One Question Leadership Podcast

Dr. Jeffrey Docking, President at Adrian College, visits @TaiMBrown to discuss college athletics from the perspective of the Chair of the NCAA DIII President's Council. Docking, 13 years into his presidential tenure, discusses his role as Chair and how his time on the Council has broadened his view of sports on campus. A college athletics "enthusiast," Dr. Docking speaks to its benefit to NCAA DIII schools in terms of enrollment, its benefit to Student-Athletes, and also its benefit to all who are involved.

Natalie Winkelfoos, Associate VP for Athletic Advancement and Director of Athletics at Oberlin College, visits @TaiMBrown to discuss the importance of caring about the work you do, how you do it, why you do it, and who you do it for and with. Using care as its competitive advantage, Oberlin's athletics department is driven by compassion. Winkelfoos, six years into her AD tenure, has found success in fundraising and leadership by leading with the core foundational aspect of caring for those she leads.

Tanya Vogel, Director of Athletics & Recreation at George Washington, visits @TaiMBrown to discuss empathic leadership. With almost a year on the job, Vogel leads her department with a style that takes others into consideration before oneself. She discusses how leading with empathy has proven to be beneficial for all on staff including Student-Athletes, coaches, and administrators. Vogel also talks about values driven leadership, listing determination, commitment, and respect as her core beliefs.

Jessica Poole, Sr. Associate AD for External Relations at Florida Atlantic University, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss her thoughts on effective leadership. Recently hired to the FAU athletics senior team, Poole discusses the aspects of leadership she considers effective. Self-awareness, understanding those you work with and for, and collaborative decision-making are qualities she deems necessary as she embarks in her new role overseeing the communications, marketing, and corporate sponsorship departments.

Alex Ricker-Gilbert, Senior VP & Athletics Director at Jacksonville University, chats with @TaiMBrown about establishing a culture in athletics. Ricker-Gilbert mentions his background in compliance and Student-Athlete services as a crucial element to his success in athletics administration after becoming an AD at the age of 28. He also discusses his collaborative process of establishing core values for the department, noting that the initial challenges faced by his staff helped to lay the groundwork.

Todd Wilkinson, Director of Athletics at Barton College, visits @TaiMBrown to discuss searching for normalcy after Hurricane Florence. Barton, largely undamaged by the storm, closed its doors for eight days as students left campus to find safety. Wilkinson discusses the process of keeping track of Student-Athletes while they were away. He also touches on the process of rescheduling games and ensuring Student-Athlete safety be giving a few days of practice before jumping right back into competition.

Eugene Marshall, AD at Hampton, visits @TaiMBrown to discuss Hampton's move from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) to the Big South. Marshall discusses the process of explaining the benefits of the change to the University's constituency. He also talks about the innovative mind of Hampton's president, Dr. William Harvey, who has led all of the major changes at the school since 1978. With Harvey's support, Marshall has taken the Pirates to new heights in academics, as well as athletics.

Kenny Boyd, Sr. Associate AD for Student-Athlete Health & Wellness at Baylor, chats with @TaiMBrown about the collective health & wellness leadership position which is relatively new on campuses nationwide. Overseeing the areas of Athletic Medicine, Athletic Performance, Sports Nutrition, & Mental Health, Boyd goes into detail about evaluating the position and communicating with the AD as a part of the executive staff. The emphasis is to protect Student-Athletes by having an independent medical structure.

Jeff "Mad Dog" Madden, longtime Strength & Conditioning coach, joins @TaiMBrown to give insight on the S&C profession and why education and professional development is an important aspect to the health and well being of Student-Athletes. Madden also talks about his relationship with Mack Brown and DeLoss Dodds while at Texas. He recalls that Dodds' would try to spend time with every person that was hired on his athletics staff, making the point to tell them to never embarrass the university.

Jay Moran, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Southern Connecticut State, visits @TaiMBrown to discuss his dual role as AD and Mayor of the town of Manchester. Moran has served the Manchester community for almost 11 years giving back to a town that poured into him during the loss of a daughter. The tough task of balancing priorities between the two very important leadership positions is on full display throughout the conversation. Moran key point is that he has a passion for life and people.

