Former AHSAA Leader Accuses of Discrimination in Lawsuit

Background of the Lawsuit

A former employee has filed a federal lawsuit against the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), claiming that she faced discrimination based on gender, age, and race when she was denied a promotion to lead the organization. The case was brought forward on behalf of Kim Vickers, who previously served as the associate executive director of AHSAA, in the Middle District Court of Alabama.

Vickers, who is 59 years old, has submitted three discrimination complaints against the AHSAA within the last 12 months. Her initial charge was filed on July 12, 2024, followed by a supplemental charge on October 25, 2024, and another on June 25, 2025, after her termination from the organization. The U.S. Department of Justice issued right-to-sue notices for both her original and supplemental Equal Employment Opportunity charges on July 17, 2025.

Career and Promotion Attempts

Vickers was initially hired under former AHSAA executive director Steve Savarese in December 2014 as the director of publications. She was later promoted to assistant director and eligibility coordinator in 2018 and to associate executive director in 2021 under former executive director Alvin Briggs. Briggs announced his retirement in 2024, which led to a search by the AHSAA’s Central Board of Control for the next executive director.

At the time, Vickers was the second-highest-ranking official at the organization. She applied for the position and was one of five candidates interviewed by the Board. The board ultimately narrowed the candidates down to two men and former Oxford High principal Heath Harmon, who was hired on June 6, 2024. Harmon remains the current executive director.

Claims of Discrimination and Unfair Treatment

In the lawsuit, Vickers claims she was “substantially” more qualified than Harmon for the position. She also applied for the job in 2021 when Briggs was selected to succeed Savarese. Notably, Harmon is the sixth full-time director of the AHSAA, and all have been male. The lawsuit states that there has never been a female in the Executive Director position since the association's founding in 1921.

The suit alleges that because Harmon was less qualified than Vickers, she was required to explain day-to-day operations and other basic knowledge of the job. It further claims that Harmon excluded her from meetings and interviews and demoted her to her former position after she filed her first EEOC charge.

Historical Context and Racial Representation

In 1968, a court order mandated the merger of the AHSAA with the Alabama Interscholastic Athletic Association, which had previously overseen athletics at segregated African-American schools in Alabama. That order required the top two positions in the AHSAA to be occupied by individuals of opposite races, representing each of those organizations.

Vickers and Harmon are both white. Brian McRae, who is Black, was hired by Harmon as the new associate executive director. Vickers’ lawsuit states that McRae had little to no experience in athletic administration and was substantially less qualified than Vickers for the job. The suit also claims that Harmon continued to discriminate and retaliate against her by excluding her from meetings, including committee meetings, interviews, government relations, and other parts of her job.

Termination and Legal Action

On June 23, 2025, according to the complaint, Harmon called Vickers into his office and told her it was not working out and that they needed to part ways. Vickers asked Harmon if she was being fired because she had filed EEOC charges, but he refused to answer.

Vickers, who was inducted into the AHSAA Hall of Fame in 2024, is seeking reinstatement into the position she should have held as well as compensatory, punitive, and liquidated damages. A text message to Harmon on Sunday afternoon was not immediately returned.