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www.HigherEdAthletics.com. Nathan Christensen joins HEA to discuss several topics, including his journey to the role, how he specifically prepared for the interview process at ISU, and the unique timing of stepping in alongside new university president, Dr. Mike Godard. Interesting tidbit for those that will interview with a search firm - Christensen was asked in two different AD searches about who he hangs out with in the industry at conferences, etc. Relationships matter. Christensen discusses the strategies he's been bringing to Terre Haute in the past year, the strength of ISU's consistent and committed athletic administrators (60ish years at ISU among three top administrators) and how that foundation supports a new era of leadership. We also dive into pressing topics in college athletics—from the emotional impact of the transfer portal on mid-major programs like ISU's men's basketball team, to ISU's decisions and strategies with financial decisions, like life after the expected NCAA House settlement. He ends the conversation with three areas he thinks are important for aspiring athletic directors: being a visionary...having emotional intelligence...and a strong political IQ.0:00 Introduction1:40 Preparing for the ISU AD Search7:45 Strategies he thought could work at ISU early on11:00 Being President Godard's first hire and working together on a big agenda15:30 Consistency of ISU Athletic Administration21:20 Education level of donors/fans after Men's Basketball complete roster overhaul in 202426:40 Explaining the Investor Society to help increase fundraising efforts28:40 ISU's plans for the House Settlement33:00 Three pieces of advice for aspiring ADs (Visionary, Emotional Intelligence, Political IQ)

Matt Roan was announced as the AD at James Madison University in April 2024 after previously serving as AD at both Eastern Kentucky (EKU) and Nicholls State. He was the youngest AD in the country at Nicholls State and talks about how those early days prepared him for his role today. The conversation turns to how ADs can interact with a new incoming president that didn't hire them, and how to prepare to interact with other cabinet members. Roan gives his opinion on how law school helps ADs, leaning on his own experience. Roan and Smith share their thoughts on the athletic department organizational structures moving forward, and discuss trends in AD hires. 0:00 Introduction 0:20 Strategic Changes to Ticket & Revenue Models 5:10 Early Experiences as a Young AD 9:45 The Decision to Leave EKU for JMU 12:10 Strategies to Keep the Dukes at the Top 17:55 Advice for Working with New Presidents that didn't Hire You 22:25 Being a Good Cabinet Member as an AD 26:15 Trends in AD Hires and Law School Article 31:20 Future Organizational Structures of Athletic Departments 35:00 Researching Industry Problems

Dr. Sharon Gaber is the fifth chancellor at UNC Charlotte and is the latest campus CEO to join Higher Ed Athletics for a wide-ranging conversation. The talk begins with Chancellor Gaber explaining the strategic plan that has helped Charlotte inch closer to its goal of being a R1 research university. The conversation turns to cabinet leadership and Dr. Gaber gives advice to aspirational athletic directors that may not fully understand what it means to be the athletic director on a university-wide cabinet. Dr. Gaber shares details on the $70 million football stadium renovation as part of the Evergreen Athletics Facility Master Vision. She also shares how the original plan of phase one was a $60 million renovation until it was decided to add $10 million in institution trust funding to add a cafeteria. Smith asks Chancellor Gaber, who as an academic is an expert in city and regional planning, if they are preparing themselves to join a power conference one day. The conversation quickly turns to a back-and-forth about what the new CFP could mean for Group of Five institutions, too. Dr. Gaber agrees that a modern athletic director role is similar to that of a college president/chancellor, and gives advice to those in or preparing for the modern AD position. The conversation ends with parting advice for aspirational athletic directors from the perspective of a university chancellor and what characteristics are most important. See a full transcript on my website: https://higheredathletics.com/2024/11/19/unc-charlotte-chancellor-sharon-gaber/ 0:00 Introduction 0:20 Nearing R1 Research Status 4:20 Strategic Plan "What's Next" 7:56 Normative Career Pattern of a University Chancellor 13:23 Describing Leadership Style for the Chancellor's Cabinet 16:07 How can an aspirational AD ready themselves to be a good Cabinet member? 25:55 $70 million Stadium Renovation 31:43 Preparing for Power Conference? 34:38 Thoughts on the CFP as a Group of 5 35:36 Why a Modern AD is similar to Presidents/Chancellors 40:06 Parting Advice for Aspirational ADs from Chancellor Gaber

Many people in athletics are aware that Tarleton State has reclassified recently from D2 to D1-FCS with aspirations to eventually join the FBS ranks as the institution grows. But I have always been more interested in learning about Tarleton State the institution and behind-the-scenes of President Hurley's leadership style. This conversation is packed with wisdom that can be applied to either the presidency or the AD chair. The conversation begins with an institution profile and explaining the new projects going on at Tarleton, including a new convocation center (Arena). We talked about the unique role of the First Lady of Tarleton State, Kindall Hurley. From there the conversation turns to how Dr. Hurley leads his cabinet and he provides advice on how to prepare to eventually serve on a President's Cabinet for those aspirational ADs. President Hurley talks about how he and Parker Executive Search identified Steve Uryasz as the next AD of the Texans. I ask Dr. Hurley if he agrees with me that the "Modern AD" is more like the president's job than ever before. We briefly talk about the reclassification from D2 to D1 and the difficult decisions that are ahead for future school leaders in both divisions. As the Chief of Staff position continues to evolve in college athletics, I was sure to ask President Hurley about his own Chief of Staff, Dr. Credence Baker, to better understand the role and how much of an institutional expert the person needs to become to excel in the role. 0:00 Institutional Profile 6:05 Discussing New Arena & Growth 8:50 First Lady of Tarleton State 12:57 Explain your Cabinet Leadership Style & One-on-Ones with the Vice Presidents 17:49 Leading the Cabinet & Advice for Newcomers to a President's Cabinet 21:23 Behind-the-Scenes of the Recent AD Search 26:43 The New Modern AD Approach. Similar to a President's Job? 33:33 The Hardest Part of NCAA Reclassification from D2 to D1 40:14 The Future of D2 Membership & Difficult D1 Decisions 44:19 Explaining the Chief of Staff Position & Necessary Skillset 50:07 Parting Advice for Aspirational ADs 56:51 Concluding Thoughts

Jeff Mitchell was named the AD at Ball State in February 2023 and has the Cardinals flying in the right direction. Mitchell starts with an explanation of how he evaluates a football game himself and then with his team. He then gives some advice to aspiring ADs on how to prepare and what to expect in joining a president's cabinet. Smith asks how far out an AD can realistically look and prepare for without getting distracted by what needs dealt with in the day-to-day changes. Mitchell talks about his communication strategy with BSU stakeholders by joining and giving updates on the athletic department's weekly podcast, "This Week In Ball State Sports." The conversation turns to an Indiana-specific question (Travis resides in Indianapolis) about how BSU can find pockets of new fans in a state that loves their college and professional sports teams. Mitchell has both a JD and MBA, which he feels he uses every day in the job, and Smith uses it as another Public Service Announcement advocating for lifelong learning and encourages listeners to take some classes or a new degree if their institution offers tuition benefits for employees. Finally, Mitchell shares the behind-the-scenes details of how he morphed into Charlie the Cardinal mascot for a promotional video. See it here: https://youtu.be/6VIlNwTsSIY?si=EZj8R9n4G9subVFU 0:00 Introduction 0:50 Evaluating Football Game Days 5:00 Institutional Profile 6:30 Preparing to Join a President's Cabinet 12:50 Early Evaluations as an Incoming AD 17:55 Looking Too Far Ahead in College Athletics 21:55 Communication Strategy with Weekly BSU Athletics Podcast 27:25 Finding New Pockets of Fans in Sports-Crazed Indiana 32:35 JD + MBA = AD 40:45 Charlie the Cardinal or Jeff the AD?

