperwork to legal counsel, and initiated filings to secure 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Previous media reports indicate the association may eventually incorporate out-of-state private schools situated near Alabama’s borders in Florida, Mississippi, and Georgia alongside participating Alabama private schools.
Reflecting on Decades of AISA Athletics History
The dissolution of the athletic branch closes a chapter that has generated decades of competitive traditions for students, coaches, administrators, and families throughout Alabama. AISA Executive Director Michael McLendon acknowledged the emotional weight of the vote in statements reported by 1819 News.
This ruling carries significant feeling because sports have served as a core pillar of AISA for over fifty years. We feel immense pride in that heritage and express our deep appreciation to all the coaches, athletic directors, administrators, officials, volunteers, and student-athletes who defined AISA sports over the years.
Michael McLendon via 1819 News
Despite the closure of the long-standing association’s sports arm, leadership views the shifting landscape of private school athletics as an opportunity to implement a fresh operating structure. McLendon expressed support for the emerging Gulf States Independent Athletic Association as it builds an independent framework dedicated exclusively to private school competition.
We extend our best wishes to the leadership of the Gulf States Independent Athletic Association for abundant success as they plan this upcoming endeavor. We endorse the concept of fostering an environment where private school sports enjoy maximum potential for growth, and we will enthusiastically root for their triumph.
Michael McLendon via 1819 News
Looking Ahead to the 2026-2027 Transition
With AISA athletics officially slated to conclude at the end of the 2026-2027 school year, administrators anticipate that a dedicated private school association will offer new pathways for member institutions. McLendon emphasized to 1819 News that the restructuring allows athletic leaders to rethink future competitive arrangements.
Private schools across Alabama feature diverse missions, traditions, communities, and athletic programs. Establishing a fresh association presents a chance to build a framework tailored directly to these institutions and their student-athletes, while potentially uniting athletic programs that previously played in separate leagues. Our conviction is that Alabama’s private schools achieve greater strength when given chances to collaborate, play against one another, and advance collectively.
Michael McLendon via 1819 News