Hangin With The AD Podcast: Recent Episodes
Don Baker & Josh Mathews
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker (CMAA), Cobb County School (GA) District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews (CMAA), Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities. We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Welcome back to another edition of the Hangin' with the AD Podcast.
Today's guest is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking leaders in college athletics. Dan Hauser serves as the Vice President and Director of Athletics at High Point University in High Point, North Carolina, a position he has held since 2014.
Before arriving at High Point, Dan built a strong foundation in athletic administration and marketing, serving in leadership roles at Ohio University, Wake Forest University, and the University of New Mexico. Over the last decade, he has helped transform High Point Athletics into one of the nation's most successful and recognizable mid-major programs.
Under his leadership, High Point has consistently competed at a championship level across multiple sports, earned national recognition in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings, and become known for delivering one of the most unique and impactful student-athlete experiences in higher education.
But Dan's influence extends far beyond wins and losses. He is a passionate believer in leadership, personal growth, dreaming big, and creating environments where people can achieve more than they ever thought possible.
In this conversation, we'll discuss High Point's rise to national prominence, the power of reading and lifelong learning, leadership lessons from High Point’s President’s own unique leadership journey, the importance of presence and culture, navigating the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics, and how leaders can turn ambitious visions into reality.
Whether you're an athletic director, coach, educator, or simply someone who wants to lead at a higher level, you're going to take something valuable away from this conversation.
So sit back, enjoy, and let's get to know the man behind one of the most remarkable success stories in college athletics—Dan Hauser.
On this episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast, we head to the Natural State and sit down with Matt Whiting, the Director of Athletics at University of Central Arkansas. Since stepping into the lead chair in 2024, Matt has been navigating the challenge of following a longtime athletic director, leading through one of the most transformational periods in college athletics, and helping shape the future of the Bears’ athletic department.
Before taking the top role, Matt spent nearly eight years at UCA as Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs and began his journey at his alma mater, University of Arkansas at Monticello—building a career rooted in relationships, strategic growth, and servant leadership.
In this conversation, we dive into leadership transitions, decision-making in the era of NIL, the transfer portal, facility management, AI in leadership, and what today’s changing collegiate landscape means for the next generation of student-athletes. Matt gives us an honest look at the realities of leading in the “big chair” and the intentional habits leaders need to grow, to adapt and stay effective.
If you’re an athletic administrator, coach, or educational leader trying to navigate change while staying grounded in purpose, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Now, let’s settle in and get to know Matt Whiting.
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast.
Today’s conversation is one we’ve been looking forward to for quite some time. Joining us is Nathan Whitaker — a New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, and Super Bowl champion. Many of you know his work alongside legendary NFL coach Tony Dungy, where together they’ve shared powerful lessons on leadership, faith, and what it truly means to live and lead with purpose.
Nathan has had a front-row seat to some of the most respected leaders in professional sports, learning from — and writing about — individuals who don’t just chase success, but define it differently. Leaders who are, in every sense of the word, uncommon.
We’ve had the opportunity to connect most recently with Nathan through the NIAAA AD Roundtable and as well as at the NADC in Tampa, where his message on leadership, alignment, and intentional connection left a lasting impression on athletic leaders from across the country.
In this episode, we dive into what it really means to pursue uncommon success, how great leaders build alignment within their teams, and why something as simple — yet often overlooked — as making genuine connections can transform your leadership impact. We also explore the importance of guarding your mindset, developing future leaders, and finding your own authentic leadership voice rather than trying to replicate someone else’s.
So whether you’re leading a program, a department, or simply looking to grow in your influence, this is a conversation that will challenge and inspire you.
Let’s settle in…and get to know…Nathan Whitaker.
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today, we’re bringing you a special conversation that goes beyond wins, losses, and championships—because as athletic leaders, we know the real impact of sports is found in the lessons that last long after the final whistle.
We’re joined by Kim Coleman, Executive Director of Athletes for a Better World, an organization built on the powerful idea of “Winning More Than the Game.” In this episode, Kim shares her journey, the mission behind ABW, and how the organization is working to highlight the incredible character, leadership, and sportsmanship happening across all levels of athletics—from high school to the professional ranks.
We dive into the stories that define why this work matters, including moments that capture the true spirit of sport, the legacy behind the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, and how partnerships like the Vince Dooley Scholarship Awards with the GHSA are recognizing student-athletes who lead with purpose.
For athletic directors, coaches, and anyone invested in developing young people through sports, this episode is a reminder that what we do is about more than competition—it’s about building better people.
So sit back, take a listen, and let’s talk about how we can all help our athletes… win more than the game.
Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today’s episode is one we’ve been excited about for a long time, because we’re diving into a space that’s become a true game-changer at every level of athletics: mental performance.
Our guest today is Kellen Lee — a Certified Mental Performance Consultant with a master’s degree in Sport Psychology and a PhD in Performance Psychology. Kellen has worked across elite environments, from professional athletics to military and organizational settings, and since January of 2023, he’s been serving as a mental skills coach for the Seattle Mariners at the major league level. He’s also fluent in Spanish, which adds another layer to the way he connects with athletes and teams.
In this conversation, we’re talking about what’s changed in athletics, why mental skills are no longer a luxury but a necessity, how leaders can build flexibility and trust, and what athletic directors should actually be looking for if they’re ready to bring mental performance into their programs. We’ll also dig into leadership, human connection, resistance, and even how tools like AI can support growth when used the right way.
