The CALS Report

In the big interview, we’re talking to Ross Dellenger, Yahoo Sports senior college football reporter. He shares his takes on some of the biggest issues shaping college football right now.

The College Football Playoff.

Expansion.

Conference power.

Private equity.

And the uncertainty around federal legislation like the SCORE Act.

Ross talks with our own Ryan Bradley about the decisions being made right now, the debates happening behind the scenes, and what it all means moving forward.

After that conversation, we head into The Lobby.

Brakston Brock, Associate Athletic Director for Development at Oklahoma State, leads this segment.

He’s joined by two senior leaders who’ve just lived through major head football coach searches.

Reid Sigmon, Deputy Athletic Director at Oklahoma State.

And Rhett Hobart, Deputy Athletic Director at Auburn.

Together, they walk through what the hiring process really looks like today.

The crowded coaching carousel.

A compressed calendar.

Confidentiality.

Search firms.

And the pressure to get it right.

It’s a candid conversation about leadership, process, and decision-making at the highest level.

This episode begins with a deep-dive conversation with Justin Moore (Tulsa) and Fernando Lovo (New Mexico), two new athletic directors navigating unprecedented change in college athletics. They discuss stakeholder education around NIL and revenue sharing, the pressure of early coaching hires, aligning with campus leadership, and how relationship-driven markets like Tulsa and Albuquerque shape resource strategy and fan engagement.

In the second segment, The Leadership Playbook, leadership experts Kevin DeShazo and Seth Kindig from Better (bebetterleaders.com) share actionable tools for young and mid-career administrators. They highlight why leadership forms the foundation (“the pie crust”) of every department’s success and outline systems for daily reflection and self-evaluation that accelerate growth.

Follow The CALS Report on Instagram & TikTok (@thecalsreport), on LinkedIn at the Collegiate Athletic Leadership Symposium, and on YouTube.

What does leadership look like in today’s ever-changing college athletics landscape?

Episode 14 of The CALS Report features Beth Goetz, Iowa Director of Athletics, in a candid Big Interview that covers CALS 25, leading in college athletics today, the Ben McCollum hire, and the continued impact of Caitlin Clark on women’s sports and the Iowa brand.

Goetz shares her approach to building alignment across campus, supporting coaches through change, and defining what sustainable success looks like in the Big Ten. She reflects on the leadership lessons shaping Iowa’s next chapter and what it means to create a culture that elevates everyone around it.

Then in The Lobby, we’re joined by JP Abercrombie (Notre Dame), Kortne Gosha (Nebraska), and Reyna Gilbert-Lowry (Virginia Tech)—three respected leaders who help us look back on CALS 25 in Columbus. They share highlights, personal takeaways, and the deeper impact of the CALS community 15 years in.

Also in this episode:

⚡ Real conversations on leadership, mentorship, and the future of college athletics.

🌟 Reflections from CALS 25 — what makes this community special and why it continues to grow.

In honor of the 15th Collegiate Athletics Leadership Symposium (CALS), coming October 5–7 in Columbus, we’re sharing a special bonus episode of The CALS Report.

This compilation features some of the most respected voices in college athletics reflecting on what CALS means to them—and to the industry. From ADs to commissioners, executives to thought leaders, each clip highlights the power of connection, community, and leadership development that has defined CALS since 2011.

Featured voices include:

Wren Baker • Bubba Cunningham • Ross Bjork • Hunter Yurachek • Zac Selmon • Graham Neff • Troy Dannen • Greg Sankey • Desiree Reed-Francois • Tommy McClelland • Clay Scroggins • Graham Rossini • Jeremiah Dickey • Randale Richmond • Bryan Blair • Jeff Mitchell

What does leadership look like when the stage gets bigger—and the stakes do too?

Episode 13 of The CALS Report features Ross Bjork, Ohio State Director of Athletics and host of CALS 25, as he joins our Ryan Bradley for a wide-ranging Big Interview on culture, scale, and leading in the new era of college sports.

Bjork reflects on his first year in Columbus—what he learned inheriting a powerful culture, how he’s building trust to make hard decisions, and the disciplined approach required to sustain a broad sport portfolio amid revenue sharing and roster caps. He shares lessons from a national championship season, talks balancing tradition with innovation (“honor tradition, don’t think traditionally”), and unpacks the art of tuning out the noise while communicating with conviction.

We also zoom out on the future of NIL, the new College Sports Commission, and why clarity and transparency are the real currency of leadership today. Bjork closes with candid advice to rising ADs: stay adaptable, master the whole enterprise, and invest in relationships that last.

Also in this episode:

✈️ Sponsor Spotlight with Airshare – CRO Dylan Haynie breaks down how private aviation is evolving to serve athletics departments and donor travel.

⚡ Leadership. Strategy. Real talk from the front lines. Episode 13 is a masterclass on where college athletics is headed next.