Blair joined HEA for a wide ranging conversation about Toledo athletics and his philosophy as a "modern athletic director." Recorded the morning after the season/home opening football game, Blair discusses game day improvements and how him and his team solicit feedback and think critically about their game day management, including in-game note-taking, fan surveys and a fan council. He emphasized the importance of creative thinking and community engagement, highlighting initiatives like the dunk tank and flyover. Blair shared insights on Toledo's Rise Together strategic plan, drawing from his experience at Washington State. The conversation includes the importance of collaboration with media members like the Toledo Blade help tell the story of the Rockets to the Toledo community. Smith asks about any trends spotted in recent AD turnover and whether we will see more sitting ADs at lower sub-divisions move into Power Four deputy positions in the future. Smith also shares how Blair's approach to the position seems similar to that of a university president/chancellor, and Blair acknowledges that the role is probably just the new requirements of a modern day athletic director. Access video + full transcript here: https://higheredathletics.com/2024/09/02/rocket-talk-with-toledo-vp-ad-bryan-blair/ 0:20 Institutional Profile 3:41 Football Game Day Improvements 8:12 Evaluation Process During/After Games 11:16 Secret Fan Research 15:28 Protocol Checks and Balances for Large Donations 19:10 Working Relationship with the Toledo Blade for Storytelling 25:47 Strategic Planning and How His Mind Operates 35:19 The Modern Day Athletic Director Operates like a President 39:25 Trends in AD Hires and Backgrounds 42:59 Idea Sharing/Stealing in College Athletics 46:45 What Skill or Area is Blair Trying to Improve On 49:53 Book and Podcast Recommendations (Smith and Blair)

Listen to this history lesson on American higher education with Dr. Michael Benson, the president of Coastal Carolina University and author of a biography about Daniel Coit Gilman, a pioneer in higher ed as the 1st president of Johns Hopkins University. Benson and I focus on how the then presidents of Cornell, Harvard and Michigan helped the trustees of JHU write the job description of the presidency that led to the hiring of Gilman. The discussion didn't stick only to history, but instead we used the past to talk about present day higher education across the country and certainly at Coastal Carolina. Benson explains why he thinks writing is an important skill and how writing this book changed him as a university president. 00:20 Trustees Attempt to Define the JHU President Job Description 12:20 Public Lectures for the Baltimore Community 16:48 Coastal Carolina's Presidential Signature Series 19:10 Older Generation Leaders Stepping Aside for Young Leaders 23:58 How Writing the Book Changed Benson as a College President Watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/F9BewhbRVrw

President Benson spoke with me about several changes within the Chants athletic department, including why former AD Matt Hogue wanted to switch roles at the university. Benson described his quick and quiet search process with the help of Joe Moglia and former Mizzou AD Mike Alden that ultimately landed them new AD Chance Miller. Benson talked about the newly announced convocation center/arena and why the penny sales tax in South Carolina is so useful for new projects like this, but also why being in a wetland area raises the price tag and slows down the build. We both share our thoughts on what prospective ADs should consider in whether to apply for a job and how to research a place before the interview with a president. The conversation ends with a fun discussion on whether President Benson will be playing as the Chants in dynasty mode of the newly released NCAA Football video game, and what it can do for a university in trying to attract people to campus. Access Video + Transcript: https://higheredathletics.com/2024/07/17/president-of-the-chanticleers-michael-benson-talks-chants-athletics-video-transcript/ 00:09 Behind Former AD Matt Hogue's Departure & Search Process Leading to Chance Miller 04:12 Details & Funding Source Behind New Convocation Center/Arena 08:13 The Approval Steps for New Convocation Center/Arena 11:40 How Presidents Monitor Government & Legal Changes in College Athletics 14:22 Advice for Evaluating AD Jobs & Preparing for Interviewing with Presidents 19:15 Will President Benson Be Playing NCAA Football Video Game in Dynasty Mode as the Chants? 20:20 The Opportunity for Institutional Visibility from NCAA Football Video Game

Luke Bosso is entering year two of his tenure as AD of the Jaguars at a transformational time for the university. Formerly IUPUI, the institution officially changed to IU Indianapolis as of July 1, 2024. The athletic department has been hard at work for the launch of the IU Indy Jaguars for over two years since the breakaway between Indiana and Purdue Universities was announced. Behind the scenes of Bosso's tenure has already included hiring a new men's basketball coach and identifying USA Track & Field as a partner for a new 4,500-seat on-campus arena. Bosso has dramatically increased fundraising and the number of corporate sponsors, too. Smith, an IU Indianapolis alumnus and current IU employee/doc student, offers a good back-and-forth with Bosso as they look ahead at the future of the IU Indianapolis Jaguars. Watch the Video: https://higheredathletics.com/2024/06/30/iu-indianapolis-athletic-director-luke-bosso-video/ 0:15 IUPUI is now IU Indianapolis - What it means for Athletics 6:45 The definition of a non-traditional AD hire - Why it made sense 9:15 What IU President told him he needed to focus on 13:10 Learning curve as a new AD and evaluating the department 16:55 Discussing the newly announced 4,500-seat on-campus arena 24:02 Evaluating men's basketball leading up to coaching change 28:00 Conducting his first big coaching hire 37:43 Thoughts heading into IU Indy Jaguars era and the new academic year

Donde Plowman became the chancellor at UT-Knoxville in 2019 and will be known to the HEA audience as the person that hired Danny White to help turnaround the athletic department. Plowman identifies proudly as a builder and an organizational scientist. This interview focuses on changes she made, why she thinks Danny White was able to get buy-in with Vols fans, and shares several internal/external communication and change management techniques for new leaders. 1:20 - For those that don't understand the role of a chancellor or president, what are some of the things you deal with in managing such a large institution? 3:05 - Can you explain the composition (people) and the purpose of the UTK Campus Advisory Board? 6:05 - How did the Peyton Manning and UT relationship evolve into a professor of practice position? Any details on what he has or will be doing in this role? 11:05 - Everyone in athletics understands how Danny White helped lead the transformation of the athletic department at UCF but I think there was some skepticism on whether he could recreate it at UT. It sure seems like the department is thriving under his leadership. Thoughts on why he was able to get the buy-in from folks in Knoxville? 16:15 - You are described as an organizational scientist with research that includes the topics of leadership, change management, and strategic decision-making. When you arrived at UT as the chancellor in 2019, or even during the interview process, what and how did you examine what needed to change? 25:40 - What would you recommend to someone new to a leadership position, like a new athletic director, and how they can come in and analyze the place to know what needs changed? 30:00 - What does a Chancellor Plowman-led Cabinet meeting look like and how often do you all meet as a group and/or individually? 35:15 - What do you think about my independent study on tying academic program review to athletic department evaluations?

Auburn AD John Cohen hit the ground running after being named to the position in October 2022. Previously, Cohen was the AD at SEC foe Mississippi State. He talks about his mentors in current SEC ADs Greg Byrne and Mitch Barnhart and how they helped shape him into an AD while still being a baseball coach. Cohen shares what a head coach experience brings to the AD chair and whether the changes in college athletics will result in more coaches looking to administration roles. Cohen talks extensively about how he has put together his senior leadership team at Auburn and what he looks for in a senior associate AD caliber position. Cohen rounds out the conversation talking about the current events in college athletics, including how he makes a decision and filters information, and what current and future ADs should know about baseball playoffs and conference realignment effects as he rolls off the D1 Baseball Committee. 1. Mentors. Can you share what you learned from being around Greg Byrne and Mitch Barnhart as a coach or administrator that helped you realize your AD potential? 2. Coaching Background. What are some specific ways you being a successful baseball coach helped you have a shorter learning curve to the AD position? 3. Coach to AD Chair. AD positions used to primarily be the next chapter for a coach. With the demands placed on coaches to continuously recruit 24/7, will we see coaches get into administration again? 4. Evaluating Head Coaches. How do you like to hire and evaluate head coaches? 5. Navigating Change. How are ADs able to navigate so many constant changes and uncertainties these last several years and looking ahead to the next 10+ years? Is there reliable information getting to you or is it trying to read or listen and determine what's real or not? 6. Updating Presidents. What is it like trying to keep a president updated on everything right now? 7. Decision-Making Process. Lots of decisions to be made as an AD of such a high-profile branded school like Auburn. What is your process for a major decision? 8. Senior Administration Team. You have made several additions and reappointments within your senior leadership team since arriving at Auburn. How did you go about identifying the needs and finding the correct people to plug into those important positions? 9. Senior Associate ADs. What does a typical senior administration meeting look like for you? 10. Baseball Playoff Issues. What should current or future ADs understand about college baseball playoff issues in evaluation and seeding teams? 11. Realignment Effects on Baseball. Will conference realignment we've seen in 2023 have any effect on college baseball and the tournament? 12. Thoughts on the Future. What will college athletics look like at this level 10 or 20 years from now?