Dr. Nancy Hixson, CEO of Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC), visits @TaiMBrown to discuss the complex setup of the revenue generation arm of Air Force Academy Athletics. As CEO of AFAAC, Hixson works very closely with Air Force AD, Col. Jenn Block, but runs the business side of athletics as a separate entity. With oversight over all revenue generation aspects, the structure and business relationship between AFAAC and the athletics department proves to be very complex yet very beneficial.

Scott Noble, Director of Athletics at Western New Mexico, and @TaiMBrown discuss Noble's four cornerstones for organizational success. Selflessness, Discipline, Work Ethic, and Kindness guide the actions of the athletics staff and Student-Athletes at Western New Mexico. The conversation goes into each value and how it is defined within the organization. Noble also explains how he implements and evaluates the principles on the individual level and for the department as a whole.

Big move in the ticket sales space as former IMG College SVP & current Taymar Ventures Founder/CEO Dyer links up with Elevate Sports Ventures to create Elevate On Campus. First partner: Kentucky. Dyer, of course, oversaw the build of IMG College Ticket Solutions & later ran the IMG Learfield joint venture unit. Elevate On Campus was formed as "a joint venture created to support ticket sales, strategy and service for intercollegiate athletics and university venues."

Mike Williams, former Director of Athletics at Cal, joins 1Q host, @TaiMBrown, as the two rehash Williams' experience leading the Golden Bears. Fresh off of a four-year stint in the chair, Williams discusses the accomplishments of the department during his tenure. Emphasizing mission driven leadership, he celebrates increasing the Academic Progress Rate, winning multiple team championships, and enhancing the overall Student-Athlete experience for those who were under his charge.

Jason Penry, Vice Chancellor for Advancement at Arkansas State, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss the similarities & differences between athletics development and university advancement. During the conversation, Penry offers advice to those who want to work in development emphasizing experience in some form of revenue generation and working closely with the advancement team. He closes the conversation referencing the importance of collaboration between athletics and the university when it comes to fundraising.

Jennifer Williams, Interim AD at Alabama State, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss development at HBCUs. Williams, the 2018 Women Leaders in College Sports FCS Administrator of the Year, discusses the similarities in fundraising at Historically Black Colleges & Universities and Predominantly White Institutions. Explaining two traditional approaches to development, she praises both methods as effective. Williams also discusses how her philosophy on Student-Athlete experience has expanded since assuming the chair.

Noreen Morris, Commissioner of the Northeast Conference, joins @TaiMBrown as the two discuss the process of creating the NEC Front Row network. Morris, eight years into her tenure, discusses how she made technology a priority in her initial strategic plan. The NEC Front Row as the digital network for the conference has been considered one of the biggest assets of the league. Morris also talks about the newest technological initiatives which include implementing instant replay with better camera angles.

Kevin Anderson and @TaiMBrown get together for part 2 of their leadership conversation. Anderson, former Maryland & Army AD, talks avoiding assumptions when interviewing for leadership positions. He also defines vulnerability in terms of its benefit to leadership with regard to sharing true feelings and receiving advice on overall direction. Anderson rounds out the discussion on the critical importance of staying focused on Student-Athlete well-being amid the many distractions within the college athletics industry.

Kevin Anderson, former AD at Maryland & Army and veteran of the college athletics industry, visits @TaiMBrown as the two discuss leadership. In the first of a two part conversation, Anderson touches on preparing for leadership and the traits needed to be successful prior to and during any leadership role. He stresses the importance of being authentic and vulnerable. On the topic of developing company culture, Anderson mentions that those who listen and observe are usually more successful.

Callie Dale, Associate Director of Football at Stanford, joins @TaiMBrown as the two discuss managing personalities among football coaches, providing support to the athletics department, and being the head coach's point person. Dale, a woman in an industry dominated by men, talks about onboarding new assistant coaches while learning their individual communication styles. With regard to her role assisting the head coach, she says it helps with football operations as a whole because of the immediate access.

