Hangin With The AD Podcast

Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, where we bring you conversations with leaders who challenge us to think differently, lead intentionally, and ultimately get better at what we do.

Today, we're taking the podcast international for the very first time as we welcome JP Nerbun, joining us all the way from Ireland!

JP is an executive coach, author, podcaster, and the founder of TOC Culture Consulting. He's spent his career helping coaches, athletic administrators, and organizations build stronger cultures and become more effective leaders.

A former basketball coach, JP has authored five books focused on team culture, sports parenting, and transformative leadership. His latest, The Culture Captain, released in June 2026, provides athletes with a four-level framework for learning to lead themselves, others, and ultimately their teams.

He's also a host of the Coaching Culture Podcast, alongside two familiar voices to our listeners and former guests of Hangin' with the AD, Betsy Butterick and Nate Sanderson.

In today's conversation, we dig into a word that gets used a lot in athletics: culture. But what does it really mean to build one? How do you hold people accountable without creating fear? How do athletic directors establish a shared culture across an entire department? And perhaps one of the toughest questions in athletics: What happens when winning and your values collide?

We also explore the power of curiosity in leadership, how we can turn sports parents into partners, and why changing a culture requires a whole lot more than putting inspirational words on a locker room wall.

JP challenges us to look beyond what we say we believe and examine what our everyday actions actually communicate.

So, let's head across the Atlantic and get into our conversation with JP Nerbun, right here on Hangin' with the AD.

What does excellence really look like in a high school athletic department?

Is it wins and championships? Is it the experience we create for student-athletes? Is it developing leaders, building community, teaching sportsmanship—or maybe it’s finding a way to do all of those things well?

On this episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, we sit down with Brittany Spencer Grant, Director of Athletics at Oregon High School in Oregon, Wisconsin.

Brittany has spent more than a decade in athletic administration and has become a respected voice in the profession at both the state and national levels. She has served as President of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association, been recognized with Wisconsin’s State Award of Merit, presented at the National Athletic Directors Conference, and continues to serve the profession through leadership, professional development, and the NIAAA.

But this conversation is about much more than the résumé.

We talk with Brittany about what excellence should look like in high school athletics and the importance of continuing to grow as a leader, regardless of how long you’ve been in the chair. She shares the impact of seeing women in leadership positions—and what it means now to provide that same example for the next generation of athletic administrators.

We also dive into student-athlete leadership, NIL at the high school level, creating first-class experiences for college-bound athletes, and the responsibility we have to teach sportsmanship while still encouraging our students, families, and communities to show up, get loud, and support their teams.

It’s a conversation about leadership, intentionality, growth, and creating an athletic program that represents something bigger than the scoreboard.

So settle in and join us for another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast with our guest, Brittany Spencer Grant.

Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast, today we welcome Randale Richmond, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Kent State University.

Randale’s journey in athletic administration has come full circle. He spent 10 years at Kent State working in compliance, academics, and student-athlete services before moving to Old Dominion University, where he continued to expand his leadership responsibilities. In 2021, he returned to Kent State as the university’s 12th Director of Athletics and was elevated to Vice President in 2023.

At the center of Randale’s leadership philosophy is a commitment to developing people. He has described his purpose as being a transformational leader who positively impacts the lives of others, while building an athletic department that is student-athlete centered, coach led, and administrator supported.

In today’s conversation, we talk about his journey to the AD chair, developing culture, leading people through change and uncertainty, preparing student-athletes for life beyond competition, and what leadership looks like in today’s rapidly evolving world of college athletics.

There is plenty here for athletic administrators at every level to take back to their own programs.

So settle in as we talk leadership, athletics, and the responsibility that comes with sitting in the AD chair with Kent State Vice President and Director of Athletics, Randale Richmond.

Join us for this Special Edition of the Hangin' with the AD Podcast as we discuss our brief "break in service" as Josh and his family made a move to Orlando, Florida. 

Welcome back to another edition of the Hangin' with the AD Podcast.

Today's guest is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking leaders in college athletics. Dan Hauser serves as the Vice President and Director of Athletics at High Point University in High Point, North Carolina, a position he has held since 2014.

Before arriving at High Point, Dan built a strong foundation in athletic administration and marketing, serving in leadership roles at Ohio University, Wake Forest University, and the University of New Mexico. Over the last decade, he has helped transform High Point Athletics into one of the nation's most successful and recognizable mid-major programs.

Under his leadership, High Point has consistently competed at a championship level across multiple sports, earned national recognition in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings, and become known for delivering one of the most unique and impactful student-athlete experiences in higher education.

But Dan's influence extends far beyond wins and losses. He is a passionate believer in leadership, personal growth, dreaming big, and creating environments where people can achieve more than they ever thought possible.

In this conversation, we'll discuss High Point's rise to national prominence, the power of reading and lifelong learning, leadership lessons from High Point’s President’s own unique leadership journey, the importance of presence and culture, navigating the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics, and how leaders can turn ambitious visions into reality.

