UIAAA Connection

The podcast is making another visit to northern Utah. UIAAA Connection #306 – Dave Simon, CAA - Director of Athletics– Woods Cross High School - is now available. Dave takes listeners through a journey that begins in Woods Cross, Utah, where he grew up and later returned to serve his almamater. After graduation, he served a mission in Scotland for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before playing football at Snow College. Dave married in 2000, and he and his wife now have five children. Before beginning his 22-year teaching career, he spent time working in the health club industry, adding another dimension to his professional journey. Dave discusses the importance of becoming certified and speaks fondly about the UIAAA family and the friendships he has developed through the organization. His advice forathletic directors’ centers on patience, recognizing the many moving parts of the job, and making relationships a priority.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiH

This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

The podcast is making its 8th visit to Florida. UIAAA Connection #305 – Brittney Scott, CAA - Director of Athletics – East River High School - is now available. Brittney takes listeners on a journey from Brooklyn, where she grew up under the guidance of her mother and grandmother, to a remarkable career in athletics. Born into a Jamaican family shortly after the Jamaican bobsled team’s famous 1988 Olympic debut, Brittney developed a passion for basketballand became a head coach at just 21. She shares how trusting her instincts helped guide her career, including her experience becoming a state coordinator in Florida and attending her first NIAAA Summit in Indianapolis last September. Brittney also recognizes Florida’s legendary leaders and the impact they made along her journey. She explores the important question, “What’s next?” and emphasizes certification. Her advice: establish a clear vision, create one-, three-, and five-year plans, and build the right culture with every stakeholder.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiH

This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

The podcast is making its 7th visit to Ohio. UIAAA Connection #304 – Morgan Sullivan, CAA - Director of Athletics – WestLiberty Salem High School - is now available. Morgan grew up in southeast Ohio near the West Virginia and Kentucky borders and attended Heidelberg University in Tiffin,Ohio, where he played baseball for mentor Matt Psalm. As a college senior when 9/11 occurred, Morgan enlisted in the Army and began an incredible 20-year military career before entering athletic administration in August 2022. Hereflects on his younger self, admitting that, like many recent college graduates, he felt ready to coach and thought he knew everything. Morgan also shares his journey with his podcast, Talkin With the AD, now approaching 25 episodes. He also mentions his soon to be published book Coach on Leadership.  He highlights Ohio legends Bruce Brown, GlennGillespie, Julie Renner, Randy Tevepaugh, Jeff Kurtz, and Trey Newberry. His advice: use every local, state, and national resource available and make time to build meaningful relationships.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiH

This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

The podcast is making another visit to Utah. UIAAA Connection #303 - Chris Baer, CMAA - Assistant Director ofAthletics – Park City High School - is now available. Chris takes listeners on a journey from Media, Pennsylvania, where he grew up playing football and lacrosse, to ParkCity High School, where he graduated in 2008. His lacrosse career continued at New York Tech before leading him to Westminster College in Salt Lake City, where he earned his master’s degree. Today, Chris works at his alma mater,giving back to the school that helped shape his career. He shares how his mother and aunt influenced his life and the lessons they passed along. Chris also highlights the tremendous networking opportunities available through theUIAAA and NIAAA. His take in going through the NIAAA QPA process is not to be missed. His advice for athletic administrators comes down to two simple principles: stay organized, keep that desk clean, and listen to the adviceothers offer along the way.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiH

This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

The podcast is making its second visit to New York. UIAAA Connection #302 – Jim Johnson – basketball coach andmotivational speaker - is now available. Coach Johnson grew up in Greece, New York, a suburb of Rochester, where his father became the head basketball coach during Jim’s eighth-grade year. He followed his father’s coaching path, playing basketball at Slippery Rock before attending SUNY Cortland. He modeled his coaching philosophy after his father and legendary coach John Wooden, becoming a head coach at age 25. During the podcast, Jim shared his seven points of success, including clarifying your vision and embracing servant leadership. He also told the inspiring J-Mac (Jason McElwain) story that brought him and his program overnight fame. His advice centered on leading yourself, understanding your “why,” taking a 90-day listening tour, identifying your core values, and establishing the behaviors you expect from others.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiH

