Episode # 17 … Scott Stricklin, Director of Athletics, University of Florida

Today’s guest is Mr. Scott Stricklin. Scott serves as the Director of Athletics at the University of Florida in Gainesville Florida. Scott is a strong leader with tremendous experience who shares the University of Florida’s most treasured values, from the success and well-being of their student athletes to excellence across the expanse of both men’s and women’s sports.  A forward-thinking national and regional leader in the field of athletics administration, Stricklin serves as chair of the SEC's Working Group on Fan Experience and has served as the SEC's representative on the NCAA Division I Leadership Council. Stricklin is also known for his accessibility and interaction with fans on social media.  Stricklin has earned praise for his performance, earning the 2015-16 Athletic Director of the Year Award from the National Association of College Directors of Athletics, which highlights the efforts of athletic directors at all levels.  

1:32- Introduction
4:35- What was High School athletics like for you?
7:48- Following an Uber Successful Leader
10:17- Creating a Staff of Senior Leaders
12:30- Recognized by ADU as 2nd highest collegiate AD in terms of impact
15:02- How to know when its time to change positions
18:34- Best Thing about being AD at Florida
20:43- Doing ‘In Person’ vs other forms of Communication
22:25- New Habits during the Covid quarantine
23:50- Importance of serving outside of your own organization                                                25:41- Implementing the What Drives Winning program
28:20- Value of having Professional Speakers for your coaches & staff
30:18- Fundraising: a wide range of giving options
33:27- Recognizing and Involving up-and-coming leader
40:48- Learning and Maturing as a student assistant under legendary baseball coach, Ron Polk
46:06- Understanding your Brand and how to promote it
49:49- Strategies from chairing the SEC working group on Fan Experience
51:40- Connecting Dodger Stadium, Google, and the future of Florida facilities
54:51- 2-Minute Drill

Book Mentions:  Team of Rivals (Doris Kearns Goodwin)         The Splendid and the Vile (Erik Larson

You can follow Scott Stricklin on social media Twitter: @ScottStricklin  Instagram: @Scottstricklin

Find out more about Mr. Scott Stricklin and the University of Florida Athletics at: Florida Gators Athletics

About Hangin With The AD Podcast….

Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics.  These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities. 

SPECIAL EPISODE … Lanness Robinson, Director of Athletics Hillsborough County Public Schools & NIAAA President

0:19-Introduction

0:35- Inspecting a Year of Unknowns

2:59- What do you want the NIAAA to be known for?

5:32- Implementing Personal Decision-making Style with Large Organizations

10:03- Deciding to go Virtual with the 2020 National AD Conference

12:48- Satisfaction in Making Hard Decisions

14:19- The 2020 National AD Conference in Tampa-what virtual looks like!

20:16- Importance of ADs to be involved with the NIAAA and State Associations

About Hangin With The AD Podcast….

Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics.  These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.          

We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests.  Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it.  Thank you for listening.  And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.         

Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)

Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram) 

EPISODE # 16 ...Amanda Waters, AD-Mater Dei (CA) High School

0:08- Welcome to the Double Episode with Amanda

1:27- Vision for taking over a Highly Successful Athletic Department

4:38- Immediate changes upon changing positions

6:50- Leading in a Headlining, Nationally Recognized Athletic Department

9:15- Excitement surrounding Return to Play & Return to School

13:24- How to Connect with Amanda Waters

Today’s guest is Amanda Waters, Amanda serves as the athletic director at Carlsbad High School in California. The 2018 Norm McKenzie Award winner for best Athletic Director with under four years of experience in her area, Amanda has a passion for kids and a unique ability to connect the present with the past and keep the Carlsbad alumni engaged at a high level both in the community and on her coaching staff. Let’s jump in and get to know Mrs. Amanda Waters.  

14:23- Introduction to Amanda Waters

17:24- Prestige of being the Norm McKenzie Award winner in San Diego

18:49- Definition of The Lancer Way

20:18- Developing HS Alumni relations

23:28- Adopting the InsideOut Initiative

27:07- Managing a Daily Schedule as Coach-AD

30:08- How to Keep Good Coaches

33:56- Bringing back alumni as Assistant Coaches

38:22- The ADs role in showing respect for Officials

41:18- Providing Professional Development for your Staff

42:38- Benefits of AD plus Athletics Assistant Principal

45:45- Applying a Mission Statement & Sportsmanship in a HS Athletic Dept.