Josh Gordon of the Sports Conflict Institute joins @TaiMBrown to discuss the process of building a successful organizational culture. Gordon, consultant to multiple athletic departments, corporations, and sports teams talks about the importance of going beyond stating core values, but communicating them in terms of behavior to avoid misinterpretation. He emphasizes being deliberate in developing culture similar to strength training and game planning, stressing the importance of discipline and structure to be successful.

Glenn Caruso, Head Football Coach at University of St. Thomas, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss the intricacies of helping a team focus on the upcoming season without being weighed down by the challenges or success of the previous season. Coach Caruso talks about being process oriented vs focusing on results and how that helps his teams recalibrate each year. The conversation rounds out with Caruso's philosophy on F.A.M.I.L.Y. and how it applies to his players passing on the legacy of the programs overall culture but maintaining their individual identity as each team is different.

Woody McCorvey, Associate AD for Football Administration at Clemson, joins @TaiMBrown as the two discuss McCorvey's 46 years in the game. In his current role, MCorvey works with football operations and athletic administration on a staff with a number of colleagues that he coached during his career on the sidelines. He discusses his concerns for Student-Athletes being recruited as the amount of money involved has grown tremendously. He also mentions some of the player development tools used in the program.

Vince Volpe, Deputy AD & COO at University of Texas at Rio Grand Valley, joins @TaiMBrown as the two discuss Volpe's specific role in creating the department's strategic plan. Emphasizing how valuable the experience was for him and his colleagues, Volpe expresses appreciation for Vaqueros AD King for creating a culture of inclusive leadership. He also touches on core values, measurable outcomes, and even relates his contribution to creating the plan to a transformational experience from early in his career.

Charles Guthrie, Director of Athletics at Wisconsin Green Bay, joins @TaiMBrown as the two discuss Guthrie's first six months in the chair. A former two-year college and Division II AD, Guthrie discusses how his previous experience helps him with his current role. He also talks about his process of calling the campus community stakeholders prior to arriving on campus to establish key relationships early-on. To round out the conversation, Guthrie touches on his methods of engaging Student-Athletes.

Jamie Zaninovich, Deputy Commissioner & COO at the Pac-12, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss leadership from the conference perspective. Zaninovich, former Commissioner of the West Coast Conference, discusses the decision making process when weighing concerns from a multi-layered constituency. Communication plays a strong part in finding the collective interest when dealing with 12 different institutions - each with its own President, AD, FAR, sport Coaches, Compliance office, and of course, the Student-Athletes.

Mark Dantonio, Head Football Coach at Michigan State, visited @TaiMBrown on the 1.Question Podcast for a quick interview to discuss team chemistry in terms of a family atmosphere. Dantonio believes a family environment has led to his success as a head coach as he emphasizes the importance of developing relationships with players beyond just their time on the team. Constant evaluation has also proven to be an important tool as he critiques everything from how the team traveled to how they won a football game.

Dr. Chris Kimball, President at Cal Lutheran, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss the importance of athletics on campus. Kimball talks about how the connection between academics and athletics is essential at CLU, specifically speaking on the process of educating the whole person academically, physically, and spiritually. Serving on the D3 Management Council, Kimball mentions how this group expands his thoughts on the complexities and importance of operating intercollegiate athletics on campuses around the country.

Markus Jennings, Associate AD for External Affairs at Sacramento State, joins @TaiMBrown on 1.Question during the 2018 NACDA Convention. Jennings talks about his transition from the corporate world to working in development to his current position overseeing external affairs. He discusses his critical follow-up question when on a development visit and how it can help with future cultivation. Jennings also covers his strategy for managing people during his transition to external affairs and sport oversight.

Sherryta Freeman, AD at Lafayette College, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss her evaluation process as she completes her first few months in the chair. Freeman discusses how making connections within the department and on campus allows her to empower those under her leadership to handle tasks more efficiently. She also discusses setting goals and expectations for those on staff, explaining that each person will be evaluated based on the five values which guide the department.

Dr. Ronald Nowaczyk, President at Frostburg State, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss FSU's transition from D-III to D-II. Nowaczyk touches on the feasibility study involving facilities, staffing, Student-Athletes, and the university as a whole to gauge the move beforehand. He details engaging the campus constituency to sell the idea and build excitement. Nowaczyk, a well researched and published psychology educator, also discusses his perspective on the psychological importance of athletics to the campus community.