We like to call this the “back of the baseball card” conversation — so we’ll let Kellen fill in the rest. Settle in. There’s a lot to learn today.
Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. In this episode, we’re joined by Rob Seymour, an athletic director at Fishers High School in Fishers, Indiana, where he has served since 2014. Rob is the past president of the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, a member of the NIAAA national teaching faculty for LTC 714, and an National Federation of State High School Associations Level 3 certified coach.
In this conversation, Rob shares his “back of the baseball card” story, explains how he uniquely shares the AD role at Fishers, and offers insights on culture change through the lens of Indiana football, purpose-driven leadership, and game-day event management as hospitality inspired by Unreasonable Hospitality. We also dive deep into AI—why Rob embraced it early, how he’s using it today for visuals, videos, and daily AD work, how to educate coaches in a rapidly evolving space, and what athletic administrators may still be overlooking about AI’s impact on our profession.
Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast
This is a special episode for us, because we’re joined once again by a familiar voice and a great friend of the show—Steve “Throney” Throne.
Each year, we’re fortunate to sit down with the current President of the NIAAA, and this annual conversation has become one of our favorite traditions. In 2025, that role belongs to Steve Throne, and today we’re excited to reflect on his year of service, leadership, and vision for athletic administrators across the country.
For those who may be new to the podcast, Steve serves as the activities director and an assistant principal at Millard South High School in Omaha, Nebraska. He first joined us back on Episode 87 in 2023. Later that year, the NIAAA Board of Directors selected him as President-Elect, and throughout 2025 he has served as President of the NIAAA.
In this episode, we’ll catch up with “Throney,” as he’s known nationwide, to talk about his presidential theme, Link It Up, the relationships that define our profession, innovative programs happening at Millard South, and what athletic administrators can take away from this year’s National Athletic Directors Conference.
Whether you’re a veteran AD, a first-time conference attendee, or someone simply looking to grow as a leader, this conversation is packed with insight, energy, and practical takeaways.
So settle in—this is our annual conversation with the NIAAA President, Steve Throne.
Today we have the privilege of welcoming back a familiar face — our most tenured guest — Brian Dodd. This episode has become a highlight of our year because Brian joins us annually to unveil his Top 10 Sports Books, giving us plenty of ideas for our Christmas lists and leadership libraries.
Brian’s blog, Brian Dodd on Leadership, continues to be a must-read for anyone in or out of formal leadership roles, consistently reaching more than 70,000 readers each month. He’s an author, the co-host of the Pursuit of Service Podcast, and, truthfully, our resident expert when it comes to curating an annual list of books that challenge and inspire us.
Today’s episode is one of those special moments for our podcast — a true honor to sit down with one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Our guest is Pro Football Hall of Famer, College Football Hall of Famer, and Georgia legend Champ Bailey. Over a 15-year NFL career with Washington and Denver, Champ became the gold standard at the cornerback position — earning 12 Pro Bowl selections, seven All-Pro honors, and a reputation as one of the most complete defensive players in football history.
But for all the accolades and highlight reels, what has always set Champ apart is who he is off the field — a humble leader, a devoted teammate, and now, a passionate advocate for developing the next generation of athletes through his partnership with Positive Athlete.
In this conversation, we talk with Champ about leadership, the importance of doing the little things right, and why recognizing athletes for their character is every bit as important as celebrating their stats.
So sit back and enjoy this special episode as we hang out with one of the best to ever do it — Hall of Famer Champ Bailey — right here on Hangin’ with the AD.
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast!
In today’s episode, we’re joined by someone who knows a thing or two about building leaders and pursuing excellence. Our guest is Bailey Miles, the founder and host of the Building Excellence Podcast. Bailey is an entrepreneur who’s spent time in the home-building business and other ventures, and some may recognize him from his days on the hardwood — both as a collegiate player and coach.
What makes Bailey stand out is his ability to connect lessons from sports, business, and life to help others grow into leaders of impact. His podcast has featured incredible voices across leadership and athletics — and today, he’s joining us to share some of the insights he’s gathered along the way
We’ll talk about what it means to build a personal leadership brand, how great leaders refine theirs with humility, and why the people you surround yourself with early in your career might matter more than what you’re doing. We’ll also dive into the concept of excellence — what it really looks like, why it’s not loud but steady, and how we can make it normal in our daily lives.
And of course, we’ll wrap up with the question Bailey asks all his guests — What does building excellence mean to you?
It’s a powerful conversation with a genuine leader and lifelong learner. So let’s jump into it — here’s our conversation with Bailey Miles.
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast. Today, we’re excited to bring you a conversation with Phil Rison, the Executive Director of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Phil stepped into this role in January of 2023 after serving six years as Associate Executive Director and has been a key leader in interscholastic athletics for decades.
A past president of the NIAAA and former Executive Director of the Kentucky High School Athletic Directors Association, Phil has also been a longtime member of the national teaching faculty for the legal courses—working alongside the legendary Lee Green. His contributions to our profession have been recognized through some of the NIAAA’s highest honors, including the Award of Merit, the Jim Watkins Award of Excellence, and the Distinguished Service Award. Most recently, he was inducted into the Mountain Sports Hall of Fame.