Travis: "If you are invited to join an FBS conference, what would the institution have to consider if you're fielding those offers?" Mario: "The institution would probably have to consider how fast I could get there to sign the paperwork." From the HEA archives in November 2021 with timeless insights. Mario Moccia is an alumnus and former standout baseball player at New Mexico State where he now serves as Athletic Director. Moccia starts by sharing how he took a different path to the AD chair than former Mizzou colleagues Ross Bjork (Texas A&M AD) and Chris Del Conte (Texas AD) by heading to an FCS school before arriving in Las Cruces. NMSU recently announced their transition from the WAC to Conference USA in all sports. This interview was recorded in the summer before conference realignment and I asked Moccia about the long-term plan for their independent football program and the positioning of the WAC, which will help the change make sense. He did say Conference USA and Mountain West were the only two likely FBS conferences. Moccia also shares all the details on their unique approach to consumable product licensing, now boasting their own beer, wine, whiskey, tequila, coffee, and even a candle. This has been an incredible (and fun) revenue generator for NMSU athletics and has other ADs wanting in on the idea. And if you've ever wondered how a football schedule is created for an independent, Moccia talks about their strategy that they probably won't miss once they begin conference play in their new conference. 0:10 AD Chair as an Alumnus 3:20 Differences in AD Jobs at Different D1 Levels 7:00 Dealing with Indirect Financial Implications in NIL for the Athletic Dept 13:50 Long-Term Strategy for NMSU Football 19:35 Scheduling Decisions of an Independent Football Program 24:15 College Football Playoff Expansion Changes to Scheduling Money Games 28:40 Innovating Licensed Consumable Products 37:40 Taste Test Event for Salsa as the Land Grant Institution 45:55 Other Potential Revenue Ideas for College Athletics 47:30 The Eventual Future of Sponsored Uniform Patches

From the HEA archives in May 2021 with timeless insights. Arizona State University as an institution is known for innovation and doing things differently. As you'll discover in this interview, the athletic department has embraced that culture of innovation under President Crow and Vice President/Athletic Director Ray Anderson. This episode is packed with campus collaborations, such as with the ASU Global Sport Institute, led by his former Stanford football teammate and agent Kenneth Shropshire, and using experiences outside of college athletics and bringing them in to help him and the athletic department prepare for the changes ahead in college athletics. Anderson is also a professor in the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU and shares why he continues to teach class. 0:45 NFL Experience Helping in the AD Chair 2:25 Culture of Innovation at ASU 4:48 Athletic Facility Priorities 7:06 Local Resistance to ASU Changes 9:25 Adding Instead of Dropping Sports 12:52 Why You Signed Contract Extension 16:07 Agent Experience Helping Understand Changes 18:30 Professor of Law 22:05 ASU Global Sport Institute Partnership 26:36 AD Advice for Embracing Industry Changes

Jeramiah Dickey is the next guest on Higher Ed Athletics to talk about his rise to the AD position at Boise State and the behind-the-scenes work for the transformational changes the Broncos are experiencing. Intentionality is the theme I was left with after speaking with Dickey before, during and after the interview. Jeramiah explains how he learned from great ADs like Mack Rhoades, Lisa Campos and Hunter Yurachek along the way through observational learning and taking situational mental notes. He also believes strongly that you can learn things in any job to become a better AD one day, including learning from your donors that run businesses. Dickey explains the vision for their "What's Next" initiative and the steps being taken at the institutional and state level to keep building and innovating at Boise State. Dickey ends the talk by explaining his thinking about acknowledging history without being constrained by it, something I think will be important for the up-and-coming generation of athletic directors. 0:00 Introduction 0:20 Communication Style w/ BSU's President & Her Leadership Team 8:30 Getting Extra Experiences on the way to Becoming an AD 15:30 Travis Shares Journaling Hack for Professional Development 16:45 Deploying an Unbelievable Memory for Observations and Mental Notes 27:35 Behind the Scenes for the "What's Next" Initiative and Infrastructure Plan 40:10 Explaining the Approval Process of State-Funded Athletic Facility Projects 48:30 Acknowledging History but Not Continuing to Live in it

Former Racer starting quarterback Nico Yantko is now leading the Murray State athletic department. Yantko begins the conversation talking about his initial preparation for the interview and first days on the job. The conversation continues to speak heavily to his vision and decision-making. Yantko talks about the need to be quick but not in a hurry when making decisions as a new AD even when you want to do so much from day one. The switch to the MVC and MVFC is discussed as well as the recently announced presenting sponsor for women's basketball that will make admission free to the community. Yantko ends the conversation with a passionate discussion about the Dennis Jackson Leadership Program and how the department looks to support Racer student-athletes for long-term growth. 0:00: Introduction 5:40: Initial Strategy and List of Priorities During Interview and Early On The Job 11:10 Approach To Coming To A Decision 13:36 Having A Close Group Of Confidants 16:10 Realities Of The Job And How They Change The Vision 18:30 Moving Into The AD Chair From The Deputy Position 23:25 Transitioning Into The Valley 28:12 Presenting Sponsor Announcement for Women's Basketball Free Admission 32:30 Dennis Jackson Leadership Program And Recruiting To Retirement

The first ever commissioner on Higher Ed Athletics, Ohio Valley Conference's Beth DeBauche joined the show for a wide-ranging conversation. DeBauche is a new NCAA Board of Governor member and shares her thoughts on balancing her past NCAA national office experience and tradition with the need to address the future of college athletics. She shares the role of a conference commissioner for those that may strive to be ADs one day, and then talks about working directly with presidents and chancellors. DeBauche tells the story and vision behind the Football partnership between the OVC and the Big South, including how it's more than a scheduling alliance. And of course the conversation can't end without a talk about conference realignment and strategic positioning as the OVC continues looking to expand. DeBauche describes the approach with Lindenwood who has 30+ sports as they joined the OVC as its regular conference.

The first ever commissioner on Higher Ed Athletics, Ohio Valley Conference's Beth DeBauche joined the show for a wide-ranging conversation. DeBauche is a new NCAA Board of Governor member and shares her thoughts on balancing her past NCAA national office experience and tradition with the need to address the future of college athletics. She shares the role of a conference commissioner for those that may strive to be ADs one day, and then talks about working directly with presidents and chancellors. DeBauche tells the story and vision behind the Football partnership between the OVC and the Big South, including how it's more than a scheduling alliance. And of course the conversation can't end without a talk about conference realignment and strategic positioning as the OVC continues looking to expand. DeBauche describes the approach with Lindenwood who has 30+ sports as they joined the OVC as its regular conference.

Charles Guthrie has been leading Akron through a rebrand and joined the HEA podcast to talk about going to the Block "A" and that conversation spills into more insight into his approach to leadership as an executive. Guthrie gives his take on the pros and cons of guarantee money games in Football and whether things will change with the expansion of the College Football Playoff. With two AD Chair openings in the MAC at the time of this recording, Guthrie talks about what it's like working inside the MAC with their commissioner and its fellow ADs. We closed out the conversation talking about the transformation committee work and whether things become more challenging to operate an athletic department with so much ongoing uncertainty.

