The CALS Report

Time for year three of the CALS Report.

First up, the big interview featuring CALS host and TCU Director of Athletics Mike Buddie. You'll enjoy hearing about his unconventional path from college baseball to the MLB to the AD chair, how TCU balances resources across sports while dealing with revenue sharing, NIL, rising costs and roster investment and his advice for young athletics professionals. He also shares what makes TCU and Fort Worth special as CALS26 approaches.

Plus, Airshare Chief Revenue Officer Dylan Haynie joins us for this month’s Sponsor Spotlight to talk about how Airshare helps coaches, administrators, athletes and more make the most of their time with flexible, efficient air travel options built for the demands of college athletics.

In this edition of The CALS Report, Ryan Bradley sits down with DePaul University Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy for an in-depth look at the strategy behind building a stronger, more competitive athletics department.

Peevy took over leadership of DePaul Athletics in August 2020, entering the role at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and facing challenges ranging from facilities and revenue generation to brand positioning and organizational culture. Six years later, his leadership has earned him a five-year contract extension through 2031 and an elevation to Senior Vice President.

Peevy discusses DePaul’s new five-year strategic plan, Beyond the Dream, and the lessons learned from the university’s first strategic planning cycle. He shares how DePaul has strengthened its facilities, fundraising, organizational culture and brand — including growing annual fundraising from $1.1 million before his arrival to a department-record $15.6 million last year.

The conversation also explores how DePaul is setting measurable goals for competitive success, revenue growth, donor engagement and institutional impact while navigating the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics. Peevy explains why investing in people is just as important as investing in facilities, how student-athlete and campus feedback shaped the plan, and why a successful athletics department must demonstrate its value to the university far beyond wins and losses.

Plus, Peevy reflects on his longtime involvement with CALS, the importance of developing the next generation of college athletics leaders and why continued learning remains essential — even after reaching the AD chair.

Big Sky Conference Commissioner Tom Wistrcill joins Ryan Bradley to discuss leadership, conference realignment and the rapidly changing college athletics landscape. He shares his perspective on revenue sharing, the transfer portal, the future of FCS football and the NCAA men’s basketball selection process, along with valuable career advice for aspiring athletic administrators.

This month, Ryan Bradley sits down with Eddie Nunez, Director of Athletics at the University of Houston, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, growth, and navigating a new era in college athletics.

Eddie shares his career journey from student-athlete to coach to administrator, including the lessons he learned at LSU and New Mexico that helped prepare him for the opportunity at Houston. He talks about what drew him to the role, the potential he sees in the University of Houston, and why competing in the Big 12 is both a challenge and a tremendous opportunity.

The conversation also takes a deeper look at the evolving role of the athletic director. Eddie discusses what it means to lead like a CEO, build relationships across a major city, grow revenue in a changing financial landscape, and keep an athletic department aligned during a time of constant uncertainty.

You’ll also hear Eddie’s perspective on the importance of culture, consistency, and community support, along with what he has learned from working alongside leaders like Kelvin Sampson and Willie Fritz. And as a longtime supporter of CALS, Eddie shares why professional development, genuine relationships, and learning from others remain so important for the next generation of college athletics leaders.

It’s an honest and insightful conversation about building something the right way, embracing change, and leading with both urgency and perspective.

In Episode 21 of The CALS Report, Ryan Bradley talks with University of Pittsburgh Athletics Director Allen Greene. Greene shares perspective from his journey through college baseball, professional baseball, and athletic administration, along with lessons learned from leading at multiple institutions and building alignment at Pitt. The conversation touches on the realities of modern college athletics, the importance of culture inside a department, and why developing student-athletes still has to stay at the center of the mission.

It’s a thoughtful discussion filled with practical perspective for anyone working in or around college athletics.

What does it take to go from a solid fundraiser to someone who consistently delivers at the highest level? In this episode of The CALS Report, the conversation goes beyond tactics and into mindset, discipline, and the small habits that build trust over time.

Host Quinn Kavanagh, Associate AD for Major Gifts at Tennessee, is joined by two respected industry leaders. Brady Hart serves as Deputy AD and Chief Revenue Officer at the University of Tennessee, overseeing revenue generation and serving as the sport administrator for football. Denson Hollis is the CEO/Senior Associate AD for Development for Ole Miss Athletics and the sport administrator for men's basketball.

Together, they dive into how they built their careers, from vastly different paths to leadership roles, and what it takes to build and sustain high-performing teams. The conversation covers everything from creating a culture of “professional problem solvers,” to empowering staff at every level, to the real skills that separate good fundraisers from elite ones. They also unpack today’s biggest challenges, including NIL, evolving donor expectations, and balancing fundraising responsibilities with sport oversight.

It’s a candid, practical discussion filled with insight for anyone looking to grow in college athletics or lead at a higher level.

Georgia Tech AD Ryan Alpert joins The CALS Report for a candid look at his first year in the chair.

From navigating high-stakes decisions to empowering his leadership team, Alpert shares what has surprised him most about the role and how he is building a modern athletic department in today’s NIL and revenue-driven era.

Plus, registration is open for this year's CALS One-Day event at Georgia Tech in June. Listen in to learn more about this opportunity for athletic departments.

🎧 CALS Report Episode 19 now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Georgia Tech AD Ryan Alpert joins The CALS Report for a candid look at his first year in the chair.

From navigating high-stakes decisions to empowering his leadership team, Alpert shares what has surprised him most about the role and how he is building a modern athletic department in today’s NIL and revenue-driven era.

Plus, registration is open for this year's CALS One-Day event at Georgia Tech in June. Listen in to learn more about this opportunity for athletic departments.

🎧 CALS Report Episode 19 now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

In this episode, we sit down with retiring University of Oklahoma Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione for an in-depth reflection on more than three decades of transformational leadership in college athletics.

From the pivotal hiring of Bob Stoops and the launch of a historic capital campaign to Oklahoma’s move to the SEC and the rapidly evolving NIL era, Castiglione offers candid insight into the strategic decisions that positioned Oklahoma for sustained excellence.

Beyond championships and conference realignment, Castiglione also reflects on what may be one of his most meaningful legacies: mentoring the next generation of leaders. Over the course of his career, 33 members of his staff have gone on to become athletic directors at other institutions — a testament to his commitment to leadership development and investing in people.

At its core, this conversation is about stewardship, values, and building programs that win the right way while creating life-changing experiences for student-athletes

And then in "The Lobby" segment, Mississippi State Deputy AD and former OU Assoc. AD Joey Bailey leads a conversation with Mississippi State AD Zac Selmon, Cornell AD Nicki Moore and West Virginia AD Wren Baker about the impact Castiglione's mentorship made on their careers.

Episode 17 of The CALS Report is a powerful look at leadership, momentum, and navigating success in today’s college athletics landscape.

The Big Interview takes listeners inside what can only be described as a whirlwind month at Tulane and James Madison. Athletic directors David Harris and Matt Roan join Ryan Bradley to reflect on the rapid-fire reality of winning conference championships, earning College Football Playoff berths, and then immediately navigating head coaching changes. It is a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about balancing celebration with crisis management, keeping student athletes at the center during uncertainty, and leading calmly when everything is moving at once.

In The Lobby, the focus shifts to basketball, with veteran coach Dane Fischer leading a thoughtful conversation with Jonathan Botros of Texas Tech and Josh Cowan of Mississippi State. Together, they unpack basketball sport supervision, the evolving demands of the role, and practical advice for the next generation of athletic administrators.

Episode 17 reflects what The CALS Report does best: real conversations, shared experiences, and leadership lessons that extend far beyond the game.