Higher Ed Athletics

Dr. Kevin White joined Higher Ed Athletics to discuss his new book, The Good Sport: Reflections on a Full Life in College Sports. The former multi-stop AD (Loras College, Maine, Tulane, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Duke) and now senior advisor for Huron's intercollegiate athletics business talks about his experiences and the importance of political IQ and the art of anticipation. This book and conversation should be mandatory consumption for current and future ADs from beginning to end. 0:00 Introduction4:25 Travis Takeaways from the Book7:18 Kevin's Quote about his Father and How it Steered his Career13:00 Day One Advice for a New AD: Find the Power Influencers19:10 Art of Anticipation or Political IQ - You Gotta Have Both23:15 The Need to Look Further Ahead in College Athletics24:45 How to Build Up Political IQ28:40 Being a Truth Teller has No Off-Ramp30:25 The Kevin White Athletic Director Tree38:50 "Loaves and Fishes" + Why Loras College was the Perfect First Assignment42:30 Attending Harvard's Institute for Educational Management for Aspiring Higher Ed Leaders46:00 Always Felt like there was a Plan for My Life + Seminary Story52:25 Mount Rushmore of Former Athletic DirectorsBuy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Sport-Kevin-White/dp/1622181166/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PZ67KOA2XBPF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CJBbnS8LDu_D-z3oMVk-gA5nzJDhV8egE_aUNO0r29NhVpxWGoiAQg3HTmd0ZFCLfseg_7uoPM7VgPgGPAXu7sTHBVuww4XunnRUgGEXR9Q2GkTVE152fVg5bYnw6Az_3xzgpOaH6PJpbpLzJc8Szg7W9FsIt70alURO2kBMhnJLhXMPQT0UaGHCoFB9pDrSzgRcucdX7ImE20Gmq8vB6zynPGz9rG3RfCB9wEp4Cq0.Kguh_nxQXGhldolHXPGonbMkrdTiGTZgIs6j1JGvZgs&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+good+sport+kevin+white&qid=1749874551&sprefix=the+good+sport+kevin+whit%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1

For those that don’t know, I started HEA in 2020 to interview ADs in hopes of studying the position as a career one day in a research setting or at an industry search firm. I will be finishing my doctorate dissertation on athletic director hiring trends in 2025-2026 academic year, so I thought it was time I start finding my own voice on the subject of AD hires and AD trends. instead of only asking the questions.In this episode, I give my take on the AD opening and talk about the names being mentioned in Tampa Bay outlets. I also offer my out-of-left-field candidate and make a prediction on who I think will get the job - if they want it - with an in-depth reason. And I don't think the ongoing presidential search has to delay their search for a new AD.If you are listening to this because you are interested in the AD opening at USF, then I invite you to read the HEA Briefing I completed in the show notes below. The purpose of the HEA Briefing is to give administrators an understanding of the political landscape of the institution and its location to help them improve their political IQ and awareness of trends in higher education.USF HEA Briefing: https://higheredathletics.com/2025/06/08/hea-brief-university-of-south-florida/

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?

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.

Rob Higgins is new on the job but you would never know that if you visited USF like I did this week. He's a former ball boy and alumnus. You cannot use the word "potential" anymore around USF. Instead, I think the Bulls have arrived and USF is set to be the next power conference school. This is the most aligned institution I have ever studied and a plan is in place to win the building, win the campus, win the community, and then win the country. Higgins had been the executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission for 20+ years and brought several large events to the city, including NCAA tourneys, Super Bowls, and WrestleMania. He's now ready to put the new on-campus football stadium to good use with events and naming rights when it opens in September 2027. Higher Ed Athletics is presented by PILYTIX, an AI tech company for higher education institutions and sports organizations. Increased Donations. Fast, Effective Targeting. Improved Performance. Learn more: https://pilytix.ai/

Jim Dries, CEO of PILYTIX, joined HEA to talk about the increased donor fatigue in the world of college athletics right now, and why coaching buyouts will probably make fatigue worse. He explains why just throwing more fundraisers at the solution is not necessarily the right play. Instead, athletic departments need to rethink their qualified donor pool and use the data they probably are already collecting to be more strategic and efficient in their approach. I ask Jim what future ADs should know about the problem of donor fatigue and future of fundraising best practices to prepare for the interview.

There have been 245 D1 AD hires at 211 unique institutions since January 2020. The Deputy AD position is by far the most popular immediately prior job with 84 of those hires and another 70 were previous ADs moving to a different chair. In this video I update my thoughts on the remaining 15 D1 AD jobs still available after a handful of hires were made in the back half of September. Bookmark my D1 AD Hiring Trends + TrackerVisit www.HigherEdAthletics.com

There were plenty of clues about institutional alignment in the Rob Higgins hire at USF. I break down why I accurately predicted him getting the job months in advance as a case study in institutional fit and how boards/presidents operate. College athletics is a copycat industry. The Danny White AD tree branches continue with Utah State's hire of Cameron Walker. I explain why more presidents will hire to replicate the UT model than automatically looking at candidates outside the industry.www.HigherEdAthletics.com