Stags VP for Athletics Paul Schlickmann is latest guest on the Higher Ed Athletics podcast. Schlickmann starts the conversation about his new VP appointment over the summer and explains what the new intention of the role is for him from the president. Schlickmann talks in detail about their brand new on-campus arena that is wrapping up construction ahead of this basketball season. The conversation then turns nationally about just rolling off of the D1 Council after a term that was full of incredible challenges and changes to the NCAA governance model. The conversation ends talking about how Schlickmann filters the curated industry news to stay knowledgeable in the local and national conversations about the future of college athletics as we address the challenges ahead in the next 5 to 10 years. Visit www.HigherEdAthletics.com to see what HEA is up to.

I hit the road to Dayton to visit with Wright State AD Bob Grant. We hit several topics, beginning with what keeps him excited about WSU after all these years leading his alma mater. The conversation turns to how WSU continues to hit above its weight in a busy D1 state of Ohio. As a self-described "least connected AD," I asked Grant if the industry noise causes him to lose focus of the day-to-day duties of the job. And at the same time, I ask how do leaders at Non-FB D1 schools like WSU help make sure their voice is heard with the Transformation Committee and other changes (it really can't). Grant shares his thoughts on the university hiring an outside firm to do an athletic department assessment on whether to stay at D1 or reclassify to D2 or D3. He then discusses in detail the decision to drop and add sports and whether they were concerned about dropping below the D1 minimum sport threshold without yet receiving a waiver. And, no, WSU hasn't been considering adding Football. I ask what problem needs solved in the next 5-10 year if the industry doesn't get ahead of it now. Grant ends the conversation with advice for administrators and how to control their stress levels with the job.

Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard is next up on Higher Ed Athletics to discuss a wide-range of topics. The conversation begins with his video communication strategy to fans, including one with President Wintersteen to calm the fan base after the shock of Texas and Oklahoma leaving the Big 12. He discusses the planning process for a university-wide entertainment district and how to prepare to present projects in front of the Board of Trustees. Pollard cites a safety concern as the reason to relocate its student section this upcoming season and what they did to accommodate season ticket holders in the new area. We discuss whether NIL Collectives will receive the fundraising dollars traditionally flowing into athletic departments. The conversation continues with thoughts on several changes, including the four additions to the Big 12 and retirements of both Commissioner Bowlsby and NCAA President Emmert, and what those jobs will look like for the new leaders chosen. Visit www.HigherEdAthletics.com to learn more about the HEA Research services, including supporter/non-supporter, season ticket holder, brand awareness and embedded fan studies. And HEA is going to hit the road this season for in-person interviews. Visit HEA Official Visit on the site to learn more and reach out if you are interested in hosting Travis Smith to campus. Follow @TravisHEA on Twitter.

Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne kicks off season 4 of the Higher Ed Athletics podcast. Greg starts off talking about his experience growing up in Eugene, OR and other college towns as the son of an AD. He talks about what college sports was like from his perspective growing up and how that has changed from the many issues the industry is going through today. I ask him straight up whether he gets sick of people questioning his good intentions and stated passion for all of college athletics and not just football and basketball. We continue by talking about the Transformation Committee and the future responsibility for conference offices. Byrne ends the conversation talking about Commissioner Sankey's leadership in the SEC. Check out 20 more minutes with Greg Byrne by visiting www.HigherEdAthletics.com as the conversation continues. We talk Paul Finebaum's impact on the SEC and the backstory of Mississippi State AD John Cohen. Then Greg shares advice for those working in the industry and his advice for preparing to deliver a presentation in front of a Board of Trustees. Check out my new HEA research services: Donor Study. Season Ticket Holder Study. Embedded Fan Observation Study. https://higheredathletics.com/qualitative-research/ 0:43 What was it like going to High School in Eugene, OR while your dad was Oregon's AD? 4:46 Athletic Director Career Report in Elementary School 7:48 Thoughts on Then & Now of college sports 13:35 Do you ever get sick of people not believing you care about anything other than Football and Basketball? 17:44 Is it a certainty at this point that conferences will take on more governance responsibility? 23:15 Commissioner Greg Sankey's brilliant stewardship of the SEC 27:40 What Paul Finebaum has done for the SEC 31:40 The backstory of Mississippi State AD John Cohen 35:50 Thoughts on those wanting to be an AD or currently working in College Athletics 40:35 Preparing for a presentation to the Board of Trustees and tips on public speaking

Randale Richmond is about to start his second year leading the Golden Flashes of Kent State University. This episode begins with the detailed story about how he researched the job and prepared for the interview. We talk about whether one year in if the job is what he expected it to be like. The conversation turns to cover topics like the Transfer Portal and how athletic directors will evaluate coaches with the increase in transfer activity. Richmond, who came up through the compliance ranks, shares his thoughts about the Transformation Committee and overall direction in governing college athletics. Richmond wraps up the conversation by previewing the 2022-2023 academic year in a way that new or future athletic directors will find useful in making the jump from year one to year two.

Michael Kelly from University of South Florida joined Higher Ed Athletics. The conversation begins with a question about whether giving levels and brand power at younger FBS institutions will ever catch up with the older institutions. Kelly shares the advantage that younger institutions like USF have right now in trying to be creative with decision-making. Kelly hosts the Bull Speed Ahead podcast and explains the reason behind the communication strategy for his fans. Particularly interesting since this show was created from being in a higher education doctorate program, Travis asks why it's been so important for Michael to teach and guest lecture at several institutions throughout his career. The conversation turns to how athletic leaders can leverage the brainpower on college campus ecosystems to help solve challenges in college athletics. Kelly shares how to decide whether advice is good or not in a decision-making process. Before closing with each sharing book recommendations, Travis asks Kelly to share a failure or challenge he has faced in his career: Ships in Jacksonville for the Super Bowl (Don't miss this story).

Recorded in October 2021, this is the first President & AD combination episode of the Higher Ed Athletics podcast. Joined by Grambling State University's President Rick Gallot Jr and Vice President Dr. Trayvean Scott, we had a wide-ranging conversation. President Gallot explains why he chose Dr. Scott to serve as not just the Athletic Director, but also becoming the first VP of Intercollegiate Athletics. Dr. Scott explains why he decided to pursue a PhD and what it was like moving from a Deputy role at Southern to the VP position at Grambling. Before becoming a university president, Gallot was a state representative and state senator and he shares how those relationships help the institution. To nerd out with me on APR, I ask Dr. Scott his thinking on what should happen with APR and he shares his philosophy and concerns on APR as it relates to NIL and transfer portal potentially negatively impacting top college athletes at HBCUs. The conversation turns to a good discussion on the unique relationships a university system can provide, especially when those system institutions are in different athletic conferences. President Gallot, when asked about how difficult it is to make decisions on college athletics with so much uncertainty, closes the conversation by explaining why it is in Grambling's historical nature to operate in challenging situations and makes the case as to why the more resourced institutions in the NCAA will be the ones at the disadvantage. 0:30 Institutional & Athletic Department Profiles 6:30 What President Gallot Saw in Hiring Dr. Scott as VP/AD 14:10 Why Dr. Scott Pursued the PhD to Complement AD Role 19:00 Going from Southern Deputy to Grambling State VP/AD 21:50 President Gallot's Experience as a State Senator/Representative Before Presidency 25:50 If Not for College Athletics, Would Presidents Talk to Each Other as Much? 29:00 How Do We Adjust APR for NIL, Transfer Portal if HBCUs Become Feeder for Transfer-Outs? 35:00 Institutions in University Systems & Different Conferences Collaborating on Athletics Decisions 42:22 Why President Gallot Thinks GCU is Well-Positioned for Uncertain NCAA Futures

Elliott Charles joined me last week for an hour conversation about Chicago State. Days after recording, Charles was reported as leaving the institution for a consulting opportunity. With his permission I have made this podcast available as a resource for those interested in becoming the next AD at Chicago State University. We spoke at length about his initial reactions in pursuit of the AD job and the first days in the chair. Then Charles talks about experiences the last two years leading through Covid-19 and his thoughts on the recently tabled legislation of the 21st Century Model for men's soccer after helping with the initial proposal while at Clemson. The conversation turned to the current challenges of not having a conference home and what role the president has for the athletic department in helping fulfill the institution's goals. 0:20 Institutional Profile 3:45 21st Century Model for Men's Soccer 14:35 Initial Reactions to Chicago State During Search 19:55 Creating Plan for Athletic Department 23:45 First to Cancel Sports During Covid-19 33:03 CSU President Scott Crisis Management & Legal Background 37:35 CSU President Scott's Goals & Vision for Athletics 44:00 Trying to Find a Permanent Conference 50:55 Difficulty & Consideration in Joining a Conference

