Trustees and Presidents: A Podcast for University Leaders On College Athletics

Jim Cavale, founder and Chairman of Athletes.org, joins the podcast. Athletes.org, serves as a players association for college athletes. It is dedicated to maximizing their income, amplifying their voices, and providing on-demand support for key decisions as they navigate college athletics and beyond. AO enables college athletes to have a say in crucial matters affecting their future. 

The American Council of Education provided a statement to Congress advocating against Dartmouth’s men’s basketball team joining a campus union. This statement is what precipitated my conversation with Jim.

We talk directly about the issues higher education is most fearful of: athlete organizing and collective bargaining. In our conversation, Jim stresses the need for dialogue and collaboration with athletes to resolve issues. If college athletics intends to restructure, it must focus on maximizing revenue and ensuring equitable sharing across programs. 

We also discuss what private equity bring to the table-offering an initial financial boost with potentially injecting millions into athletics departments. Jim stresses fair opportunities and regionalizing sports to optimize resources and support all athletes. 

 Here is the link to the ACE document noted in the podcast

https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Statement-NLRB-House-Hearing-031224.pdf

Today we welcome back Jason Belzer, CEO of Student-Athlete NIL (SANIL), a company that is leading the field in athletes leveraging their NIL opportunities. Jason launched the Student Athlete NIL Summit in Atlanta in 2023 (attracting over 500 athletes) and  his company today supports over 1500 athletes in managing their NIL contracts and transactions.

Jason is at the forefront of navigating the evolution of this still very young industry. This conversation is a great opportunity for presidents to look around the corner and see what’s next.

Joining me for the conversation today is the Big Ten Conference’s Chief Medical Officer, Jim Borchers.

Jim is the former Ohio State team physician and current president of the US Council for Athlete Health. We discuss the growing challenges facing athletic healthcare professionals, including burnout among athletic trainers, pressures from coaches and parents, need for independent medical authority, and advice for college presidents to prioritize athlete health and safety. Today, more than ever, this is an important conversation for campus leaders to hear.

Val Ackerman, Commissioner of the Big East Conference joins the podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on the substantial changes in college athletics, particularly as they impact schools that do not play big-time football. Called basketball-centric schools, they have to navigate the transfer portal, NIL, conference realignment and other tidal waves at a time where their primary revenue source is success in March—March Madness.

Today I’m joined by Jill Bodensteiner, the Vice President and Director of Athletics at Saint Joseph’s University. Jill is a member of several key NCAA DI Committees imagining the future of college athletics. Ironically, it was 20 years ago this month that the St. Joe’s men’s basketball team was at the top of the world. Undefeated and ranked #1 in the nation, the team brought excitement to campus that only a few schools get to experience. Today, the realignment winds have blown through NCAA sports, and St. Joe’s has had to recalibrate around culture and transparency.

Bodensteiner discusses the challenge of managing rosters and team culture in a transfer friendly environment, the battle to keep athletes from being employees and union members, and the overall challenges facing higher education today.

On today’s podcast, we discuss the opportunities and challenges in streaming hundreds of live events from Division II and III campuses. The money is nowhere near the millions pouring in to some Division I programs, so the question becomes what makes it worth the significant effort?

My guests today are Steve Ulrich, a pioneer in media and tech usage when he was the long time commissioner of the Centennial Conference; Katie Boldvich, the commissioner of the Landmark Conference, the first to partner with Flo Sports (who is jumping into the space with both feet), and Ryan Scott from d3hoops.com, who has chronicled the workload increases being made on athletic communications professionals on these campuses.

Thinking about streaming? Take a listen to these experts!

My guests today are two national leaders in the college athlete’s rights space. Congresswoman Lori Trahan from Massachusetts has been an outspoken advocate for college sports reform and for strengthening Title IX compliance. Chase Griffin, UCLA Quarterback and National NIL Athlete of the Year, recently appeared at a Congressional hearing and spoke of the synergies NIL opportunities have with the purpose of higher education. 

 Three important takeaways for presidents came from this conversation:

1.    Open direct lines of communication with student athletes to understand their perspectives and needs. As Chase Griffin emphasized, presidents should not rely solely on athletic directors or coaches to represent athlete views. 

2.    Prioritize Title IX compliance and closing loopholes that disadvantage women's sports. Strengthening Title IX enforcement is an urgent need that presidents have power to address now.

3.    Prepare for coming changes like NIL rights and revenue sharing that will further empower student athletes. Presidents should engage positively with these changes rather than resist them, as the athletes themselves are driving this progress.

On the podcast, we welcome back Dr. Holden Thorp, Editor in Chief of Science, and Professor of Chemistry and Medicine at George Washington University. Holden has closely followed the challenges the Atlantic Coast Conference faces. With Florida State in open revolt and trying to leave the ACC as soon as they can, to the internal political battles that loom over any moves by North Carolina, North Carolina State and Duke, and what the future holds for this venerable athletic conference.

Holden asks the fundamental question that many are beginning to wonder-can college presidents really manage what athletics has become? Should the elite programs separate from the university? As the former chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill, he brings a deep insight into the conversation.

Deep inside the Prudential Center, the home of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, thirty-seven-year-old Michael B. Jordan was shuffling a deck of cards. You’re a card player, I asked? He said, yes, and he listed a few games, some of which I’ve heard of, some not. He seemed at ease. He had just done a pre-recorded hit for NBC’s the Today Show, and was about to do an interview with me.

Named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2014 for Hollywood and Entertainment, Jordan has since added to his impressive list of accomplishments major leading roles in three movies, “Black Panther”, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, and “Creed”. His net worth is pegged at $25 million. Now he wants to climb to the top of the sports world. I asked him what his ultimate goal was. With a serious look, he said, “I want to own an NBA franchise”.

Jordan knows what equity and wealth have meant to him. Now it was time to share that insight with others who grew up like him.

Just before the launch of the two day Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic, a showcase tournament for four HBCU men’s basketball teams in Newark, NJ, I was invited to exclusively interview Michael for Forbes.com. Over the 30 minutes we spent together, Michael shared wisdom and insight that is valuable to everyone, but in particular, college athletes trying to navigate the great financial potential of name, images and likeness.

Here is my conversation, recorded February 2, 2024. You can learn more about the Legacy Classic and that historic weekend in my piece for Forbes.

An emerging trend on larger college campuses is the creation of innovation districts. Typically located adjacent to the campus (or in the case of colleges with multiple campuses, the main location), these ecosystems involve businesses, residential and entertainment/sports options, creating a “24 hour a day” energy to an otherwise sleepy part of town. The upside of this trend is obvious to real estate businesses; increasingly, colleges are realizing the potential these have to create a new campus spirit.

My guest today is Erik Williams, the Real Estate Practice Chair at Saul Ewing LLP. Erik has extensive experience in this industry and is based in Philadelphia, an emerging hub in innovation districts. We also discuss the potential for using this financial vehicle to further energize NIL possibilities for college athletes.