In this episode, we’ll talk with Phil about how the role of the athletic director has evolved over the years, the lessons he’s carried forward from mentors and experiences, and the responsibility athletic administrators have in shaping school culture and student success. We’ll also hear his thoughts on leadership, tradition, and what it means to serve as an executive in today’s organizations.
It’s a rich conversation with one of the most respected leaders in our profession. Let’s jump right into our interview with NIAAA Executive Director, Phil Rison.
Welcome to this episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Patrick Irving, Director of Athletics for Pittsford Schools in the Rochester, New York area. Patrick is the first New York athletic director we’ve had on the show, and he brings an incredible perspective from his journey through four AD stops since 2011 to now leading a department of over 115 teams across two high schools.
In this episode, Patrick shares how Pittsford’s unique setup blends both school-specific and combined teams—including football—and the dynamics that come with managing such a large program. We also dive into his philosophy of building a culture where every student can belong, be challenged, and feel supported. Patrick opens up about his service on the NIAAA Publications Committee, the power of writing as a leadership tool, and even what advice he’d give his younger self just starting out as an AD.
We’ll talk about leading with presence, the importance of mission and core values, and how they show up daily in Pittsford Athletics. Whether you’re a veteran administrator or just getting started, you’ll find plenty of insight and inspiration in this conversation. Let’s settle in and get to know Dr. Patrick Irving.
Today on the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, we’re adding a new twist to our guest lineup. We’ve talked with high school and collegiate athletic directors, authors, speakers, and performance coaches—but this is the first time we’ve welcomed a TikTok star into the conversation.
Chris Harris is the athletic director at Evangelical Christian School in Fort Myers, Florida, a role he’s held since 2022. Before joining ECS, Chris spent six years as the Athletic and Activities Director at South Fort Myers High School. He’s a former collegiate athlete, a successful coach with state titles in both football and track, and now, a social media voice giving thousands of people an authentic look into the day-to-day life of a high school AD.
In this episode, you’ll hear how Chris uses TikTok not just for laughs or highlights, but as a leadership tool—to advocate for athletic administrators, educate communities, and tell the real story of what we do. We’ll also explore his thoughts on visibility as a leader, the power of a reset, leading with intention, and why now is the time for ADs to tell their own stories.
Whether you’re an athletic director, a coach, or just curious about life behind the scenes of high school sports, this conversation is packed with insight, energy, and encouragement. Let’s get to it—here’s our conversation with Chris Harris.
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast, where we sit down with leaders who are making a lasting impact in the world of athletic administration. Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Sam Ferguson, the newly appointed Director of Athletics at the University of Texas-Tyler. Dr. Ferguson brings over 25 years of experience in college athletics, including leadership roles at Abilene Christian, McMurry University, and Averett University.
In this conversation, you’ll hear how Sam’s personal leadership values—centered around character, community, and the courage to innovate—are shaping the future of UT Tyler Athletics. We also dive into topics like avoiding distractions as a leader, family life in athletic administration, navigating career transitions, and lessons learned over nearly two decades as an AD. And of course, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk about the Patriots’ dominant softball program and what makes it truly elite.
This is a conversation full of wisdom, warmth, and practical takeaways for anyone looking to lead with purpose. Let’s settle in and get to know Dr. Sam Ferguson.
Welcome to episode 142 of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, where we explore the intersection of leadership, athletics, and education through the voices of those making a real difference in the lives of student-athletes.
Today’s episode brings a fresh perspective to the show—one from the whistle’s point of view.
We’re joined by Marcus Woods, a highly respected official at both the high school and collegiate levels. Marcus has worked some of the biggest games in the country—including a recent college football national championship—and he’s earned a reputation for professionalism, consistency, and a deep understanding of what makes great officiating.
In this conversation, we dive into what makes officiating fun, what makes it challenging, and what athletic directors and coaches can do to create a better experience for officials. Marcus also shares what defines a great official, how top officials handle missed calls, and why officiating might be the perfect next step for former athletes, coaches, or anyone looking to stay involved in the game.
And for our coaches and ADs—Marcus offers powerful insight on what makes a coach great from the official’s perspective, and how leadership shows up on the sidelines.
Whether you’re looking to better support your officials, recruit new ones, or simply understand the game from a different angle, this episode delivers.
Here’s our conversation with veteran official Marcus Woods.
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, where we talk leadership, culture, and the journey through athletics with those who are making an impact in the world of sports and beyond.
In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Alex Demczak—a former Division I quarterback at the University of Missouri who has since become a bestselling author, speaker, and entrepreneur. Alex co-wrote The Sale with Jon Gordon, a book that puts integrity at the center of personal and professional success. He’s also the author of Thrive U and The World Needs Your Book, and he’s helping others tell their stories through his company, Streamline Books.
In this conversation, we talk with Alex about the Four Laws of Integrity outlined in The Sale, the importance of mentorship, and what it truly means to be a high-performance leader. We also dive into practical strategies for encouraging others, the art of public speaking, and why integrity—not talent—is the real foundation for lasting success.
If you’re a coach, athletic director, or leader looking to lead with purpose and make a meaningful impact, this episode is full of insight and inspiration. Let’s get to it—here’s our conversation with Alex Demczak.