DeWayne Peevy became the Vice President and Athletic Director at DePaul University in the Fall of 2020 after serving in senior administration roles at the University of Kentucky. Peevy shares an institutional profile of DePaul and then we walk back the transition from a school like Kentucky to now leading DePaul and what he learned from UK Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart in his 12 years that helped prepare him to lead his own department. Peevy shares the story of why he felt it was the right time for him to become an athletic director as a black administrator in an influential leadership position in the industry. Moving back to the vision for DePaul, Peevy talks about the benefits and challenges being a D1 athletic department in the crowded city of Chicago. As someone known for building incredible sporting events like the CBS Sports Classic, Peevy closes out the conversation talking about the future of those types of events for other sports, too, and how regular season popularity will continue to build in sports like women's basketball, softball, baseball and soccer. 01:26 Institutional Profile 04:00 Working for Mitch Barnhart 08:05 Decision to Pursue AD Job Finally 15:20 Advice for Navigating Direction & Priorities of an AD Job Opening 19:02 Investing in Human Capital Despite Having Less Resources 22:27 Co-Existing in a Crowded College Sports City (Chicago) 26:32 Creating a Major Women's Basketball Regular Season Event 30:31 How to Match Regular Season Popularity w/ Post-season Excitement in Women's Basketball, Softball, Baseball & Soccer 35:35 Day One Mentality at DePaul Athletics

Dr. Lisa Campos is the VP and Athletic Director at University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). UTSA just recently achieved Research One (R1) Carnegie classification for very high research activity. The school caught national attention this past year from football success and that is a big portion of this episode. Campos talks about playing home games off campus in the Alamo Dome and provides input on the structure of the 10-year contracts in college football. UTSA has also leveraged that football success to join the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in the latest round of conference realignment, which Campos shares her thoughts on the balance of football success and location in conference positioning. Campos has a background in student affairs and explains how she went from working in student affairs to working in college athletics and how she uses that background in her role as AD, including interacting with students on campus in that VP role. Campos also talks about her journey pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at UTEP. This episode is a nice blend of higher education and intercollegiate athletics as we talk about what Campos learned by being an employee and student in the UT system at another school (UTEP) and how that helped her in the transition to lead UTSA. Editor Note: It turns out I tested positive for COVID-19 the night of this interview so you may notice losing voice or change in tone. 0:55 Institutional Profile 2:42 Growth of City Location Athletic Brands 5:30 UT System Experience Carryover from UTEP to UTSA 7:35 Student Affairs Background Before Athletics Administration 14:02 Creating a Great Experience for ALL Students as the Vice President 16:25 Doctorate Degree 20:15 Football Off Campus Success in Alamo Dome 23:55 10 Year Football Coaching Contract Trends 28:34 Changing to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) 29:40 Experiencing Conference Realignment as a Sitting AD 32:30 Institutional Task List for Preparing to Change Conferences

Tom Burman, an alumnus of University of Wyoming, has been the institution's Athletic Director for more than 15 years and you can hear the passion he has for Wyoming throughout this entire interview. Burman talks about the advantage and challenges for revenue generation being the main sports entertainment in a state full of tough terrain to travel, and the smallest state by population in America. Burman left Wyoming earlier in his career to serve as AD at Portland State from 2000 to 2006 before returning to lead Cowboys athletics. I was curious whether leaving to be an AD somewhere else made returning to Wyoming an easier transition being AD with actual AD experience. In response, Burman shares his thoughts on some concerning trends in AD hires and the indecision surrounding what jobs to take and what titles to collect along the way. The conversation then turns to how Wyoming has possibly the coolest logo in all of college sports and Burman discusses mascot history, brand power, and using Cowboys/Cowgirls instead of some schools adding "Lady." Wyoming is one of the rare FBS institutions to get Power 5 non-conference football games at HOME, so we discussed his ability to get those contracts and what he thinks the future of football scheduling will look like for FBS schools. Burman talks about his concerns surrounding the transfer portal but acknowledges that he does understand why it exists. The conversation ends with Burman offering several pieces of advice for current and future athletic administrators on the career changes they will be faced in a changing college athletics industry. 0:17 Institutional/State of Wyoming Profile 5:28 Advantages & Challenges for Revenue Generation at UW 8:25 Coming Back to Wyoming as AD 10:30 An Industry Trend Burman Does Not Like in Power 5 AD Hires 13:30 Discussing Future Trends in Job Titles & AD Hires 18:10 History of the Coolest Logo in College Athletics 24:10 Horse and Pony Live Mascots (Pistol Pete & Cowboy Joe) 25:08 Using "Wyoming" and "Cowboys" & "Cowgirls" 30:08 Ability to Get Strong Home FB Games w/ Power 5 Schools 32:33 Future of Non-Conference FB Scheduling w/ Power 5 35:00 Industry Challenges Ahead for FBS & FCS (Compensation & Transfers) 41:00 What Keeps You Excited to Stay in the AD Chair 44:25 Parting Advice for Current/Future Administrators from Tom Burman

Mark LaBarbera, Athletic Director at Valparaiso University, recently announced his retirement at the end of the 2021-2022 academic year. LaBarbera joined Higher Ed Athletics for a deep dive on the institutional processes and behind-the-scenes decision-making in changing their nickname from the Crusaders to the Beacons amidst controversy. After discussing the nickname the conversation turns to revisiting the two previous conference realignments Valpo went through under LaBarbera's leadership and understanding why both made sense at the time. LaBarbera shares some historical details about the Pioneer Football League, which does not offer athletic scholarships, and explains why that model is successful and helpful for Valpo. LaBarbera ends the conversation talking about how tough the last two years has been and how he and other experienced athletic directors have to begin thinking about passing the torch and letting the next generation of athletic administrators have their turn. 0:30 Institutional Profile 2:23 Name Change Background & Process 10:00 Just "Valpo," & No Nickname? 11:55 Procedurally Deciding On Beacons 13:54 Determining If & When to Make a Name Change 18:40 Two Themes from Survey 20:35 The Names They Did NOT Choose 22:15 Tactical Operational Advice After Name Change 29:10 Lighthouse with Legs as Next Mascot? 33:15 Revisiting Two Previous Valpo Conference Realignments 37:40 Predicting Current Conference Realignment 40:40 Pioneer Football League History Lesson 46:35 Passing the AD Torch

Chris Clunie graduated from and played basketball at Davidson College. He starts the conversation off by sharing the thought process of taking the Athletic Director job after his initial resistance to the idea. Discussing his interview preparation, Clunie explains how he knew the place as an alum, but that he didn't yet know the job of being an AD. His prior experiences working in the NBA, most notably handling international basketball operations, the draft combine, and All-Star weekend, helped him learn how to communicate and work with so many different personalities and stakeholders. When asked about balancing different personalities in regards to coaches across an entire athletic department, Clunie shares his philosophy of instilling shared ownership with his coaches at Davidson. The conversation discusses NIL confusion and risks surrounding international college athletes and how institutions can really only educate and make an attempt to seek clarity on their behalf. Clunie sits on the senior leadership team for the president and shares how he sees it as his job to keep a pulse of different college department happenings on campus and not allow athletics to operate in a silo, but instead serve as a part of a cross-functional institution. Being a new AD at the time, Clunie talked about the benefit of having his predecessor to lean on early in his tenure, but to also know how to chart your own path as a department looking forward. It took almost 30 minutes before we talked about Steph Curry's time at Davidson. Clunie explains his quote about wanting to move from the national story flashpoint to a sustainable and established athletic program. Clunie shares his two concerns in higher education (tuition ROI) and athletics (pay-for-play) and expands about the benefit for Davidson being in the non-athletic scholarship Pioneer League for football while still being at the D1 level. To close the conversation, Clunie talks about his own education at Columbia for his master's degree and how it made him become more intentional and focused on critical thinking, economics, and management. 0:30 Institutional Profile 2:55 Basketball Alumnus Becomes Athletic Director 6:38 Transferring Skills from NBA Business Operations to the AD Chair 12:15 International Name, Image, and Likeness 17:27 Who Helped Create Davidson NIL Policy 19:55 Staying Involved w/ Everything Davidson College Outside of Athletics 24:15 Deciding When to Lean or Not Lean on His AD Predecessor 27:45 Moving From a National Story "Flashpoint" to an Established Program 33:45 Under the Radar Top Concerns in D1 Athletics 40:20 Master's Degree in Public Affairs at Columbia

