The AthleticDirectorU Podcast

UCLA Assistant Softball Coach Kirk Walker and Vanderbilt Director of Baseball Operations Brooks Webb sit down with Teamworks Founder & CEO Zach Maurides to chat about the behind the scenes dynamics that contribute to the success of UCLA softball and Vanderbilt baseball. Walker and Webb touch on their day-to-day responsibilities, managing change, defining success, fostering a competitive culture, and much more.

0:53 - What is a typical day like within your program? (Walker) 1:53 - How do you balance all of your work responsibilities and your personal life? (Walker) 2:46 - What is a typical day like within your program? (Webb) 5:56 - With the successes of your programs, how do you manage change? 9:08 - What is unique about the next generation of student-athletes? 12:50 - How do you help instill and foster the competitive drive of student-athletes? 15:36 - How do you define success? 18:16 - What is one piece of advice you would give to another program to help elevate their program?

2:18 - What is your leadership vision for the Knight Commission? (Perko) 4:02 - What is the primary focus for the Knight Commission? (Perko) 4:56 - What is your role with the Knight Commission? (Turner & Cross) 7:40 - In your consulting role, how do you help Amy Perko and the Knight Commission execute its purpose? 11:17 - How has the adoption of Knight Commission recommendations changed since its inception in the 1980s? (Perko) 13:30 - What is the "now" for the Knight Commission? (Turner) 14:59 - How difficult is it to think five and ten years ahead? (Perko) 17:37 - How do you manage all of your on-campus duties in addition to thinking about the mission of the Knight Commission?

Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman sits down with AthleticDirectorU to discuss the state of the Big East in 2020. Ackerman provides insights on the overall state of women's basketball, the addition of UConn, student-athlete mental health, and measuring success for the league.

1:05 - How do you feel about the college women's basketball product overall? 3:19 - Could women's basketball achieve better parity by balancing scholarship opportunities across women's sports? 5:28 - How is the Big East looking to profile women's basketball with the return of UConn and added levels of exposure to the sport? 8:07 - How do you view UConn's football situation, as it joins the conference? 10:45 - How will the Big East measure the successes of adding UConn back into the Big East? 12:49 - What are the benefits and challenges you are seeing with implementing mental health initiatives league-wide?

Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos and Faculty Athletics Representative Jo Potuto sit down with AthleticDirectorU to provide insights on synergy between the AD and FAR positions. Moos and Potuto chat about accountability, communication style and frequency, differing perspectives, and much more.

1:22 - How would you define the accountability between the AD and the FAR? 3:00- What is the structure of communication between the AD and the FAR? 6:00 - How do you utilize the unique perspective of your counterpart to move the mission of the institution forward? 8:22 - For the FAR, what is the onboarding process for a new AD? 9:10 - What is your dynamic with previous FARs? (Moos) 10:13 - How do you keep the FAR abreast of major decision happening regarding the athletic department? (Moos) 11:55 - How do you reconcile with tough conversations or disagreements? (Moos) 13:03 - What are the campus-facing side of the FAR responsibilities? (Potuto) 15:10 - How have your experiences on various committees informed how you operate as the FAR? (Potuto) 16:22 - What is the value for creating a relationship with the FAR for aspiring ADs? (Moos) 17:47 - What advice would you give to those in, or aspiring to hold, leadership roles to help understand the FAR role and the perspective of the institution? (Potuto)

Ahead of the official announcement to transition to Division I, Tarleton State President James Hurley sits down with AthleticDirectorU to discuss the reasons behind the transition, who he has leaned on to transition to Division I, how Tarleton State engaged its constituents in the decision, and the potential impacts on TSU academically, athletically, and financially.

San Jose State AD Marie Tuite and Eastern Washington AD Lynn Hickey join Portland State AD Valerie Cleary to discuss creating organizational culture as a new leader in a familiar setting. With all three women serving at their respective institutions prior to becoming Directors of Athletics, the trio touches on keys to creating organizational culture, the impact of hiring, and bringing that culture to the rest of campus.

FAU AD Brian White and New Mexico AD Eddie Nuñez join UCF Deputy AD Eric Wood to discuss their experiences leading new organizations. The trio reviews soliciting feedback, setting expectations for coaches and staff, evaluating progress, and key allies on campus to help move the mission and brand of the institution forward.

Katie Cavender, Assistant Director of Communications for College Football Playoff joins Jay F. Hicks on the newly co-branded AthleticDirectorU and Sports Creatives Podcast. The duo talk about the process of changing the College Football Playoff's voice on social to be more engaging and less corporation which involved navigating relationships with the organization's numerous stakeholders to get buy-in.

Texas State Head Women's Basketball Coach, Zenarae Antione, is joined by Head Men's Basketball Coaches Anthony Stewart of UT Martin and Russell Turner of UC Irvine for an in-depth conversation on social issues in the industry. The discussion provides insights on hiring minorities as head coaches, women coaches in men's basketball, and addressing sexuality within the sport.