UIAAA Connection

The podcast makes its sixth visit to the six annual recipients of the UIAAA Scholarship. UIAAA Connection #276 UIAAA Student Scholarship Recipients: Megan Beus – Ogden, Alli Bowler – Salem Hills, Presley Castro – Hunter, Bella Hall – SkyView, Jake Mason – Grand County, Brock Richards – Juab.  Listen as the scholars share their stories on how they became outstanding student/athletes.  You won’t want to miss this one!    Please Listen, Learn and Share! You can subscribe to UIAAA TV on YouTube!

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 fifth visit to California. UIAAA Connection #275 – Candace Cayer, CMAA, Vice Principal and Chair of the District Athletic Directors committee – Hacienda Lapuente Unified School District - is now available. Candacegrew up in Los Angeles, California, and competed in three sports during high school before continuing as a two-sport athlete at Cal State Los Angeles. Her professional journey began at Cal State Los Angeles as grant-in-aid and scholarship director. A 35-year career in education includes 22 years as an athletic director. She reflects on how interscholastic athletics evolved, with stronger safety measures such as AEDs, training requirements, and emergency action plans. Fourteen years of service on the NIAAA Endowment Committee, including eight as chair, plus work on the NIAAA Fourth Strategic Plan highlighted herleadership. Her advice encourages professional development, association membership, and consistent communication with principals.

 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 North Dakota. UIAAA Connection #274 – Lorell Jungling, CMAA, Executive Director - NDIAAA - is now available. Lorell reflects on growing up on a North Dakota farm, where athletics shaped his character through participation in basketball, track, and baseball. He speaks with admiration for North Dakota legends Darrell Anderson, Craig Perry, Ed Lockwood, and Todd Olson, whose influence helped guide his professional path. Jungling later gained a unique opportunity to serve on the NFHS as an athletic director from 2005 to 2009. He emphasizes the importance of family, along with the strong support found within the NDIAAA and NIAAA communities. His adviceencourages joining state and national associations, valuing networking opportunities, and remembering during difficult seasons that “This too shall pass.”

 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 Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #273 – James Edward, Editor, Prep Sports – Deseret News - is now available. James grew up in Murray, Utah, and moved to Holladay during his sophomore year,discovering at age ten a passion for journalism and a desire to become a sportswriter. A 1994 graduate of Olympus High School, he earned his degree from the University of Utah in 1998, launching his career with The Daily Utah Chronicle. Mentor Lee Benson inspired his early professional growth. Edward describes championship days as the most rewarding, capturing both joy and heartbreak as athletes close their high school careers. His advice encourages coaches and ADs to collaborate with media and promptly respond to pressinquiries for athletes’ benefit. 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 Maryland. UIAAA Connection #272 – Dana Johnson, CAA, Director of Athletic – Dunbar High School, Baltimore MD, - is now available. Dana grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Western HighSchool, an all-girls school where she competed in basketball, volleyball, and track. She continued her basketball career at Tennessee under legendary coach Pat Summitt, maintaining connections with the 161 players who competed in thatprogram. Professional competition in Hungary followed, along with collegiate coaching at Morgan State before transitioning into interscholastic athletics. She now serves on the LTC 640 National Faculty, investing in the development of athletic leaders. Her advice emphasizes securing a trusted mentor and building strong, collaborative relationships with building administrators to ensure long-term success. 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 northern Utah. UIAAA Connection #271 – Ken Crawford, CAA, Executive Director ofStudent Services and Athletics – Ogden School District, - is now available. Ken grew up in Emmett, Idaho, where farmwork shaped discipline and resilience from an early age. He competed as a three-sport athlete in basketball, baseball, and wrestling before walking on to BYU’s wrestling program as a freshman. An LDS mission to England sparked a deeppassion for teaching and mentorship. Throughout the conversation, Crawford reinforces a simple but powerful message: you can do hard things. His advice challenges leaders to embrace a servant-leadership mindset, remain humble, and intentionally seek opportunities to learn from others in order to grow personally and professionally.  

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 makes its third visit to Connecticut. UIAAA Connection #270 – Jen Gros, Directors of Growth and Partners – sportsYou - is now available. Jen grew up inDenver, Colorado and Columbus, Ohio, before attending Ohio State University, where she competed in rowing for two years. Following graduation, she built experience leading nonprofit organizations before joining sportsYou eight years ago. Jen reflects on key personal questions that shape leadership and purpose: Who am I, where do I fit, and do I matter? She discusses navigating constant demands while remaining intentional about priorities and personal impact. Her advice encourages leaders to prioritize carefully, welcome disruptions thoughtfully rather than react emotionally, and develop the confidence to say no when necessary in order to protect focus and effectiveness. 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 makes its fifth visit to Wisconsin. UIAAA Connection #269 – Kyle LeMieux, CMAA, Associate Principal and Director of Athletics – West Waukesha High School - is now available. Kyle grew up in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, graduating from the local high school as a four-sport athlete. After completing studies at the University of Wisconsin, he spent time as a minister before transitioning into public education. Kyle shares success mentoring coaches, noting that only five of 120 coaches in his building hold teaching positions. He co-authored LTC 708, Coaching Coaches for aLegacy of Leadership, and taught the course for the first time at the NIAAA Conference in Tampa. Now serving as President-Elect of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association, Kyle looks ahead with optimism. His advice emphasizes building relationships, listening well, and creating systems that fit your school and leadership style. 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 makes its second visit to Oregon. UIAAA Connection #268 – Tim Sam, CMAA, Director of Athletics - North Valley High School, Grants Pass, Oregon, is now available. Tim grew up in Nampa, California, before moving toAshland, Oregon, during eighth grade. He studied at Southern Oregon University, Oregon State, and the University of Oregon, earning his degree before launching an education career at Roseburg High School in 1990. Now in his ninth year as athletic director at North Valley, Tim reflects on growth as a transformational leader. He defines his purpose as helping others reach their best potential and shares his experience of serving on the NIAAA Board. Tim encourages intentionalleadership rooted in service and growth. His advice emphasizes finding a mentor, clearly understanding your “why,” and continually strengthening that purpose through ongoing professional development.  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 makes another visit to Southern Utah. UIAAA Connection #267 – Dustin Drake, CAA, Director of Athletics - Desert Hills High School, St. George, Utah, is now available. Dustin grew up in southern Utah and graduated from Dixie High School in 2001. He developed as a leader under several mentors, including his father, before stepping into his current role after a decade working in a middle school setting. Dustin discusses the importance of professional certification and reflects on the challenge of adding three varsity sports over the past four years. He expresses genuine enjoyment inworking around student-athletes and supporting their growth. His advice emphasizes ensuring head coaches remain fully prepared, developing strong technology skills, and paying close attention to how time and energy get spenteach day in athletic administration. This podcast is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox,Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.