This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

The podcast is making its third visit to Kentucky. UIAAA Connection #301 – Jackie Duval – Director of Athletics, Fayette County Public Schools - is now available. In this episode, Jackie shares a fascinating journey from growing up in Frankfort, Kentucky, as the daughter of a college basketball coach to becoming a leader in athletic administration. A standout athlete, she scored more than 1000 points in basketball in her senior year while dominating the 400-meterrace and winning a state championship every year of high school. She continued her track career at the University of Kentucky, earning a degree in Communications, before beginning her athletic administration career at KentuckyState University. Jackie discusses how NIL and the transfer landscape have amplified the athlete’s voice and changed the profession. Her advice is simple: stay adaptable, pivot quickly when needed, and never allow adult problems to negativelyaffect student-athletes.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiH

This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

The podcast is making another visit to the UIAAA Board of Directors. UIAAA Connection #300 – Ron Dolphin, CMAA – Assistant Executive Director - Utah Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association - is now available. Ron opened thepodcast by describing his second career on the Colorado River as “Captain Ron.” He then discussed Grand County High School’s transition from traditional 11-man football to eight-man football in Moab and the changes accompanying that move. Ron also reviewed significant developments within the UIAAA during the past year, including Lee Gille becoming membership chair, Whitney Randall joining as communications director, and Jamie Sheetz succeeding Clark Stringfellow as an assistant coordinator. He highlighted the continued rotation of UIAAA leadership and increased scholarships supporting first-time attendees at theNIAAA Conference. Ron emphasized the UIAAA’s continued growth, strong membership, and positive direction.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiH

This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

The podcast is making its 15th visit to Indiana. UIAAA Connection #299 – Phil Rison, CMAA, Executive Director,National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association – is now available. Phil is the first four-time guest on thepodcast, and he brings plenty of updates from the NIAAA office. He introduces new staff members Emily Morris and April Haffner, along with summer intern Landon Dennison, grandson of former Executive Director Bruce Whitehead. Philshares highlights from a productive summer Board meeting and the September Coordinators’ Summit, along with insights from his travels to Section Meetings. He also celebrates NIAAA membership surpassing 17,000 and certification averaging about 100 athletic directors per month. Phil recaps recent conferences in Tampa, Orlando, and Austin, previews Phoenix, and looks ahead to Kansas City and the NIAAA’s 50th conference. His unique journey includes service as a Board member, Board President, and now Executive Director.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiH

This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, ApplePodcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

The podcast is making another visit to Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #298 – Dan Cowan, CMAA, Retired Director of Athletics – West Jordan H S – is now available. Dan Cowan reflects on a distinguished career dedicated to educational athletics and leadership. Growing up in Salt LakeCity, he excels as a three-sport athlete at South High School before attending the University of Utah, where he played four seasons of basketball under legendary coach Jack Gardner. As one of the pioneers of the UIAAA, Dan champions the value of professional development and certification, becoming thefirst Utahn and one of the first 40 individuals in the nation to earn the CMAA designation. He emphasizes the importance of family, reminds listeners that the public rarely understands the full scope of an athletic director's responsibilities, and encourages leaders to love their students and coaches,keep meticulous records, and remain objective when working with parents.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiH

This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.

The podcast is making its first visit to Rhode Island. UIAAA Connection #297 – Elizabeth “Beth” Penkala, CMAA - Executive Director Rhode Island Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association - is now available. Beth reflects on a career shaped by leadership, innovation, and a passion for educational athletics. Raised in Rhode Island, she competed during the early years of Title IX, specializing in the shot put and discus before graduating from Warren High School. Beth credits her parents and coaches as the mentors who inspire her commitment to excellence. She discusses the growing influence of artificial intelligence over the past decade and explains why online ticketing has become essential for today's athletic programs. Beth also speaks with deep admirationfor Rhode Island legends Mike Lunney, the late Allen Huestis, and former RIAAA Executive Director Elaine Botelho. Her advice: stay ahead of the job and communicate effectively with every stakeholder.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2L2ERXOxQcuHl5GE1vjOiH

This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.