Kelley Hartley Hutton, AD at Purdue Fort Wayne, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss her role in twice rebranding the department. When she started as AD, athletics was branded as IPFW Athletics. Hartley Hutton discusses the process of presenting the rebrand idea to the chancellor, to bringing on Under Armour to outfit the newly branded Fort Wayne Mastadons. In addition to the initial rebrand, the entire school recently rebranded itself as Purdue Fort Wayne. Hartley Hutton also discusses her role in that process.

Portia Hoeg, Executive Director of Athletics at Rhodes College, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss the transition into her new role. Hoeg talks about what attracted her to the job, and what she expects to bring to the department. She also discusses the importance of her "listening tour" to know the who, what, when, where, and why of how the institution operates. Empowering Student-Athletes to use their voice is at the core of Hoeg's philosophy and she intends to keep that on the forefront as she moves forward.

Dr. Kristene Kelly, AD at Keene State and soon to be Sr. Associate AD/SWA at Dartmouth joins @TaiMBrown to discuss the aspects of her time in the chair that she will bring to her upcoming appointment. Kelly talks about how her department provided creative solutions to campus-wide budgetary problems. She also discusses how making decisions as an AD has helped to sharpen her problem solving and prioritization skills, identifying "expectation management" as a key asset that she'll bring to Dartmouth.

Sean Frazier, Associate VP & AD at NIU, visits @TaiMBrown and the 1.Question Podcast at the 2018 NACDA Convention. Frazier discusses the tumultuous environment in society and its effect on leadership in athletics. He mentions being a constant educator on what's happening, what are the potential outcomes, and what can be done now to prepare for future issues. Emphasizing that there is no substitute for daily preparation, Frazier also talks about athletics continuing to be the on the forefront of social change.

John Shukie, President of Forward Progress Athletic Consulting, visited with @TaiMBrown at the 2018 NACDA Convention. Shukie provides insight into the upcoming NCAA Academic Based Revenue Distribution Initiative. He explains how schools can position themselves to receive the monetary incentive by focusing on the "student" aspect as well as looking at a variety of variables related to APR, GSR, and a host of other academic benchmarks. Shukie also touches on the current conversation surrounding transfers.

Rob Knox, Associate Media Relations Director at Towson, visits with @TaiMBrown at the 2018 NACDA Convention. Knox, incoming CoSIDA President, talks about the significance of being only the 2nd African-American president in the association's history. He also discusses the title of Sports Information Director (SID) and why it no longer accurately describes the role's functionality. With a demeanor showing how much he is honored, Knox expresses his true appreciation for everything the organization represents.

Eileen Daley, Sr. Associate AD for Academic & Student Services/SWA at San Jose State, chats with @TaiMBrown about her background in admissions and how it helps with her current role in athletics. Daley initially left the department and joined campus admissions to gain experience managing a team and to diversify her profile. In her return to athletics, she brought the department and campus closer in terms of ties between recruiting, admissions, academic advising, and Student-Athlete experiences.

Mark Jackson, AD at Villanova, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss leadership through self-discovery. Jackson speaks to the importance for people in leadership positions to find the quiet time to understand who they are. He talks about his own process of discovering his leadership philosophy and how his mentor, Pete Caroll emphasized doing the "lonely work" as a mandatory growth exercise. On the topic of interviewing staff, the first question asked is, "Can you sum up your leadership philosophy in two minutes?"

Tanner Gardner, Sr. Assoc. AD & COO at Rice, visits @TaiMBrown as the two discuss how Gardner's background as a business management consultant in the corporate world helped land his initial position as Chief Revenue Officer; a role which oversaw most aspects of external operations. As COO, Gardner is responsible for a majority of the department's business operations, traditionally a function of the internal side of the house. A role he says brings strong corporate business practices to college athletics.