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast, where we sit down with athletic directors and leaders who are shaping the future of high school sports. Today, we’re excited to bring on someone who knows a thing or two about building championship-level programs—both on the field and in the front office.
We’re joined today by Jason Brett, the athletic director and assistant principal at Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Georgia. And yes, for those listening outside the Peach State—it’s HOW-ston, not Houston like the city in Texas.
Jason is a hometown product, originally from Perry, Georgia, and his journey through athletics is about as well-rounded as they come. From playing baseball at Valdosta State and in the Mets organization, to coaching at the collegiate level, to winning two state championships as the head baseball coach at Houston County—Jason has done it all. And now, he’s helping lead one of the top all-around athletic programs in the state.
We’re going to talk with Jason about that transition from coaching to administration, how to build standards that last, and what it means to lead with connection and consistency. So let’s settle in and get to know Coach Jason Brett.
Today we bring you another edition of our Single Topic Series as we dive into the emerging world of AI and how it fits into the world of the athletic administrator. We head to Pearl Mississippi and speak with Chris Chism who serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Pearl Public School District who is becoming a go-to resource in the space of AI.
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. This week we head west to Texas and sit down with leadership author and speaker Stephen Mackey. The episode kicks off with Mackey outlining his "6 Habits of Championship Character," a blueprint for cultivating student-athletes who pursue excellence in every aspect of life. He shares insights on whether these habits follow a specific order and which habit he believes is the essential starting point when developing champions from scratch.
We close with a discussion on excellence — what it truly means, why it is a non-negotiable for leaders, and why so many people settle for less rather than choosing to pursue excellence consistently.
Whether you're an athletic director, coach, educator, or leader in any space, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, authentic encouragement, and actionable strategies for shaping the next generation of leaders. Let’s settle in and get to know Stephen Mackey
Welcome to a special Masters Week edition of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today we have the distinct honor of sitting down with a man who stands at the helm of one of the most revered institutions in all of sports—Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club.
In this conversation, recorded just days before the azaleas bloom and the world turns its eyes to Augusta, Chairman Ridley takes us inside the inner workings of an event that has become synonymous with tradition, excellence, and vision. We explore what it truly means to lead an organization where the standard is not just maintained—but raised year after year.
We’ll talk about the discipline it takes to manage time when the calendar never slows down, how to lead with purpose at the highest level, and what it takes to turn long-term vision into reality while honoring a legacy that spans generations.
Whether you’re a golf enthusiast, a leader, or simply someone inspired by excellence—you’re in for a rare glimpse behind the green curtain. Let’s settle in and get to know Chairman Fred Ridley.
Today we stay closer to home and sit down with author and speaker Clay Scroggins. His book “How to Lead When You're Not in Charge” is a must for anyone whether they are in a position of leadership or not. Everyone answers to someone, and Clay left us with some great nuggets as we all look to get better in the space and place, we are in currently. Let’s settle in and get to know Clay Scroggins.
Today we stay a little closer to home but revisit the college ranks and sit down with Jim Peeples who serves as the Director of Athletics at Piedmont College in Demorest, GA. Jim is a product of being surrounded by some of the best in the business when he was younger, and he talks about how it shaped him into the leader he is today. He is an intentional servant leader and he left us with some great leadership lessons in this conversation. Let’s settle in and get to know Coach Jim Peeples.
Today is the first for the podcast as we head to South Dakota and sit down with retired AD Joey Struwe. We discuss his military service and how it influenced his leadership as an AD and how, as leaders, we must continually place a focus on the “little things” in order to lead effectively. Let’s settle in and get to know Joey Struwe.
Today we sit down with Benj Miller who is an entrepreneur, speaker, author, podcast host, and the Co-Founder and CEO of System and Soul, which is a business leadership development company. We talk about the common principles between the athletic and business worlds, the rewarding of failure amongst those we lead and understanding that success is not a straight line. Let’s settle in and get to know Benj Miller.
Today we head back to the great state of Oklahoma and sit down with Amanda Snider who serves as the Deputy Director of Athletics at Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. She spoke about the importance of always doing your best because you never know who is watching and the demands the AD position can place on both your work and home families. Let’s settle in and get to know Amanda Snider.
Welcome to season 6 of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. We kick off this season with a top tier AD in the country in Emily Barkley of Union High School or Tulsa Union in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Emily talks about the power of the team that surrounds any athletic leader and the role they play in the success of the overall department and the support they provide the leader in any building. She also speaks to the power of alumni coming back to coach and work at their alma mater and how powerful that can be to the school community. Let’s kick off season 6 and get to know Mrs. Emily Barkley.
We wrap up 2024 with a great conversation with retired athletic director Jean Ashen. The long-time athletic director at North Salinas High School in Salinas, California, Jean talks to us about the close friendships that are made in the athletic administrator community, leading through change, and being an impactful leader to those we serve daily. Let’s settle in and get to know Jean Ashen.
Today we sit down with the last piece of the Pure Athlete podcast in former athletic director and co-founder of Pure Athlete Brad Williams. We talk about marketing your program to your community and building your brand both inside and out with vison and hard work. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Brad Williams.
Brian Dodd sits down with us for the 5th instalment of his Top 10 Sports Leadership books list. Get ready to fill up your Amazon cart as Brain gives us some great ideas for our next book!
CLICK HERE to visit Brian's website and see the full list.
