Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green named to Nebraska Hall of Fame

Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com

Colorado High School Activities Association Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green is one of seven inductees into the University of Nebraska Hall of Fame, joining “pioneer inductees” Carol Frost, Ed Weir, Greichaly Cepero (volleyball/basketball, 1999-2003), Wes Suter (gymnastics 1983-86), Grant Winstrom (football, 1994-97) and Francis Allen (gymnastics coach, 1970-2009).

Commissioner Blanford-Green competed for the Huskers from 1982-85 and was an 18-time Big Eight champion and eight-time All-American. She holds the school mark in the 50-meter hurdles, 60-yard hurdles and the 55-meter hurdles. A member of three national championship teams, the Huskers swept the indoor and outdoor Big Eight titles throughout her career. She was one of the first athletes – male or female – to win five gold medals in a conference championship meet.

Blanford-Green worked at CHSAA both as assistant commissioner and associate commissioner from 1996-2012 and was named CHSAA commissioner in 2017. She was executive director at the Nebraska School Activities Association from 2012-15 and was assistant executive director at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association from 2015-2017. At various times in Colorado, she oversaw boys’ soccer, spirit, track and field, cross country, hockey and skiing. She also oversaw equity, marketing, public relations and legislative relations. She started many initiatives at CHSAA, including the creation of the Association’s transgender policy, which has since become a national model used by other states.

In 2012, Blanford-Green was named the executive director of the Nebraska School Activities Association, becoming the first African-American woman in the country to serve in that capacity. She is the first female to serve as CHSAA’s commissioner, as well as the first African-American.

A 1981 graduate of Aurora Central High School, where she starred in track and also competed in spirit and volleyball, Blanford-Green went on to excel in track at the University of Nebraska. She was the national prep leader in the 30-inch hurdles and held three state records in the 100-meter hurdles, 100-meter dash and long jump. After college, she twice qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials. She was coached at the University of Wyoming for several years before joining CHSAA.

Blanford-Green is a member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame as a participant (2012 inductee), the Sportswoman of Colorado Hall of Fame, the Nebraska Black Sports Hall of Fame, and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

The 2019 class will be introduced August 30, then recognized during the university’s football game the next day.