Whether you're an athletic director, coach, educator, or simply someone who wants to lead at a higher level, you're going to take something valuable away from this conversation.

So sit back, enjoy, and let's get to know the man behind one of the most remarkable success stories in college athletics—Dan Hauser.

On this episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast, we head to the Natural State and sit down with Matt Whiting, the Director of Athletics at University of Central Arkansas. Since stepping into the lead chair in 2024, Matt has been navigating the challenge of following a longtime athletic director, leading through one of the most transformational periods in college athletics, and helping shape the future of the Bears’ athletic department. 

Before taking the top role, Matt spent nearly eight years at UCA as Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs and began his journey at his alma mater, University of Arkansas at Monticello—building a career rooted in relationships, strategic growth, and servant leadership. 

In this conversation, we dive into leadership transitions, decision-making in the era of NIL, the transfer portal, facility management, AI in leadership, and what today’s changing collegiate landscape means for the next generation of student-athletes. Matt gives us an honest look at the realities of leading in the “big chair” and the intentional habits leaders need to grow, to adapt and stay effective.

If you’re an athletic administrator, coach, or educational leader trying to navigate change while staying grounded in purpose, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Now, let’s settle in and get to know Matt Whiting.

Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast.

Today’s conversation is one we’ve been looking forward to for quite some time. Joining us is Nathan Whitaker — a New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, and Super Bowl champion. Many of you know his work alongside legendary NFL coach Tony Dungy, where together they’ve shared powerful lessons on leadership, faith, and what it truly means to live and lead with purpose.

Nathan has had a front-row seat to some of the most respected leaders in professional sports, learning from — and writing about — individuals who don’t just chase success, but define it differently. Leaders who are, in every sense of the word, uncommon.

We’ve had the opportunity to connect most recently with Nathan through the NIAAA AD Roundtable and as well as at the NADC in Tampa, where his message on leadership, alignment, and intentional connection left a lasting impression on athletic leaders from across the country.

In this episode, we dive into what it really means to pursue uncommon success, how great leaders build alignment within their teams, and why something as simple — yet often overlooked — as making genuine connections can transform your leadership impact. We also explore the importance of guarding your mindset, developing future leaders, and finding your own authentic leadership voice rather than trying to replicate someone else’s.

So whether you’re leading a program, a department, or simply looking to grow in your influence, this is a conversation that will challenge and inspire you.

Let’s settle in…and get to know…Nathan Whitaker.

Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today, we’re bringing you a special conversation that goes beyond wins, losses, and championships—because as athletic leaders, we know the real impact of sports is found in the lessons that last long after the final whistle.

We’re joined by Kim Coleman, Executive Director of Athletes for a Better World, an organization built on the powerful idea of “Winning More Than the Game.” In this episode, Kim shares her journey, the mission behind ABW, and how the organization is working to highlight the incredible character, leadership, and sportsmanship happening across all levels of athletics—from high school to the professional ranks.

We dive into the stories that define why this work matters, including moments that capture the true spirit of sport, the legacy behind the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, and how partnerships like the Vince Dooley Scholarship Awards with the GHSA are recognizing student-athletes who lead with purpose.

For athletic directors, coaches, and anyone invested in developing young people through sports, this episode is a reminder that what we do is about more than competition—it’s about building better people.

So sit back, take a listen, and let’s talk about how we can all help our athletes… win more than the game.

Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today’s episode is one we’ve been excited about for a long time, because we’re diving into a space that’s become a true game-changer at every level of athletics: mental performance.

Our guest today is Kellen Lee — a Certified Mental Performance Consultant with a master’s degree in Sport Psychology and a PhD in Performance Psychology. Kellen has worked across elite environments, from professional athletics to military and organizational settings, and since January of 2023, he’s been serving as a mental skills coach for the Seattle Mariners at the major league level. He’s also fluent in Spanish, which adds another layer to the way he connects with athletes and teams.

In this conversation, we’re talking about what’s changed in athletics, why mental skills are no longer a luxury but a necessity, how leaders can build flexibility and trust, and what athletic directors should actually be looking for if they’re ready to bring mental performance into their programs. We’ll also dig into leadership, human connection, resistance, and even how tools like AI can support growth when used the right way.

We like to call this the “back of the baseball card” conversation — so we’ll let Kellen fill in the rest. Settle in. There’s a lot to learn today.

Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. In this episode, we’re joined by Rob Seymour, an athletic director at Fishers High School in Fishers, Indiana, where he has served since 2014. Rob is the past president of the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, a member of the NIAAA national teaching faculty for LTC 714, and an National Federation of State High School Associations Level 3 certified coach. 

In this conversation, Rob shares his “back of the baseball card” story, explains how he uniquely shares the AD role at Fishers, and offers insights on culture change through the lens of Indiana football, purpose-driven leadership, and game-day event management as hospitality inspired by Unreasonable Hospitality. We also dive deep into AI—why Rob embraced it early, how he’s using it today for visuals, videos, and daily AD work, how to educate coaches in a rapidly evolving space, and what athletic administrators may still be overlooking about AI’s impact on our profession.