What does it take to lead with vision—and navigate the shifting landscape of college athletics? Episode 12 of The CALS Report brings together two of the most respected voices in the industry for timely insights and perspective.

In The Big Interview, Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter joins host Ryan Bradley for a candid conversation on leadership, decision-making, and building momentum in Oxford. From the bold hire of Lane Kiffin to the rise of Rebel football and beyond, Carter reflects on the challenges, opportunities, and relationships that have shaped his tenure—and what it takes to align coaches, administrators, and fans behind a shared vision.

Then, ESPN’s Pete Thamel stops by with a special segment on the state of college football. With the season kicking off in earnest, Thamel breaks down the storylines he’s watching most closely, shares his perspective on the future of the CFP, and reflects on what makes College GameDay such an iconic stage—and discusses Lee Corso's final episode.

Episode 12 is a front-row seat to leadership in action and storytelling at its best—reminding us that the conversations shaping college athletics are as dynamic as the game itself.

What does it take to build a program—and a culture—that lasts? Episode 11 of The CALS Report dives into the mindset, relationships, and resilience that drive sustainable success in college athletics.

In The Big Interview, Texas Tech Head Men’s Basketball Coach Grant McCasland joins Ryan Bradley for a powerful conversation on belief, adversity, and the long game of leadership. From getting cut in 7th grade to coaching in the Big 12, McCasland reflects on the moments that shaped him—and why humility, faith, and fierce competition remain at the core of his coaching philosophy. He also shares hard-earned insights on what makes coach–AD relationships thrive and the role of shared trust in building sustainable success.

In The Leadership Playbook, Lisa Campos (UTSA) and Brian White (FAU) sit down with Clay Scroggins to talk about staying power, program growth, and leading through uncertainty. With deep roots at two rising programs, they reflect on how optimism, alignment, and a builder’s mindset are helping them meet the moment—and shape what comes next.

Episode 11 is a masterclass in steady, service-minded leadership—from the bench to the boardroom—and a reminder that the best leaders don’t just adapt to change—they grow through it.

Real-time leadership, high-stakes decisions, and front-line wisdom from the Group of Five—Episode 10 of The CALS Report dives into how today’s ADs are navigating complexity, staying grounded, and leading with conviction in the shifting landscape of college athletics.

In The Big Interview, Ryan Bradley sits down with Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen, who shares lessons from a career spent leading at every level—from FCS to the Big Ten. With candid insight on governance reform, presidential alignment, and what it takes to make hard decisions in public, Dannen offers a clear-eyed view of leadership under pressure and the responsibility that comes with the chair.

In The Lobby, three sitting ADs—Stephanie Rempe (Nevada), Brent Jones (Troy), and Ryan Ivey (Louisiana Tech)—bring a front-line perspective to the real work of leading through change. They explore how they’re approaching the House settlement, building campus culture, managing resource constraints, and investing in the people behind the programs.

Episode 10 is a powerful look at leadership across levels—blending national context with campus reality, and reminding us that clarity, courage, and connection still drive the best in college athletics.

Strategic vision, sport admin in the spotlight, and a call for values-based leadership—Episode 9 of The CALS Report explores what it takes to lead with clarity and courage in the most transformational era college athletics has ever seen.

In The Big Interview, Ryan Bradley sits down with University of Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois, who shares how her team is navigating realignment, revenue sharing, and organizational change through the Bear Down Blueprint. She opens up about the importance of performance metrics, supporting coaches as true partners, and building a sustainable “Platinum Era” in Tucson—rooted in integrity, alignment, and community impact.

In The Lobby, three rising leaders—Ashton Henderson (George Mason), Marcus Bowman (Oklahoma), and Ryan Alpert (Tennessee)—offer a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to lead from the deputy chair. From handling the House settlement and evolving sport administrator roles, to sharing career lessons and revenue strategies, this segment is packed with practical insight and real-world leadership perspective.

Episode 9 is a masterclass in strategic planning, peer leadership, and navigating change with purpose—and a reminder that even in uncertainty, the right people and principles still make all the difference.

In this episode of the CALS Report Ryan Bradley sits down with North Carolina Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham, who recently chaired the NCAA Men’s Basketball Selection Committee, for the Big Interview. Bubba offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the selection process, reflects on five unique years serving on the committee, and shares his perspective on revenue sharing, Olympic sport sustainability, and hiring one of the greatest football coaches of all time. He also opens up about the origins of CALS and why the community still matters today.

In The Deep Dive, Teamworks’ Kevin Barefoot is joined by Dr. Karim Kassam, a former NFL and MLB executive now leading innovation at Teamworks Intelligence. Together, they break down how analytics are transforming roster construction, transfer portal strategy, and player evaluation—and what college leaders can do today to prepare for tomorrow.

From steady leadership in uncertain times to cutting-edge innovation, Episode 8 delivers practical insight and fresh perspective for anyone looking to lead well in today’s ever-evolving landscape.