47:09- Having an App for your Athletic Dept,

48:54- Overseeing nontraditional sports like Surfing

52:10- 2 Minute Drill

 You can follow Amanda Waters on Twitter @MaterDeiAD ... @awatersmaterdei on Instagram.... the National AD Resource website... Mater Dei Athletics website

About Hangin With The AD Podcast….

Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics.  These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.          

We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests.  Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it.  Thank you for listening.  And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.         

Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)

Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram) 

Episode # 15 … Ira Childress, Athletics Director, Gulliver Prep School, Miami, FL

Today’s guest is Ira Childress. Ira serves as the Athletic Director at Gulliver Prep High School just outside of Miami Florida. A true believer in the power of building positive relationships, Ira is a two-time nominee for national athletic director of the year as nominated by Varsity Brands, as well as a published author who has a passion for maximizing the student athlete experience. Ira also uses his experiences working for the NCAA to better serve his student-athletes each and every day. Let’s settle in and get to know… Mr. Ira Childress. 

1:01 – Introduction
 5:50- Relating back to the High School Athletics Leader
 8:19- A Transformational, Outside-the-Box Leader
 12:01- The National AD Collaboration with Amanda Waters
 14:44- Lessons from Coach Brian Kelly, Notre Dame Head Football Coach
 17:44- What Led to being nominated as Varsity Brands Athletic Director of the Year
 22:44- Career in Sports Night & Student-Athlete College Recruiting Seminar 
 27:41- Increasing Fan Attendance for High School Athletics…’the Blue Zoo’
 31:20- Gulliver Prep Student-Athlete Advisory Council 
 35:30- Creating a Hall of Fame for a High School Athletic Dept.
 39:05- Skills taken from working in Leadership Development at the NCAA HQ
 41:00- “Run from being good.  Chase being Great.”
 44:25- Establishing Credibility with a New Staff of Coaches
 46:32- A Head Coaches Retreat at the High School level
 50:40- Ira ‘the Author’
 55:35- 2-Minute Drill

Book Mentions:      Beating the Odds (Ira Childress)              

You can follow Jayme Pendergast and Life University Athletics on social media
 Twitter: @GulliverAD 
Instagram: Gulliver Prep Athletics

Find out more about Mr. Ira Childress and Gulliver Prep Athletics at: Gulliver Prep Athletics

About Hangin With The AD Podcast….

Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics.  These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.          

We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests.  Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it.  Thank you for listening.  And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.         

Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)

Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb). @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram) 

Episode # 14 … Jayme Pendergast

Today’s guest is Jayme Pendergast. Jayme serves as the Director of Athletics for Life University located in Marietta, Ga. She is a small-town girl who has done and who continues to do big things. A lover of learning and one who fosters a growth mindset in those around her Jayme has been a pivotal part in the tremendous growth that Life Athletics has experienced in recent years growing to serve over 500 student-athletes while seeing multiple programs rise to new heights of success. Let’s jump in and get to know Mrs. Jayme Pendergast.  

1:02 - Introduction 
4:51 - Leading an Athletic Department of over 500 athletes
6:36 - What makes a Great Coach? What do you look for when hiring a new coach?
8:00 - Benefits of a Sports Psychology Degree 
9:41 - What shaped Jayme Pendergast’s Leadership Style
12:12 - What does a successful ‘student-athlete experience” look like?
14:09 - Motivating Your Coaching Staff
17:45 - Promoting your Programs through Social Media
19:49 - Three Pieces to Success -Show Up, Engage, Be Coachable
22:52 - The Intrigue of Life University Athletics
24:12 - Developing an Athletic Department Hall of Fame
25:55 - A Fan of Author, Joshua Medcalf
27:05 - Systems & Processes…Data Collection
32:11 - Facility Improvement through a Video Room
33:39 - AD Honor Roll
35:18 - Initial Trust & Respect when Meeting New People
38:55 – Highlights of Life University Athletics
41:52 - Leadership Qualities from Dr. Ike Reighard
44:00 - 2-Minute Drill 

Book Mentions:  Infinite Game (Simon Sinek)  Talent Code (Daniel Coyle)  Chop Wood, Carry Water (Joshua Medcalf) Pound the Stone (Joshua Medcalf) Burn Your Goals (Joshua Medcalf)  Tipping Point (Malcolm Gladwell)  Culture Code (Daniel Coyle) Talking with Strangers (Malcolm Gladwell) 
 
