Michael Krueger’s path to becoming CHSAA commissioner started four decades ago in a Grand Junction gym.

In the late 1980s, on the college campus of Mesa State, Krueger joined the basketball team as a volunteer student assistant coach. He folded towels. Passed out water. Held the padded bag in practice to beat up on post players. The lesson?

“Never be afraid to do whatever it takes to make the team successful,” Krueger said.

Mesa State basketball legend Paul Cain (1986-90) left the program as its all-time leading scorer and rebounder. He found a dedicated training partner in Krueger.

“I went to practice early and stayed late. He was always willing to work with me, rebound and various things that I needed,” said Cain, now the athletic director for Mesa County Valley School District 51. “He was a learner of the game. That’s what made him successful now.”

Krueger is far removed from his college days on the basketball court. However, that experience in servant leadership has carried him through a long career in sports. Krueger assumed his CHSAA commissioner role on July 1 (replacing Rhonda Blanford-Green) after spending nearly 30 years in Colorado high school athletics, either as a coach or administrator, plus a short stint with USA Football.

Krueger, 54, now aims to unite CHSAA membership in a time of significant transition. The pandemic led to a reported $500,000 budget shortfall in 2021. Rural schools mulled the idea of splitting with CHSAA to start their own athletic association. There is a looming shortage of game officials, growing debate over transfer policies, and school classifications must also be addressed.

Translation: Krueger has been especially busy over his first month on the job.

“One of the things that I’ve learned is that you manage things and you lead people,” said Krueger, a Denver-area native. “You need to do your very best to empower and to make sure the talented people around you can be as successful as possible. When you’re in this chair, there are going to be hard decisions that make it to your desk. Decisions that are going to ruffle feathers sometimes. That all comes with the territory.”

Krueger’s greatest asset might be his ability to empathize with coaches and administrators from the smallest towns to the biggest cities in Colorado.

In the early 2000s, at 3A Palisade High School outside Grand Junction, Krueger was the head coach all at once for baseball, softball and boys basketball. He later spent eight years as Palisade’s athletic director before leaving in 2014 to become the district AD for Aurora Public Schools. Krueger is also the parent of two children who played high school sports.

“We’ve had a lot of talks over the years on how to handle situations and how to continue to grow as a coach,” Palisade volleyball coach Wendy MacAskill said. “I really appreciate his mentorship and leadership style. He really fostered a culture of trust and teamwork. … In his position as commissioner, he has been in the shoes of all the people that he represents. I think that’s an amazing person to be leading the charge.”

Krueger is a proven leader outside of the sports realm, too.

He served as a Palisade elected official — trustee and mayor pro tempore (2006-12) — and led efforts to establish a now popular annual Palisade bluegrass festival. He played a key role at USA Football over four years, spearheading the development of a new youth learning model that encourages an individualized approach with modified playing options.

“He was really well-liked and a valued member of our team,” USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck said. “That expansion of entry points into football has garnered a very positive reaction and openness to looking at football again, which was the primary goal.”

Krueger will meet with hundreds of athletic directors from across Colorado early next week at Empower Field for the All-School Summit. The in-person event will provide a formal introduction to the new CHSAA commissioner. Krueger is embracing the opportunity with an open mind.

“Let’s think big. We have some great ideas,” Krueger said. “But we also need to stop and listen to the membership, too. Make sure that everybody is on board. … You don’t always have the answer. It’s OK to admit that. We’re going to be really intentional about helping the membership reconnect.”