John Carter elected Vice President of OHSAA Board of Directors

John Carter is the current Athletic Administrator at Benedictine High School and is now the Vice President of the Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors. (Photo: Benedictine Athletics)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – John Carter, Athletic Administrator at Benedictine High School and former professional baseball player, has been elected vice president of the Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors for the 2026-27 school year. Carter will begin his second year of a three-year term on the board when it meets in Columbus next week. John is serving as the Ethnic Minority representative from the Northeast District.

 

The OHSAA is the governing body of high school and junior high sports in Ohio. It is a voluntary, non-profit organization that governs 815 high schools and 740 middle schools, which includes approximately 400,000 student-athletes.

 

John was elected to the OHSAA’s Northeast District Athletic Board in 2021. He is an executive board member of the Northeast Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. He has dedicated over 15 years to athletic leadership, serving as the director of athletics at Fairview Park City Schools and Oberlin City Schools before assuming his current role at Cleveland Benedictine High School.

 

In recognition of his contributions, John has received numerous awards from the Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (OIAAA) and the NEOIAAA, including the prestigious Citation Award, the Bruce Brown Award of Excellence, and the NEOIAAA Athletic Administrator of the Year in 2025. He was awarded the Athletic Administrator of the Year Award in November 2025 by the OIAAA.

 

John’s journey in sports began as a professional baseball player, spending nine years with the Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, and Pittsburgh Pirates. After his playing career, he transitioned into the front office of the Cleveland Indians, where he served as manager of community relations for seven years. In this role, he worked closely with both the Cleveland community and the team’s players, fostering meaningful connections and impactful initiatives.

 

A passionate advocate for youth baseball, John has played a key role in growing the sport in Cleveland. He has organized major events such as the Hardball Classic at Progressive Field and the MLB Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities (RBI) East Regional Tournament. Additionally, he contributed to the 2019 MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland, coordinating the Mastercard Starting Lineups' pregame introductions.

 

Currently, John serves as president of the Cleveland Baseball Federation, a role he has held since October 2007. Founded as one of Cleveland’s oldest baseball organizations, the Federation is committed to its mission: “Providing kids the opportunity to play the game with no limits.”

 

John lives in North Ridgeville with his wife, Amy, and their children, Mary Grace, Jake (Anna), and Ellie.