Gary Lewis Named New Tucson Unified School District Director of Interscholastics

Former Sahuaro High standout and veteran coach and administrator takes on district-wide role.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:05pm

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Gary Lewis, a former standout basketball player at Sahuaro High School and veteran teacher, coach, and administrator, has been named the new Director of Interscholastics for the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD). Lewis, who most recently served as the athletic director at Tanque Verde High School, brings nearly 35 years of experience to the district-wide position.

Why it matters

TUSD has faced challenges in providing equal resources and support for all of its high school athletic programs, leading to disparities in competitiveness. Lewis' appointment aims to address these issues and foster a culture of mutual respect and shared goals across the district's nine high schools.

The details

In his new role, Lewis plans to visit each TUSD high school to open lines of communication with administrators, coaches, and athletes. His objective is to transform the competitive mindset and ensure all programs receive the necessary support, while also emphasizing the importance of providing meaningful experiences for student-athletes whose high school careers will be their last in sports.

  • Lewis was approved for the position by the TUSD school board.
  • He is taking over the role from Desiree 'Dee-Dee' Wheeler, who held the position from June 2020 until her resignation in April 2024.

The players

Gary Lewis

The new Director of Interscholastics for the Tucson Unified School District, with nearly 35 years of experience as a teacher, coach, and administrator. He is a former standout basketball player at Sahuaro High School under legendary coach Dick McConnell.

Dick McConnell

The legendary basketball coach at Sahuaro High School, where Gary Lewis played.

Desiree 'Dee-Dee' Wheeler

The previous Director of Interscholastics for TUSD, who held the position from June 2020 until her resignation in April 2024.

Herman House

The longstanding athletic director for TUSD who returned to the position in an interim role after Wheeler's resignation.

Roger Pfeiffer

A former fourth and fifth grade teacher for Lewis who also served as an interim superintendent for TUSD.

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What they’re saying

“I think each step of the way as I've gone through my journey has been to try to have an impact on a grander scale. The move from Tucson High to Tanque Verde (in 2019) was my first move in administration, so I was grateful for that opportunity. But this one is, is an opportunity to get back to where I started, through TUSD.”

— Gary Lewis, New Director of Interscholastics, Tucson Unified School District

“As an athletic administrator, you've got to make sure that you're supporting all the programs equally without favoritism. That's always going to be an issue no matter what. It's been for the beggining of time.”

— Gary Lewis, New Director of Interscholastics, Tucson Unified School District

“The way he treated people, the professionalism that he always exuded, are things that will always stick with me.”

— Gary Lewis, New Director of Interscholastics, Tucson Unified School District

What’s next

Lewis plans to visit each of the nine TUSD high schools to open lines of communication with administrators, coaches, and athletes, with the goal of understanding the needs of each program and working to provide equal support and resources.

The takeaway

Lewis' appointment as TUSD's Director of Interscholastics represents an opportunity to address long-standing disparities in the district's high school athletic programs and foster a culture of mutual respect and shared goals. His extensive experience and commitment to supporting all student-athletes, regardless of their competitive level, could have a significant impact on the future of TUSD sports.