Today we head out west again and sit down with Tol Gropp who serves as the Activities Director at Timberline High School in Boise, Idaho. We talked about the importance of increasing your capacity and learning from failure in order to be your best self and navigating the demands of being an athletic administrator today. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Tol Gropp.
Today we head to the great state of Louisiana and sit down with Mister Kirkwood who serves as the athletics director and head boys basketball coach at Holy Cross School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mister believes in training the next generation of leaders up while surrounding yourself with good people in the process. Let’s settle in and get to know Mister Kirkwood.
Today we head back west to sit down with Xavier Antheaume who serves as the Director of Athletics and Title IX Compliance for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, NV. We talk about the power of communication, positivity, and the desire to find fulfillment in the job of athletic administration. Let’s settle in and get to know Xavier Antheaume
Today we head to Virginia and sit down with one of great veteran leaders of our profession in Dick Kemper, the retired former Executive Director of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association.
Dick spoke to us about the power of not only continuing your professional development by taking LTC courses through the NIAAA but also giving back by teaching courses as well. We also talk about the courage needed to lead and the power of building positive relationships to help one grow in their leadership journey. Let’s settle in and get to know one of the best in Mr. Dick Kemper.
Today we head a few miles north and check in with Kelly Fish. Kelly is the Assistant Head of School for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives at Currey Ingram Academy in Brentwood, TN and served as the athletic director there for 11 years previously. A Bruce D. Whitehead Distinguished Service Award in 2023, Kelly grew up surrounded by athletics and educators who have impacted how she leads as we talk about leading through change and the importance lessons learn through education-based athletics that help prepare our young people for their next chapter as well as the difference between the middle and high school athlete. Let’s settle in and get to know Mrs. Kelly Fish.
Today it’s back to the college ranks for a conversation with a leader we have had on our short list for some time in Greg Byrne, who serves as the Director of Athletics at the University of Alabama. We talk about the importance of continual growth as a leader and learning from those on our team to ensure the overall department reaches it greatest potential. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Greg Byrne.
Today we stay close to home and head down to Milledgeville, Georgia and check-in with Wendell Staton who serves as the Director of Athletics for Georgia College and State University. This is a powerful conversation about keeping the first thing first as a leader and not getting lost in the job, which we all know if easy to do. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Wendell Staton.
Today we stay a little closer to home and head south to Lakeland Florida as we sit down with CMAA Dan Talbot who serves as the Senior Director of Athletics for the Polk County School System. We talk to Dan about a NIAAA course he has helped develop on managing tragedy within an athletic department. This is a heavy topic but one we need to lean into because, more likely than not, the skills learned from this upcoming course will be needed at some point in our careers. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Dan Talbot.
Today we head north and meet with Dr. Troy Urdahl who serves as the Director of Athletics, Activities, Facilities, & Transportation at St. Anthony Village High School in St. Paul, Minnesota. We talk about how to get better each and every day and defining our leadership purpose as we guide those we serve. Let’s settle in and get to know Dr. Troy Urdahl.
Today we have the pleasure of introducing you to an AD who is not a stranger to success. Tim Selgo was at the helm at Grand Valley State University in one of the most successful runs of any university at any level. It’s our hope that you lean in today and learn from one of the best to ever do it. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Tim Selgo.
There is a saying that if you are the smartest person in the room…you need to find another room. Well, we found a much smarter room today as we sit down with Jennifer Baker who serves as the Associate Vice Provost and Director of Athletics & Recreation at Johns Hopkins University. A military veteran, Jennifer speaks to how her service has benefitted her in her role as well as other leadership lesson she has learned along the way. Let’s settle in and get to know Jennifer Baker.
Today we wrap up our back-to-back episodes with two of the three co-hosts of the Pure Athlete podcast as we sit down with former Major League Baseball standout and current broadcaster Jeff Francoeur. Jeff talks about the coaches who poured into him, and we dive deeper into the importance of both youth and interscholastic sports and the best ways to navigate them. Let’s settle in and get to know Jeff Francoeur.
Today we sit down with Britt Lee, the co-founder of Pure Athlete, an organization and podcast that helps youth athletes maximize their potential for success in sports and in life. Their pillared approach focuses on vision, grit, skill, belief, and character and helps to also guide parents through the youth sports journey to find success both on and off the field. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Britt Lee.https://pureathleteinc.com/
This week we have another installment of our Single Topic Series as we sit down with Kevin Petroski, Athletic Director at Athens Academy in Athens, Ga. to discuss his annual AD Workshop. This is a concept that we think can catch on across the country as athletic leaders look to find professional development close to home that gives them tools and information that they can immediately implement into their programs to take them to the next level. Let’s settle in and learn about the AD Workshop with Kevin Petroski.
Today we head north to sit down with Trish Witkin who serves as the director of athletics at Glastonbury High School in Glastonbury, Connecticut. A past president of the NIAAA, Trish let’s us behind the curtain of a successful career and we have no doubt you’ll be better after our conversation today. Let’s settle in and get to know Trish Witkin.
Today it’s off to the great state of Texas as we sit down with Kevin Goll who serves as the Senior Associate AD and Chief Strategy Officer for the Baylor Bears of Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Kevin talks about his unique route to athletic leadership and the lessons he has learned along the way. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Kevin Goll.