You can follow Jayme Pendergast and Life University Athletics on social media  Twitter: @JaymePendergast   @LifeUAthletics   Instagram: Life U Athletics    Jayme Pendergast 

Find out more about Mrs. Jayme Pendergast and Life University Athletics at: Life U Athletics 

EPISODE # 13 …. Leah Thomas 

 Today’s guest is Leah Thomas. Leah serves as an assistant athletic director of student-athlete development within the Georgia Tech Athletic Association, responsible for overseeing the wellness and development of more than 400 Georgia Tech student-athletes. She was a founding member of the Collegiate & Professional Sports Dietitians Association (CPSDA), an organization that supports registered dietitians working in performance settings and is featured in the College Football Hall of Fame as one of the leading and longest-serving sports dietitians working in college football. 

 A finalist for the Allied Health Professional award in 2019 as well as a competitive runner who in 2004 was an Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, Leah has a passion for both nutrition and education and is making not only short-term changes in the health of the athletes at Ga. Tech but helping them create lifelong habits that will benefit them long after they leave the flats. Let’s jump in and get to know Mrs. Leah Thomas. 

 1:28- Introduction 

3:49- Bridging the Gap to Performance through the Georgia Tech Total Person Program 

6:21- Developing a Nutrition Plan for Athletes 

8:10- Taking Athletes to the Grocery Store-Nutrition Counseling 

11:12- In-Game Fueling and What it looks like! 

17:40- The Importance of the Relationship between Nutritionist/Coach and the Athlete 

21:35- Leading in the world of Student-Athlete Development 

24:38- Real, Applicable Ways to Improve the Well-Being of the Student-Athlete 

28:40- What does a Hydration Plan look like?  The Right Stuff electrolytes  

32:09- The ‘FUN’ in the Evolution of Student-Athlete Development 

35:05- Getting ‘Buy In’ from Coaches when Implementing a Nutrition Plan 

37:10- Grocery List for Athletes … Leah Thomas’ Grocery List & Meal Ideas 

40:02- 2-Minute Drill 

You can follow Leah Thomas on Twitter @GTSprtNutrition or Georgia Tech Athletics @GTAthletics  

Find more about Leah Thomas and The Georgia Tech Total Person Program at:  

The GT Total Person Program 

Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)

Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA.  @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)

Episode # 12 …Scott Kelly, Athletic Director, Lassiter HS (GA)

Today’s guest is a fellow Cobb County AD Scott Kelly of Lassiter High School in Ga. Scott has a unique perspective on leadership and undoubtedly you will feed off his passion for the Lassiter community, school, and athletic programs. Grab something to write with and on because I know you will surely find something today that you can immediately implement into your program. Let’s jump in and get to know Mr. Scott Kelly

0:52- Introduction
 2:56- Living Through 30 Years at Lassiter HS
 3:41- First Memory of Lassiter HS
 5:03- What Memories Fuel Your Fire?
 6:58- Benefits to Coaching and Staying at a School for a Long Period
 9:51- Experiences that Lasted through Your Different Roles at LHS
 12:09-Passing on Your Passion to Young, New Coaches
 20:52- Navigating the Role as AD while being a Parent of Athletes
 23:39- 2-Minute Drill 

You can follow Scott Kelly on twitter @LassiterSports

About Hangin with the AD Podcast….

Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics.  These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.          

We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests.  Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it.  Thank you for listening.  And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.         

Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)

Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)

SPECIAL EPISODE … Dave Gordon, speaker/author, TIP: A Simple Strategy to Inspire High Performance & Lasting Success

0:40- Preview to the Book, Inspiration to Write TIP
 4:25- The Importance Foreword written by Jon Gordon
 7:49- Looking in the Mirror to Help You Lead
 11:00- Most Important Asset: Reputation
 16:50- Understanding Your Skill Set
 20:10- ‘Never Not a Representative’ of Your Brand
 22:20- ‘My Pleasure’ vs ‘No Problem’
 28:24- The Story of the Spilled Bottle of Wine
 31:23- Return on Actions
 34:09- ‘True Differentiator…is Service’
 40:16- Advice to Coaches/ADs to ensure Team Performance
 44:25- Making a Great First Impression
 48:32- Why ADs/Coaches Should Read TIP
 54:07- Revamping Your Personal Mission Statement

About Hangin With The AD Podcast….

Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics.  These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.          

We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests.  Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it.  Thank you for listening.  And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.         

Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)

Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)