CIF officials name Mike West to succeed Rob Wigod as next commissioner

Mike West begins as the new CIF commissioner in July. (Photo courtesy CIF-SS).

Mike West, currently Principal at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, has been named the CIF Southern Section’s 10th commissioner of Athletics, the CIF Executive Committee announced in a release Thursday.

West replaces retiring Commissioner Rob Wigod, and will begin his tenure as Commissioner on Wednesday, July 5, officials said. Wigod will retire at the end of the school year.

“To be selected as the 10th Commissioner of the CIF Southern Section is both a personal and professional dream come true,” said West. “I would like to thank all members of the CIF Southern Section
Executive Committe led by President Jim Perry for their belief in me to fill such an important role.

“I also need to thank Commissioner Rob Wigod for his leadership, his mentorship, and his friendship
over the last 20 plus years. He has set a high bar for anyone in this position to attain and I promise to do my best to meet that level of excellence in leading the CIF Southern Section.”

CIF-SS Council President Jim Perry led the search for Wigod’s replacement.

“The Executive Committee is extremely proud and happy to have chosen such an extraordinary educator and leader to guide the CIF-SS into the future,” Perry said.

“He will do an outstanding job leading our organization forward and I pledge to help and support
him in every way possible,” added Wigod.

West currently serves on the State CIF Sports Medicine Advisory Committee where he began his tenure  in 2013. In 2018, West was elected as President Elect of the CIF Southern Section Executive Committee and then served his term as President of the Executive Committee during the pandemic years of 2020-2022.

“I truly want to focus on the individual student experience which encompasses excellent coaching,  excellent officiating, proper medical care, sportsmanship and quality playoff championship experiences,”  said West. “I look forward to serving our member schools and their student athletes to the best of my  ability.”