Chrissi Rawak joined Higher Ed Athletics to talk about leading the Blue Hens and begins the conversation with an institutional profile. Rawak had several different roles in college athletics and shares what made her decide to pursue an AD position. Rawak talks about the decision to create a chief of staff position at Delaware and advice for what other athletic directors might want to consider if they are thinking about creating a chief of staff role after doing some research of her own. The conversation then turns to the role of talent management and professional development of her staff and why investing in them is so critical to the success of the department. Rawak knew it was incredibly important to integrate with the university and explains how and why the athletic department decided to create an internship program with 12-16 interns each semester that goes towards their degree. I then ask Chrissi what it takes to be a successful fundraiser and how someone without fundraising experience, or nervous to make the ask, can do to improve (the worst thing that can happen is they say "No"). Keeping with the tactical advice in this episode, I asked Rawak her philosophy on hiring and evaluating head coaches and she shares her thoughts on internal promotions and why she understands coaches moving for other positions is sometimes okay. The conversation ends with a discussion on the athletic department being responsible for oversight of recreation and club sports at Delaware, and whether that might be a trend in the future at other institutions. 0:20 Institutional Profile 4:42 Deciding to Become an AD 9:52 Chief of Staff Positions in Athletics 17:40 Talent Management in College Athletics 22:54 Creating a Robust Internship Program 29:45 Growing to Love the Role of Fundraising 39:15 Head Coach Hire & Evaluation Strategies 47:22 Athletic Departments Supervising Recreation & Club Sports

College athletics knows Fred Glass as the AD for 10+ years as an alumnus of Indiana University. But before IU, he had an incredibly successful career in government working for a mayor, a governor, a senator, and a president. Glass spearheaded a project for Indianapolis to build Lucas Oil Stadium and simultaneously create a massive convention center connected to the stadium. This was done to not only keep the Colts in Indianapolis, but to also bring major conventions and sporting events like the Men's Basketball Final Four, the Super Bowl in 2012, and the College Football Playoff national championship game in 2022. Fred shares his strategy in convincing Mark Cuban to make a major donation for what is now known as the Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology. And he discusses the process of pitching to NFL owners to host the Super Bowl and how that 1st experience helped them with their eventual successful bid to host on the city's 2nd attempt. Glass talked with me about these experiences, in addition to his upbringing as a self-described "knucklehead," in his new book - Making Your Own Luck: From a Skid Row Bar to Rebuilding Indiana University Athletics. This book was the perfect blend of authenticity in understanding and embracing your entire library of life experiences, and full of strategic career advice for major deals and balancing politics and governing issues. Check out more details about the book here: https://www.fred-glass.com/

Jaunelle White recently left her position as Senior Associate AD/SWA at IUPUI to become the next Athletic Director at Point University. Prior to her departure, White joined the Higher Ed Athletics podcast to talk specifically about IUPUI athletics. This was a special episode for me as an IUPUI alumnus, and with IUPUI being the focus subject in my EdD, where I study the future challenges facing urban research universities. White begins the episode with an institutional profile and shares the benefits and challenges in an athletic department operating within a large university system in a downtown location, including brand awareness for the Jaguar logo on a campus that fully embraces the IU trident as an Indiana University campus. White discusses the leadership from the outgoing chancellor, incoming president, and current athletic director and their support of IUPUI athletics. Being selected to the 2021-2022 NCAA Pathways Program, White talks about what she is most looking forward to in the professional development program. She was also the Horizon League representative on the D1 Council while at IUPUI, and shared her experiences on that important committee and the benefits getting to know sitting athletic directors while working as committee colleagues. White ends the episode sharing advice on how to approach and communicate career aspirations with your current boss to make sure you can grow professionally, while also not losing sight of the importance of being great at your current job. 0:45 Institutional/Athletic Department Profile 3:10 Benefits for Athletics at Large Urban Research University 6:18 Challenges for Athletics at Large Urban Research University 8:30 Re-Branding Athletics to Fit University System Branding Guidelines 11:40 Chancellor Support of IUPUI Athletics 13:55 New President Support for IUPUI Athletics 17:18 Athletic Director's Vision for IUPUI Athletics 21:50 NCAA D1 Council Experiences 23:40 Interacting with Athletic Directors from D1 Council 26:06 Chosen to the 2021-2022 NCAA Pathways Program 30:45 Balancing Career Enhancement Opportunities with Current Job

Matt Hogue, a NACDA 2020-2021 AD of the Year, used to be the "Voice of the Chants" for almost 20 years before becoming the Vice President and Athletic Director in 2015 after serving a year in the interim AD position. Hogue starts the episode with an institutional profile of the young institution that he has served for decades to see its continued growth both academically and athletically. Hogue shares the strategic funding tool their county in the state of South Carolina has for capital projects on campus, which frees up additional opportunities to move funds towards athletic facilities. The Chants jumped on the national spotlight in 2020 from their football success, and Hogue shares his perspectives on the football program. Smith asks Hogue to compare the institutional measurable differences between the baseball national championship in 2016 versus the attention of the 2020 football season. 0:30 Institutional Profile 5:00 Growth of Coastal Carolina After Leaving USC System 10:24 What Broadcaster Skills Helped Hogue Become Effective AD 15:05 Capitalizing On National Success for Revenue 21:30 Strategic Architecture & Funding the Athletic Facilities 27:45 Recent Board Approval of New Indoor Football Facility 30:55 Overnight Football Success 35:22 The Growth of the Sun Belt Conference in Football 38:00 Transition Details Going from FCS to FBS 42:22 Exposure: 2016 Baseball National Championship Versus 2020 Football Season 46:20 Mindset of Interim AD Role to Become the Permanent AD 50:15 Under-The-Radar Challenges Facing D1 ADs

Bryan Blair wants to be the absolute best AD in the industry and after this conversation you will probably agree that one day he will be described as one of the best. Blair is the Deputy AD/COO at Washington State and he joined the Higher Ed Athletics podcast to share his preparation to the role and how he has been building his career through educating himself and establishing authentic industry relationships. Blair offers incredible advice on how to be a spouse and parent in this demanding industry. He explains how the skills developed from both law school and compliance are still useful regularly in his senior-level administrator position. Blair's approach to choosing which books to read and how to extract industry knowledge out of them is something that has helped me in my career, too, and we both share some of our favorites. Blair shares his thoughts on what COVID may change about how we lead athletic departments in the future and ends the conversation by sharing what hypothetical case study he would create for future ADs. This is one of those interviews where several times I forgot we were recording a podcast instead of just a talk. 0:18 Integrating Family Life Into Demanding Positions 5:55 Using Law School & Compliance in Athletics Administration 12:47 Why Reading Books is Important to Your Development 20:58 Building Authentic Industry Relationships Pursuing Career Goals 32:15 Sport/Unit Administrator Oversight Ins and Outs 39:08 Industry Reflections & Changes Post-COVID 46:20 Creating a Case Study for Future Athletic Directors