Dell Robinson, Lead Search Associate for the Athletic Practice at the Spelman Johnson Executive Search Firm, joins @TaiMBrown on the 1.Question Podcast. Robinson, former commissioner for the GLIAC and conference office veteran, discusses how his background and wealth of relationships has proven to be a benefit to Spelman Johnson's athletics practice. He also breaks down the firm's search process from the initial proposal, all the way through presenting candidates and placement checkups later down the line.

Dr. Renae Myles, Sr. Assoc. AD, COO & SWA at Winthrop, visits with @TaiMBrown to discuss the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) events at the upcoming 2018 NACDA Convention. Myles discusses important aspects of the MOAA Symposium including speakers such as Kevin DeShazo and Arne Duncan. She also goes into detail on how convention attendees can maximize their return on investment with emphasis on follow-up notes to speakers and reporting to supervisors on the takeaways from the conference.

Judy Sackfield, Deputy AD & SWA at Texas A&M Commerce, visits with @TaiMBrown on the 1.Question Podcast. Sackfield, having been interim AD twice, discusses how time in the Chair has helped her in her current role as the Deputy. She specifically speaks on learning to better package information so the AD can make well-informed decisions. Speaking on influence within the department, Sackfield mentions longevity and stability as assets when it comes to providing direction for Student-Athletes and coaches alike.

Lesley Irvine, AD at Pomona & Pitzer Colleges, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss the process of developing a culture. Hired as the first full-time AD in almost 20 years, Irvine's department has won conference & national championships. She talks about core values and working with different areas on campus to ensure a successful synergy in supporting athletics. Irvine also discusses the unique set up as Pomona College & Pitzer College are two different institutions but have one combined athletics department.

Jo Potuto, FAR & Law Professor at Nebraska, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss concerns currently on the minds of FARs around the country. Potuto touches on ramifications of potential transfer rules and maintaining academic integrity in the process. She also touches on the FAR's position in athletics in terms of being informed and active in vetting potential compliance issues as (or before) they arrive. Finally, Potuto expresses frustration that the faculty voice is somewhat muted in the current NCAA structure.

Dr. Kevin Blue, Director of Athletics at UC Davis, joins @TaiMBrown to discuss his methods of staff development and professional learning. Blue, the "Professorial AD," taught classes while earning his MBA & PhD and talks about how important learning is as a professional considering the ongoing changes in athletics. He also identifies his preferred methods of helping his staff prepare to handle tough situations, enhance their leadership roles, and provide the best possible environment for Student-Athletes.

Ron McKeefery, Vice President of Performance and Education for PLAE Perform, visits with @TaiMBrown on the 1.Question Podcast during the 2018 CSCCa National Conference. McKeefery, former S&C coach in the NFL, MLB, on the collegiate level, and with the Army Special Forces shares how S&C coaches can build impactful relationships and an open line of communication with Athletic Directors. He talks about consistency, efficiency, and outlines the importance of having an organized plan when requesting additional resources from the administration.

Patrick Dunkley, Deputy AD & Sr. University Counsel at Stanford, visits @TaiMBrown on the 1.Question Podcast to discuss how his legal background prepared him for his current role with Stanford athletics. Categorizing his responsibilities as 60/40 non-legal to legal work, he talks about his methods of keeping the university abreast of everything that goes on in athletics on campus and around the country. Dunkley also addresses his priority management methods as he also the top athletics compliance official.

Jason Grooms, Assistant AD for Football at Vanderbilt, visits with @TaiMBrown to discuss how the admin-level football operations role benefits the athletics department as a whole. He notes the growth from team travel manager, to being the bridge between the AD and the primary revenue generator. With tentacles in the biggest roster, budget, staff, and marketing projects, Grooms notes that the Football Operations Admin has to translate all aspects of the program down to one voice in senior-level athletics decisions.

Kenneth Miles, Asstistant Vice Chancellor & Executive Director for the Cox Communications Center for Student-Athletes at LSU, visits with @TaiMBrown on 1.Question to discuss his unique role reporting to the Vice Provost of Academic Support & Review, as well as a dotted line to the AD. Miles notes that this setup helps everyone focus on recruitment and retention for all students. He also talks about how this structure has helped LSU athletics raise its Graduation Success Rate from 69% to 90% since he and the AD arrived on campus.