Beverly Hills Unified School District Appoints New Athletic Leaders

Beverly Hills Unified School District athletic facilities fostering community engagement.

News Summary

The Beverly Hills Unified School District’s Board of Education has appointed Steve Lawson as Director of Athletics and Devon Saxon as Assistant Director of Athletics. These appointments aim to improve athletic facility management and programming for students and the community. Lawson brings extensive coaching experience and a commendable athletic background, while Saxon is recognized for his successful leadership in cheerleading. Both leaders are expected to enhance the district’s athletic programs and provide strategic direction to foster student engagement in sports.

Beverly Hills, CA – On June 10, the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Board of Education unanimously approved new leadership appointments for the district’s athletic department. Steve Lawson will serve as the Director of Athletics and Joint Powers Agreement (JPA), while Devon Saxon has been appointed as the Assistant Director of Athletics and JPA.

The decision to appoint Lawson and Saxon comes at a pivotal time for the district, as their roles are designed to enhance the management of the shared use and scheduling of athletic facilities between BHUSD and the city of Beverly Hills. This collaboration aims to improve access, safety, and programming for both students and the broader community, ensuring a cohesive approach to athletic development.

Steve Lawson brings extensive experience to the role. He is a former U.S. Army soldier with several decades of coaching and athletic administration under his belt. His achievements in the realm of athletics include being a U.S. Open champion, a bronze medalist at the Pan American Games, and a silver medalist at the Olympic Festival. Lawson’s previous tenure as the head wrestling coach at El Dorado High School lasted over 27 years, during which he guided his teams to numerous league and CIF titles, as well as coaching 18 individual CIF Champions, including a California State Champion. Furthermore, Lawson is the founder and director of the State of California Wrestling Alliance for Youth (SCWAY), which supports over 2,800 athletes across 75 clubs, with a focus on youth development, athletic safety, and coach training.

Dr. Alex Cherniss, the Superintendent of BHUSD, highlighted Lawson’s remarkable background and emphasized his proven leadership capabilities, which are expected to significantly elevate the athletics program within the district.

Devon Saxon, the newly appointed assistant director, also comes with a distinguished track record in the world of cheerleading. He has successfully led his cheer program at Birmingham Community Charter High School, securing six CIF-LA City Division I titles as well as two CIF State runner-up finishes. Saxon’s efforts have earned him recognition as the 2024 California Coaches Association Cheerleading Coach of the Year. His role as a CIF-LA Cheerleading co-coordinator involves overseeing logistics and competitions for over 80 school teams, showcasing his organizational skills and commitment to fostering cheerleading programs.

In addition to his coaching expertise, Saxon possesses experience in education, school operations, and hospitality leadership, aligning well with the athletic department’s focus on equity and enhancing the overall student experience in athletics.

The new appointments come as part of a broader discussion at the June 10 Board meeting, where various issues were addressed, including security costs related to ongoing construction projects and policy considerations regarding administrator attendance at parent-teacher conferences. More detailed coverage of these topics will be available in the Courier’s June 20 issue.

The BHUSD board has expressed firm confidence in Lawson and Saxon’s abilities to lead and innovate within the athletic department, indicating their appointments are both strategic and timely for the district’s future.