Dr. Keith Carver is the Chancellor at University of Tennessee at Martin and arguably the biggest Skyhawks fan on campus. Chancellor Carver covers several interesting and important topics across higher education and college athletics in this interview. The episode begins with an institutional profile and history lesson about UTM and their athletic nicknames. He explains why that century old motto of athletics being the "Front Porch" is true, except that he thinks it's more like a living room. Chancellor Carver shares why university systems can be incredibly valuable collaboration opportunities, and what the system president's role is in oversight of national issues facing college athletics. Travis asks the question on what a president or chancellor's role is in athletic conference governance and whether college leaders would talk very much if it weren't for athletics. Chancellor Carver shares his leadership philosophy working with his athletic director Kurt McGuffin and ends the conversation with advice on what prospective ADs need to know about challenges ahead for higher education and why they should be subscribed to Inside Higher Ed and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Spoiler Alert: The chancellor is a confirmed D1.Ticker subscriber and enjoys winding down with a good Evening Standard to keep pace with college athletics. 2:00 Institutional Profile 4:14 History of Athletic Nickname Changes at UT Martin 7:00 Campus Identity as the Skyhawks 8:50 "Living Room" Instead of "Front Porch" 10:54 The Role of Athletics Amidst an Enrollment Decline 13:41 The Future of University System Collaborations in College Athletics 20:51 System President/Board Chair Oversight of Chancellors on NCAA/Athletics Decisions 24:33 Leadership Philosophy Working with VC/AD Kurt McGuffin 29:25 How Future ADs Can Better Understand Overall Institutional Administration 34:31 Explaining Chancellor Role in Governing at the Conference Level 36:35 Would College Presidents Speak Much without College Athletics? 38:33 Higher Ed Changes Future ADs Should Understand

John Cunningham became the Athletic Director at University of Cincinnati in December 2019 and is now leading the department into the Big 12 Conference. Cunningham talks about his compliance background fundamentally preparing him to become an AD from working directly with coaches in all sports and understanding the ins-and-outs of legislation and changes the industry is currently experiencing. He talks about the challenges of being a downtown institution competing with professional sports in the entertainment business and how joining the Big 12 will help with that. Cunningham acknowledges the department was already undergoing rapid changes to facilities and investments before his arrival but also shares some changes ahead to enhance facility projects. The conversation ends with advice to prospective ADs and how they need to educate themselves on the industry changes because others at the institution probably won't know those things and will expect you to explain it. And prospective ADs also need to maintain perspective and appreciation for things outside of sports that are continuing to shape our country and world. 0:45 Institutional Profile 2:48 Operating in a Busy City 6:15 Compliance Skillset for the AD Chair 8:45 Moving from Day-to-Day Compliance to Administration 12:44 Previous Power 5 Experience Helps Heading into Big 12 14:20 Long Runway to the Big 12 for Improving Facilities 18:20 Financial Considerations Going from Group of 5 to Big 12 20:05 Becoming an AD at a School Already Experiencing Rapid Growth 23:12 Future ADs Need to Understand Our Industry & Keep a Bigger Global Perspective

Janet Cone has been leading the UNC Asheville Bulldogs' athletic department since 2004 and has impressively kept the small D1 liberal arts institution of the Big South financially in the black every year. In this conversation we focus on the challenges and opportunities with all the changes happening in college athletics today. UNC Asheville is a unique place, being the only liberal arts institution in the University of North Carolina system, and one without a football program. Cone shares insight on why certain goals were placed in their strategic plan and how a department can still measure or adjust their plan that was interrupted by COVID-19. In addition, Cone explains how an AD can be upfront in hiring or evaluating head coaches when it comes to budget realities. After so many years in coaching and administration, Cone ends the conversation explaining why she still enjoys the industry despite the every day changes. 0:25 Institutional/Asheville Profile 5:33 Strategic Plan Before & After COVID-19 15:55 Budget Realities as a Small D1 19:40 AD Benefits in the UNC System 24:17 NCAA Academic Revenue Distribution in the Strategic Plan 31:20 NIL Strategy at UNC Asheville 35:45 What Keeps You Excited About the Job?

Travis (in late June): "If you are invited to join an FBS conference, what would the institution have to consider if you're fielding those offers?" Mario: "The institution would probably have to consider how fast I could get there to sign the paperwork." Mario Moccia is an alumnus and former standout baseball player at New Mexico State where he now serves as Athletic Director. Moccia starts by sharing how he took a different path to the AD chair than former Mizzou colleagues Ross Bjork (Texas A&M AD) and Chris Del Conte (Texas AD) by heading to an FCS school before arriving in Las Cruces. NMSU recently announced their transition from the WAC to Conference USA in all sports. This interview was recorded in the summer before conference realignment and I asked Moccia about the long-term plan for their independent football program and the positioning of the WAC, which will help the change make sense. He did say Conference USA and Mountain West were the only two likely FBS conferences. Moccia also shares all the details on their unique approach to consumable product licensing, now boasting their own beer, wine, whiskey, tequila, coffee, and even a candle. This has been an incredible (and fun) revenue generator for NMSU athletics and has other ADs wanting in on the idea. And if you've ever wondered how a football schedule is created for an independent, Moccia talks about their strategy that they probably won't miss once they begin conference play in their new conference. 0:10 AD Chair as an Alumnus 3:20 Differences in AD Jobs at Different D1 Levels 7:00 Dealing with Indirect Financial Implications in NIL for the Athletic Dept 13:50 Long-Term Strategy for NMSU Football 19:35 Scheduling Decisions of an Independent Football Program 24:15 College Football Playoff Expansion Changes to Scheduling Money Games 28:40 Innovating Licensed Consumable Products 37:40 Taste Test Event for Salsa as the Land Grant Institution 45:55 Other Potential Revenue Ideas for College Athletics 47:30 The Eventual Future of Sponsored Uniform Patches

New Orleans Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Tim Duncan joined the Higher Ed Athletics podcast and started the conversation with an institutional profile. Duncan is well-known as a speaker throughout the industry but even he acknowledges this interview brought different questions than he typically is asked. Duncan talks not just about creating a strategic plan for the athletic department, but also how they will benchmark against it and hold themselves accountable to the plan. Smith asks about the institutional collaborations within athletic departments in the University of Louisiana System. He shares how being the only D1 school in the system that doesn't offer football can be seen as a challenge or opportunity. Duncan ends the conversation with some great advice on the importance of a good boss when evaluating job opportunities. 0:35 Institutional Profile 2:20 Athletics Relationship w/ NOLA 6:05 100 Meetings in 100 Days 7:55 Revenue Generating Vision 12:00 Strategic Plan Benchmarking 14:20 System Affiliated Collaborations 17:05 Only School in System W/Out Football 19:05 1st Impression of UNO President 23:33 Privateers for Equality 27:53 D2 Versus D1 AD Chair 31:02 Lessons Learned Early in AD Career 33:15 Advice for Mid/Senior Level Administrators

Arizona State University as an institution is known for innovation and doing things differently. As you'll discover in this interview, the athletic department has embraced that culture of innovation under President Crow and Vice President/Athletic Director Ray Anderson. This episode is packed with campus collaborations, such as with the ASU Global Sport Institute, led by his former Stanford football teammate and agent Kenneth Shropshire, and using experiences outside of college athletics and bringing them in to help him and the athletic department prepare for the changes ahead in college athletics. Anderson is also a professor in the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU and shares why he continues to teach class. 0:00 Introductions 0:45 NFL Experience Helping in the AD Chair 2:25 Culture of Innovation at ASU 4:48 Athletic Facility Priorities 7:06 Local Resistance to ASU Changes 9:25 Adding Instead of Dropping Sports 12:52 Why You Signed Contract Extension 16:07 Agent Experience Helping Understand Changes 18:30 Professor of Law 22:05 ASU Global Sport Institute Partnership 26:36 AD Advice for Embracing Industry Changes