Today we stay close to home and sit down with Kirk Call of Johns Creek High School in Johns Creek Georgia. Kirk is wrapping up his first year as an AD and you’ll find that he is wise beyond his years in the role as we talk about the transition from coach to AD and leadership in general. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Kirk Call.
Today we step out of the athletic world a bit and step in the president’s office…not necessarily the president’s office but we sit down with Dr. Kyle Marrero who serves as the president of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA. A leader who took an alternative route to the president’s chair, Dr. Marrero was more than generous with his time as he talked leadership and the importance of athletics and the role it plays in the development of leaders. Let’s settle in and get to know Dr. Kyle Morrero.
Today we head to Charlette, North Carolina and sit down with one of the country’s best leaders of in the field of mental performance in Jeremy Boone. Jeremy has worked with championship race car drivers, Olympic athletes, record-setting college football players, and Hall of Fame coaches and today he’s going to make you better. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Jeremy Boone.
www.winningleader.com
www.desiretolead.com
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It’s back to the collegiate ranks today as we had the pleasure of sitting down with Auburn University Head Baseball Coach Butch Thompson. As he enters his ninth season at the helm of the program in 2024, Coach Thompson has established himself as one of the top recruiters in the country who will past the 300-win mark soon. He is a humble, purpose driven leader and we can’t wait for you to learn from him as we did. Let’s settle in and get to know Coach Butch Thompson.
Today we stay closer to home and sit down with a great leader in Clay Smith who serves as the senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, GA. This is a powers house leadership conversation, and it is our hope that you dig in and get better today just like we did. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Clay Smith.
Today we head south and sit down with Lauren Otero, who serves as the Project Administrator for Operations in the Hillsborough County Public School System in Tampa, Florida. This is a big role in a big district, and we know that there is a lot to be learned from her day to day as well as her career experience. Let’s settle in and get to know Lauran Otero.
Welcome to season 5 of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast! If this is your first ride with us or if you have been with us for a while, we would like to say a quick thank you and we appreciate you more than you know.
Today we head to Glenpool, Oklahoma and sit down with Jason Culler who serves as the Associate Athletic Director for the Jenks Public School System. We discuss the Border States Summit that Jason was a founding piece of as well as hiring and his process for determining the right products and services for his athletic department but be sure to hang on for probably the best 2-minute drill we have every experienced. Hold and buckle-up as we get to know Mr. Jason Culler.
Today we once again head west and sit down with Brandon Larson who serves as the Athletic Director for Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona. Brandon’s people first approach has created a winning culture and his ability to put people in positions to be successful is second to none. Let’s settle in and get to know Brandon Larson.
This week we continue with our "Single Topic Series" and take a look at officiating as we look to recruit a new generation of officials across the country.
Brain Dodd is back to give us his annual list of the top sports books of the year. Visit his blog for more information.
https://briandoddonleadership.com/2023/11/12/the-top-10-sports-books-of-2023/
Today we head west and sit down with Jamie Boggs, Vice President of Athletics at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ.
Jamie’s people first, team-oriented approach to leadership is second to none and it won’t take long for you to see why she and Grand Canyon are finding success both on and off the field.
Let’s settle in…and get to know Mrs. Jamie Boggs.
Wow! We can’t believe that we’ve made it to episode 100! We can’t believe that we have people that wanted to listen to us talk, and that we’ve found people who have said “yes” over and over again to spend time with us as we, and you, have learned so much from them.
Today’s episode is no different and we couldn’t think of anyone better to learn from on such a milestone episode than Mr. Positivity himself, Jon Gordon.
Jon talks leadership and his new book “The One Truth.” Let’s settle in and learn from one of the best in Mr. Jon Gordon.
Today we head north and sit down with current NIAAA President and the Director of Athletics at Stafford High School in Stafford Springs Connecticut, CMAA Damian Frassinelli. Damian has a great story of leadership that began in the private sector and has now led him to being a pivotal part of not only the interscholastic athletic leadership of the state of Connecticut but the nation through his involvement with the NIAAA. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Damian Frassinelli.
Today we stay closer to home and sit down with Gene Durden. Gene serves as the assistant athletic director and head girls basketball coach at Buford High School in Buford, GA. Coach Durden is one of the most successful basketball coaches in the country with over 900 career victories and multiple state titles, and it is his views on leadership that will guide our conversation today. Let’s settle in and get to know Coach Gene Durden.
Today we head back to the college ranks and sit down with Jamie Pollard who serves as the Director of Athletics at Iowa State University. Jamie is the longest-tenured Director of Athletics in Iowa State history and fourth-longest serving active Power Five Director of Athletics and it will not take long for you to realize why. His wealth of knowledge combined with a great perspective on leadership highlights our conversation today. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Jamie Pollard.
Today we head to the NIAAA headquarters in Indianapolis, IN and sit down with Becky Moran, a CMAA, who serves as the Associate Executive Director of Marketing & Development for the NIAAA. A veteran AD with a ton of insight into becoming the best version of ourselves, you’ll be glad you took the time today to learn from this great leader in our profession. Let’s settle in and get to know Becky Moran.
Today we head to Mt. Sterling Kentucky and sit down with Austin Maples who serves as the athletic director and assistant principal at Montgomery County High School. We talk about the importance of being organized and how best to balance the dual role of AD and AP as we lead both our coaches and young people. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Austin Maples.
