STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

You may need a play card to tell who’s who at Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation.

A homegrown kid has been named executive director, while three of the most recognizable faces of the  organization have stepped down.

Scott McGrew, the current SVSEF Alpine Program director, has been named executive director of the organization.

He succeeds Sam Adicoff, who gave his resignation effective June 30. Adicoff, who has been involved with the organization since moving to Ketchum 18 years, ago will continue to support the organization in a volunteer capacity.

Also leaving the organization is SVSEF Athletic Director and Interim Mogul Program Director Phil McNichol and Jody Zarkos, who has organized the Janss Pro Am, Wild Game dinner and other events as director of Events and Community Relations.

Replacing McGrew as Alpine Program director will be Will Brandenburg, a former member of the U.S. Ski Team who coached with SVSEF in 2015 and 2016 before accepting a role as U.S. Ski & Snowboard Western Region Coach in 2017.

McGrew brings a level of passion and commitment to the organization that is unparalleled, said Board Chair Jim DeWolfe.

“He is highly regarded throughout the Wood River Valley and will provide strong leadership for years to come as we strive to improve the Foundation’s programming from grassroots initiatives to the most elite competitive levels,” DeWolfe added.

McGrew, who was born at Sun Valley’s old Moritz Hospital next to the Sun Valley Inn, was 8 when he joined the SVSEF’s alpine ski racing team.

“The first thing I remember ever in my life was the ski team,” he said. “My coaches taught me the secrets of life—not their secret powder stashes on the mountain, but their secrets for living life. They were so authentic.”

After graduating from Wood River High School in 1995, McGrew earned Bachelor of Science degrees in biochemistry and cultural anthropology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He later earned a Master of Business Administration from Boise State University.

McGrew first began coaching at the University of Washington, leading its USCSA Alpine team to regional and national success. He rejoined the SVSEF in 2002 and quickly moved up the ranks as an assistant FIS coach and then as a head coach. He was named alpine program director in 2014, overseeing more than 300 alpine athletes and 45 coaches.

McGrew, who has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, lives in Hailey with his wife Sirimukh and their three children.

Adicoff said he was excited to be succeeded by McGrew, who was named the SVSEF’s Coach of the Year in November.

“He brings an extremely strong work ethic, organization knowledge and incredible passion to the position. I am confident he will be successful leading SVSEF for many years to come,” said Adicoff.

Doran Key, McGrew’s first coach, concurred. “He’s one of the most patient, passionate persons I’ve ever met in my life.”

McGrew said he is excited to build on SVSEF’s heritage of excellence while further defining the organization as one of the highest regarded winter sports clubs in the United States.

“For the past 15 years that I’ve been professionally involved with the organization, I’ve seen a magnificent amount of evolution and change. I’m excited to steward that continued evolution as we work to provide impactful and transformative experience for our community,” he said.

The SVSEF provides an anchor for local youngsters in a society that is changing rapidly, he has said. “Every single day we’re out there with the kids.”

Brandenburg, who will succeed McGrew, grew up in Walla Walla, Wash., and raced with the Spokane Ski Racing Association and Schweitzer Mountain before being named to the U.S. Development Team in 2006.

He had a top 10 finish in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver as a member of the U.S. Ski Team. He also has skied on the World Cup circuit, with personal best sixth place finish in slalom at Kranjska Gora in 2012.

McGrew followed that up by winning the national title in the Combined at the U.S. Alpine Championships in 2013.

“His experience as a World Cup and Olympic athlete, combined with his coaching success both at SVSEF and the Western Region is a powerful combination,” said McNichol.

McNichol himself led the U.S. Men’s Alpine Team for 11 years. He joined the SVSEF in 2014 as Alpine Technical Director and moved into an expanded role as Athletic Director at the start of the 2016-17 season. He oversaw all athletic programs and helped guide growth and programmatic strategy in that role.

His Athletic Director position is being eliminated due to organizational restructuring.

Zarkos joined the SVSEF in 2011 and has served as communications director and in fundraising, helping to subsidize costs for participating athletes.

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation was founded 52 years ago. It provides year-round ski and snowboarding training for one in five youth in the Wood River Valley.

A record 678 student-athletes participated during the 2017-18 season on its alpine, big mountain, cross country, mogul, freeskiing and snowboarding teams.

The organization was named USSA Club of the year in 1999 and has been given USOC Olympic and Paralympic Training Site designation for all disciplines.