The Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Board of Directors voted on Wednesday to discontinue athletics following the 2026–2027 school year, according to an announcement from the organization. The decision arrives as private school officials across the state prepare to transition athletic programs into a newly formed, multi-state organization known as the Gulf States Independent Athletic Association.
The Shift to the Gulf States Independent Athletic Association
Private school leaders across Alabama voted in July to establish the Gulf States Independent Athletic Association as a separate entity dedicated exclusively to private school athletics, according to reporting by 1819 News. Glynn Lott, headmaster and head football coach at Macon East Academy and a primary founder of the new association, stated that AISA athletic programs are planned to transition into the new body after a final year of competition.
Lott told 1819 News in an interview that the organization has established a board of directors, drafted bylaws, submitted them to an attorney, and initiated the process to secure 501(c)(3) status. The emerging association aims to incorporate private schools from the AISA and potentially the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), alongside out-of-state programs near Alabama borders in Florida, Mississippi, and Georgia.
AHSAA Restructuring and Postseason Conflicts
The dissolution of AISA athletics follows months of public friction between private schools and the AHSAA regarding reclassification and postseason play. In January, the AHSAA announced a structural overhaul of its postseason athletics that split competition between public and private schools.
AISA Executive Director Michael McLendon acknowledged the weight of the vote in a statement reported by 1819 News, calling it an emotional decision for an organization that has organized sports for more than half a century. McLendon expressed gratitude to the coaches, athletic directors, administrators, officials, volunteers, and student-athletes who shaped the history of AISA athletics.
Future Outlook for Alabama Private School Sports
Despite the end of the historical AISA athletic structure, leadership views the transition as an opportunity to build a modern framework centered around private school needs. McLendon noted that an exclusive association allows member schools with diverse missions and traditions to collaborate and compete under a unified model designed specifically for them.
Lott indicated that additional board meetings for the Gulf States Independent Athletic Association are scheduled for October, with formal membership announcements expected to follow later in the fall.
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