Today we head west to speak with Dr. Dustin Smith who serves as the Executive Director of Athletics at Broken Arrow Public Schools in Broken Arrow, OK. Dustin is also the co-host of the Pairadocs podcast and if you aren’t listening to it you need to make sure to make it part of your podcast lineup.
Dustin drops some great information in our conversation today and you’ll see why is one of the shinning stars of our profession once your done today. Let’s settle in and get to know Dr. Dustin Smith.
Today we travel to the Sunshine state and sit down with one of the best in the business as we learn from Lanness Robinson who serves as the Director of Athletics for the Hillsborough County Public School District in Tampa, FL.
This is no small feat as Lanness oversees athletics for one of the largest districts in the country while also maintaining an important presence at the national level evidenced as his role of president of the NIAAA leading athletic leaders through the pandemic.
You better have something to write with and on for this one. Let’s settle in and get know Mr. Lanness Robinson.
Today we once again stay close to home and chat with Ashley Lott. Ashley serves as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Fayette Co. High School in Fayetteville, GA. Ashley is a rising star in the state of Georgia and on the National level who brings a wealth of knowledge across multiple sports from her days coaching that is helping guide her as a leader today.
At the time of our conversation, Ashley was the Athletic Director at Hampton High School before making the move to Fayette Co. this summer. Let’s settle in and get to know Ms. Ashley Lott.
This week we stay close to home and chat with one of Georgia’s best in Ricky Turner of Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell, GA. Ricky is a people first leader with a servant’s heart, and it won’t take long for you to understand why he is a go resources for athletic leaders in the deep south. Let’s settle in and get to know…Mr. Ricky Turner.
Today we head back to the college ranks and the SEC as we sit down with Ray Tanner, the Director of Athletics at the University of South Carolina. A champion on the field leading the Gamecock baseball program to back-to-back titles, Coach Tanner has proven to be a winner in his role as an athletic administrator and we know you’ll learn a lot from him today. Let’s settle in and get to know Coach Ray Tanner.
Today we have the pleasure of learning from a name you may recognize most from tuning into a college basketball broadcast on ESPN as we sit down with broadcaster and author Jimmy Dykes. We break down his book “The Film Doesn’t Lie” and talk about the intersection of athletics, leadership, and faith and how best to navigate each one. Let’s settle in and get to know Coach Jimmy Dykes.
Today you are in for a treat as we sit down with one of the best leadership experts in the business in Mr. Kevin Paul Scott. Kevin is an author, a speaker, and an entrepreneur whose leadership journey has taken him from a small town outside of Atlanta, GA to six continents and seen him speak to leaders from more than 100 countries. He believes that when organizations pause and invest in their leadership, they discover new potential and we’re glad you’ve taken the time to learn from him today. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Kevin Paul Scott.
Today we head to the Midwest and sit down with Steve Throne of Millard South High School in Omaha, NE. Steve is a lifelong learner with a heart for kids and the desire to ensure that the interscholastic athletic experience is the best it can possibly be. He teaches us that the road to teaching leadership is more of a slow burn highlighted by modeling the behavior we want to see in those around us and after our conversation today you’ll know why Steve is one of the best in the business. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Steve Throne.
Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. This week we finish our conversation with leadership expert and performance coach Brian Kight. We began discussing what he calls “super skills” at the end of our last conversation and that is where we pick up today. Get ready to do the work to get better as we continue our conversation with Brian Kight.
Over the next two weeks, we look forward to bringing you an extended conversation with leadership expert Brian Kight. Brian’s philosophy of E+R=O is a game changer and once we started talking to him, we realized we had to break this conversation up to ensure you are able to digest the great material he left us with. Make sure you have something to write with and on as we sit down and learn from one of the best! Let’s settle in and get to know Brian Kight.
Today we travel up north again and sit down with Tony Fisher. Director of Athletics for the Minneapolis Public School System. Tony is a visionary leader who is shining a light on the need for more diverse athletic leaders for our young people across the country and is a leader at both the state and national level. Tony’s mission is to have the largest impact on the largest number of students, and we will all fall into that number today. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Tony Fisher.
Today we sit down with another one of Georgia best in Dr. Mekia Troy. A CMAA from Creekside HS in Fairburn, GA. A lifelong learner and true example of the power of interscholastic athletics. Mekia is a leader amongst her peers and after today you’ll know why so many have been impacted by her leadership. Let’s settle in and get to know Dr. Mekia Troy.
On today’s episode we take a deeper dive into the topic of Event Management with three high level athletic leaders from different parts of the country as we sit down with Jeff Behrens, CMAA from Pewaukee Schools in Wisconsin, Lisa Corprew, CMAA from Bayside High School in Virginia, and Tony Wolfe who serves as the Athletic Director at Buford High School in Burford Ga.
These dynamic leaders break down the keys to what makes any event run smoothly and safely and we hope they help you improve your event planning process after our conversation today. Let’s settle in and learn more about effective event management.
Today we keep it close to home and speak one of Georgia’s best in Meredith Barnhill of Adairsville High School in Adairsville, GA. Meredith is a highly decorated athletic leader who believes that in the role of the athletic director she can have the most positive impact on both her student-athletes and coaches. Let’s settle in with this humble leader who has a true servant’s heart as we get to know Ms. Meredith Barnhill.
