Higher Ed Athletics

This Marshall AD opening seems like the hardest to predict candidates, or at least where they will come from outside of one name: Jeff O’Malley. The VP/AD at Lamar University, O’Malley served as a top administrator at Marshall Athletics for 20 years and was the interim AD during Covid-19 and the move to the Sun Belt Conference before Spears was ultimately hired instead. O’Malley accepted the position at Lamar shortly after Spears came on board. Would he come back?

Since there aren’t any other obvious candidates, I decided to research recent AD hires at the same membership level of Marshall. I have been putting together an AD hiring spreadsheet for my dissertation and that guides me in some of my thought processes. The data is split on whether it will be a sitting AD, a power school deputy AD, or a Sun Belt Conference deputy. I do offer one potential name besides O'Malley but it seems difficult to predict.

Marshall HEA Briefing: https://higheredathletics.com/2025/06/11/hea-briefing-marshall/

Here are my thoughts on the different candidate types and potential names for the AD opening at Georgia Tech. Predictions are new for me, but I figured I’d lay out my thought process and end with a prediction to see if I at least had the candidate type or position profile correct. Please note I have not spoken to anyone at all about these names – they’re all based on my observations and frameworks of thought. I spend a great deal of time investigating an opening, which you can see for Georgia Tech in my HEA Briefings article linked below.

Georgia Tech HEA Briefing: https://higheredathletics.com/2025/06/15/hea-briefing-georgia-tech/

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 Introduction
• 4:25 Travis Takeaways from the Book
• 7:18 Kevin's Quote about his Father and How it Steered his Career
• 13:00 Day One Advice for a New AD: Find the Power Influencers
• 19:10 Art of Anticipation or Political IQ - You Gotta Have Both
• 23:15 The Need to Look Further Ahead in College Athletics
• 24:45 How to Build Up Political IQ
• 28:40 Being a Truth Teller has No Off-Ramp
• 30:25 The Kevin White Athletic Director Tree
• 38:50 "Loaves and Fishes" + Why Loras College was the Perfect First Assignment
• 42:30 Attending Harvard's Institute for Educational Management for Aspiring Higher Ed Leaders
• 46:00 Always Felt like there was a Plan for My Life + Seminary Story
• 52:25 Mount Rushmore of Former Athletic Directors

Buy 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 Introduction
• 1:40 Preparing for the ISU AD Search
• 7:45 Strategies he thought could work at ISU early on
• 11:00 Being President Godard's first hire and working together on a big agenda
• 15:30 Consistency of ISU Athletic Administration
• 21:20 Education level of donors/fans after Men's Basketball complete roster overhaul in 2024
• 26:40 Explaining the Investor Society to help increase fundraising efforts
• 28:40 ISU's plans for the House Settlement
• 33:00 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.

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.

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.

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

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)