GCU Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs joined the Higher Ed Athletics podcast and started the conversation with an institutional profile of Grand Canyon University. Known as a large online university, too, Boggs shares the incredible enrollment growth and buildings that have been built at GCU's physical campus as a strategic initiative. Smith asks Boggs what a senior-level administrator can do in their current role to become ready for the AD chair. In addition, Boggs talks about the transition from being in a position offering input to being the one making the decisions. Smith and Boggs also talk about what tasks were involved in reclassifying to NCAA Division 1 membership and accepting the invite to join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Boggs also shares her thoughts on why those with compliance and/or legal backgrounds are prepared to become athletic directors now more than ever before. 0:15 Institutional Profile 2:41 Converting Online Students to GCU Fans & On-Campus Residential Growth 6:22 What She Learned During COVID-19 About GCU 8:58 Moving from Position of Advice to Decision Maker 10:38 How Administrators Make it Known They Want to be an AD 16:00 Changes Needed in Reclassification to D1 19:30 Building 10 Athletic Facilities in 2 Years 25:28 ADs with Compliance and Legal Backgrounds 30:20 The Need for Affordable & Christian Higher Education 34:14 Vision for GCU Athletics is to Catch Up w/ Institution

UNT Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker joined the Higher Ed Athletics podcast to discuss the 20-year Light the Tower athletic facilities master plan for the Mean Green and to share lessons learned from his career experiences. Baker become an administrator at the age of 26 as both a principal and athletic director for Valliant Public Schools in Oklahoma. He went on to lead an upstart athletic department at then-NAIA institution Rogers State before moving on to be an athletic director at NCAA D2 power house Northwest Missouri State. Wren then held senior-level administrator positions at both Memphis and Missouri before arriving at North Texas. Baker is known for his ability to fundraise and the authenticity in this interview will help the audience understand why. 0:18 UNT Institutional Profile 3:07 Athletic Department Profile 4:55 Light the Tower Athletic Facilities Master Plan 8:15 Custom Domains for Important Projects 10:08 Early Career Background 12:38 Lessons Learned as Becoming Administrator at Age 26 17:13 1st Ever AD at Rogers State 20:43 Does the Division Matter for Job Prospects? 24:25 Location Priorities for Career Decisions 28:25 Hiring & Evaluating Coaches 34:15 Becoming a Good Fundraiser 39:55 Corporate Sponsorship Patches on Uniforms Visit this post on IUPUI Sports Innovation Institute website: https://blogs.iu.edu/iupuisii/2021/09/12/hea-at-sii-university-of-north-texas-vice-president-athletic-director-wren-baker/

Nina King is entering her first year as Vice President and Athletic Director at Duke University after serving as a senior-level administrator for 13 years. After giving an institutional profile of Duke, King shares her thoughts on what it is like moving from a position of input to a position of decision-making. She shares her honest initial reaction to Coach K's retirement announcement, philosophy on succession planning, and gives a look at what Duke has been doing behind-the-scenes to be prepared for this moment. As an internal hire, Smith asked how that experience will help shape her own senior-level team. King also shares her thoughts on what it was like being a Chief of Staff for previous VP/AP Dr. Kevin White, strategy behind her new Chief of Staff, and gives advice to current or future athletic directors that might be wondering what skillsets and responsibilities a chief role should have. King has and will continue to teach a sports business class in the MBA program at Duke with Dr. Kevin White each semester. She discusses the importance of that classroom experience to her as both an accountant and lawyer, and provides some insight into the syllabus and guest speakers. King, Chair of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee last year and again this year, shares her honest opinion on gender inequities at last year's tournament and her thoughts on the future of the tournament with the continued success and quality competition in women's basketball. 0:00 Introductions 0:20 Institutional Profile of Duke 4:00 Position of Input to Decision-Making 7:04 Coach K Retirement & Succession Planning 14:07 Adjusting Senior-level Roles after Internal AD Hire 17:17 Chief of Staff Position 25:13 Law School 29:20 Professor King Teaches Sports Business at Duke MBA 34:01 Chair of Women's Basketball Committee

The interview with Dr. Moore begins by explaining being a successful athlete and SAAC president at Missouri helped convince her to work in intercollegiate athletics. Moore explains what the differences are between working at a big school like UNC or Oklahoma, versus a Colgate. She explains the history behind the recent campus identity change with the rebranded athletic logo and who was all included. The conversation turns to additional responsibilities where Dr. Moore is responsible for other areas outside of just intercollegiate athletics and how she manages her time. Dr. Moore ends the season 2 finale with some great advice for aspiring and fresh athletic administrators looking to learn..

UNC Chapel Hill athletic director Bubba Cunningham joined the Higher Ed Athletics podcast for an informative conversation. Cunningham starts the conversation talking about what he learned early in his career at Notre Dame as well as what his two previous AD jobs at Tulsa and Ball State taught him before leading North Carolina. Bubba then talks about the relationship building between ADs in the UNC System. Smith asks tips for building a strong relationship with a president or chancellor and what skills will be necessary to lead athletic departments in the future. Bubba talks about what keeps him motivated and active with committee work and issues facing intercollegiate athletics. The sometimes disconnect between scholars and practitioners is then discussed. Bubba walks Smith through the behind-the-scenes governance involved in hiring their new basketball coach. He then closes with advice for aspiring athletic administrators trying to plan out their career.

Amanda Braun joined the Higher Ed Athletics podcast for a discussion heavy on institutional branding and the future of corporate naming rights in college athletics. Braun and Smith discuss the upcoming challenges and opportunities for D1 institutions operating in cities. Braun closes the episode talking about a problem developing in D1 intercollegiate athletics that people aren't actually talking about right now.

Chris King of Robert Morris University joined me on the Higher Ed Athletics podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on his career and philosophy in being a vice president and athletic director. We start by talking about the institutional profile challenges and opportunities of a small private D1 research institution like RMU. Next we speak about their latest rebrand and entry into the Horizon League. We then dive into what it's like being the VP/AD at his alma mater and discuss his relationship with RMU president, Dr. Chris Howard (previous guest of HEA podcast), and the vision President Howard had for King's position. King shares why being a compliance administrator is a great path to the AD chair with plenty of examples and ends the podcast with some great advice for hardworking and talented administrators in college athletics. Check the full video interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/thevTdk7dV0

Mike Roth has been the athletic director at Gonzaga University for almost a quarter century. Roth joined the Higher Ed Athletics podcast to give the behind-the-scenes look at how investment in basketball saved an institution. In this episode I mostly just sat back, asked quick questions, and let Mr. Roth run with it. In a timely comment, he talks about turning the women's basketball program around, too, with equal resources and support. I ask if the formula Gonzaga used can still be done 25 years later and go on to talk about what steps need to be in place for a successful athletic department rebrand. Roth is very adamant that winning first is still the biggest ingredient.

Charlotte Athletic Director Mike Hill is the latest guest to join Travis Smith on the Higher Ed Athletics podcast. Hill started the conversation profiling UNC-Charlotte and his thought process behind leaving Florida for the Charlotte AD job. The rest of the conversation dives into the importance of branding and relationships with administrators at the other universities in the UNC system. Below is a list of the questions: Q: Can you tell us about UNC-Charlotte as an institution? Because I don't think many people understand how big the university is. Q: After 25 years at the University of Florida you became the AD at UNC-Charlotte. At what point did you know that you wanted to pursue an AD opening because I’m always fascinated in career crossroad stories. Q: You entered the job as your predecessor was retiring after three decades leading the department. How does a new AD in that situation best approach the staff and eventually implement the vision you have for the department when change might be difficult for some? Q: Coming from Florida to Charlotte there’s a difference in staff resources and probably a smaller alumni donor base due to it being a younger institution. Do the same strategies in marketing, fundraising and revenue generation apply to a Group of 5 institution, or is there a different blueprint to being successful? Q: UNC-Charlotte decided to brand athletics as Charlotte including adding a “CLT” logo mark. What was the strategy behind the decision? Q: Can you walk me through the steps and considerations you all made in the rebranding process and what you learned as the new AD? Q: Could you ever see a day in college athletics where a branch campus athletic department gets a better apparel contract or additional buying power in equipment purchases through being associated with the flagship campus athletic department? Q: What are some other ways maybe a flagship and its branch athletic departments could share resources to help it thrive? Or maybe they shouldn’t crossover?