Frank Doelger is a multiple Emmy Award-winning TV producer whose credits include HBO’s Game of Thrones, Rome, and John Adams. Frank begins by talking about Williams and the professors who had an early influence on his career path. He then discusses his time as a graduate student at Oxford, where a chance encounter led to his becoming a theater producer. Afterwards, the conversation turns to how Frank broke into the TV business, initially as a script reader for network television. During the remainder of the episode, Frank details his role as an executive producer on Game of Thrones, one of the most successful TV series in history, and other HBO hit productions. Lastly, we hear about Frank’s latest project, The Swarm, produced by his new production company, and the Winter Study class he taught this past winter. 

00:00 Introduction
00:44 Time at Williams
01:40 Discovering Passion for Narrative
04:30 Exploring Career Options
10:14 Journey into Theater
14:33 Struggles and Triumphs of Early Career
17:48 From Unemployment to Columbia Pictures
27:05 Joining HBO and Learning to Produce
31:40 Mentorship Under Linda Gottlieb
35:23 Frank’s first hit—“Taking a Stand” (ABC)
44:09 Rome (HBO): Creating Problem Solving
52:04 Game of Thrones (HBO): Creating Worlds
56:03 John Adams (HBO): Bringing Historical Figures to Life
01:12:00 Balancing Fantasy and Reality on Game of Thrones
01:16:54 Reluctance to Work on Game of Thrones
01:27:53 Working with Writers
01:32:51 Deadlines and Stress
01:35:39 Critics, Criticism and Controversy
01:45:08 The Swarm and New Projects
01:51:58 Winter Study at Williams: Getting to the Big Idea
02:09:52 Reflections on a Career in Television Production

This interview was recorded in February 2022 at CDM Studios in New York City.

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Senior Producer: Jon Earle ('09)

Williams was the only college where Harry wanted to coach basketball. Fortuitously, in 1983, an opening occurred. After a lengthy interview process, Williams offered the position to a different coach—who, fortunately for Harry, turned it down for the head coaching job at Dartmouth, where Harry would later serve as athletic director. This short segment explores Harry’s intense disappointment at initially being rejected for the Williams coaching position, and his exhilaration when he finally received the offer—even though he was Williams’ second choice.

Click here to view pictures and hear more episodes of A Williams Life.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle ('09)

In September 2021, four months after recording A Williams Life, Harry suffered a life-threatening heart attack. During bypass surgery, he had a stroke that resulted in his becoming almost completely blind.  While Harry has been recovering nicely from the heart attack, his vision has not returned, except in an extremely limited way. During this interview, recorded in November 2021, Harry reflects on his health and touches again on some of the major themes from the first interview, such as the power of faith and the meaning of resilience.

Click here to view pictures and hear more episodes of A Williams Life.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle ('09)

Harry Sheehy is the former head men's basketball coach and athletic director at Williams College. In this interview, he talks about his time in Williamstown as a child and young adult, often accompanied by his father (Williams '51). He discusses his time as a star college basketball player at Williams as well as a professional athlete, and his phenomenal success as Williams basketball coach (1983-2000) and athletic director (2000-10). Toward the end of the interview, Harry talks about his decade as athletic director at Dartmouth, a position he retired from in early 2021, and his marriage to Williams classmate Connie (Williams ’75), the love of his life for over 40 years.

0:00 Childhood
9:10 Student at Williams
24:35 Athletes in Action, Part I
30:01 NBA itch
37:48 Athletes in Action, Part II
44:36 Coaching at Williams
1:16:59 Athletic Director at Williams
1:30:00 Dartmouth
1:39:14 Plans for the Future

This interview was recorded at Harry's house in Williamstown in May 2021.

Click here to view pictures and hear more episodes of A Williams Life.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle ('09)