Today we sit down with the go-to source when discussing NIL and the high school space as we talk with Dr. Scott Grant. Dr. Grant is a former Director of Athletics, Activities, and Facilities at Van Buren Local Schools, a former Director of Operations, Outreach, and Leadership Development in athletics at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , the founder of Triple Threat Leadership, LLCand NIL-education.com and is a current Assistant Professor in the College of Education at The University of Findlay teaching Leadership Development & Social Media / Branding.
Episode # 79: Dr. Mike Blackburn, Retiring Executive Director NIAAA
Today’s guest needs no introduction. Dr. Mike Blackburn, CMAA is the outgoing Executive Director of the NIAAA and today we talk legacy with this great leader who has invested over 50 years in education-based athletics. Dr. Blackburn has seen the NIAAA from its creation to a organization made up of over 14,000 members and a 2022 conference that saw almost 3,000 athletic administrators from across the country come together at the NADC in Nashville.
So much of the blueprint of the NIAAA and the profession we all love was developed and nurtured by Dr. Blackburn and as he looks to his next chapter we look back and learn from one of the best. Let’s settle in and get to know Dr. Mike Blackburn.
1:13- Introduction
3:27- Did Mike McGurk drive you into retirement?
5:15- Getting started with the NIAAA
8:55- Highlights of his time at the NIAAA
20:09- Leadership Style
26:48- Purpose of the NIAAA
36:53- A 53 year career in Education!
37:54- 2 Minute Drill
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @showingtheway
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today we kick off 2023 and a new season of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast with a trip to Texas and sit down with Jennifer Frazier who serves as the Director of Athletics for the McKinney ISD in McKinney, TX. Jennifer is a highly decorated former athlete and now athletic director who has a heart for the community she serves there in McKinney. She is a critical thinker who is always looking to get better and grow her programs and coaches that she leads. She understands the important, and in some cases essential, piece athletics can play in the lives of our student athletes and you’ll hear that during our conversation today. Let’s settle in and get to know Jennifer Frazier.
Today we head to the great north as we make our first trip to the state of North Dakota and sit down with Jason Wiberg of Devils Lake High School.
Jason is heavily involved both with his state association and the NIAAA and we touch on a variety of topics from a very unique way to fundraise, to hiring, and even evaluating your programs. Let’s settle in and get to know CMAA Jason Wiberg.
Today we have the pleasure of sitting down with one of the architects of college footballs number one program in Scott Sinclair, Director of Strength, and Conditioning for the University of Georgia.
Scott has served the Bulldogs since 2016 and in 2012 was awarded the highest honor in his field when he was certified as a master strength and conditioning coach (MSCC) at the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association's national conference.
It will not take long for you to hear the passion in Scott’s voice and the results on the field have matched it as the Dawgs recently captured the SEC title and await a date with Ohio State in the College Football Playoff. Let’s settle in and get to know Coach Scott Sinclair.
Today we flip the script and interview a pair of fellow podcasters in Dr. Danielle LaPoint, & Dr. DustIn Smith, who cohost the Pairadocs Podcast. They search for the craziest AD stories out there and through those stories they are teaching practical lessons that are helping ADs across the country as we all navigate the world of leading in the space of interscholastic athletics. Lets settle in and get to know the Pairadocs!
Brain Dodd is back to give us his annual list of the top sports books of the year. Visit his blog for more information.
https://briandoddonleadership.com/2022/10/30/the-top-10-sports-books-of-2022/
Today we travel back to the college ranks and sit down with the Assistant AD for Marketing & Fan Engagement at Auburn University Mr. Dan Heck. Heck oversees and directs the Athletics Department’s marketing and promotional plans for all 21 sports at Auburn and has served the university since 2016. Dan shares some great ideas and concepts in this episode that can be used at the high school level easily.
On a side note, since our conversation with Dan he has accepted a new role at the University of Alabama where he will serve as the Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Marketing. Let settle in and get to know Mr. Dan Heck.
We can’t wait to share today’s conversation with one of the best in the business in CMAA Josh Scott who serves as the Director of Athletics and Activities for the Springfield Public School District in Springfield Missouri.
His insights on NIAAA certification, juggling the demands of the job, and executing your vision are second to none. Let’s get right into it and get to know Mr. Josh Scott.
Today takes us to Illinois as we sit down with CAA Jen Doede, who serves as the Athletic Director at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Illinois near Chicago. Jen is a believer that leadership is influential and relational and the fact that the title doesn’t make you a leader but rather what you do with it to serve your people really separates the contenders from the pretenders. Let’s settle in and get to know Mrs. Jen Doede.
Episode # 69: Albert Weeden, Jr, Athletic Director/Principal, Loachapoka High School Loachapoka, AL
Today we stay a little closer to home and travel to Loachapoka Alabama and sit down with Albert Weeden Jr. A CMAA who not only serves as the athletic director of Loachapoka High School but leads the Indians as their principal. Lots to learn from in this one so let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Albert Weeden Jr.
0:46 - Introduction
2:40 – Every great Leader has a Nickname
4:15 – Doing More: Principal & AD Roles
12:59 – Being a Learning Leader
15:44 – 50th Anniversary of title IX
20:17 – Approaching Change when Change is Required
24:44 – Unique Reclassification process in Alabama
29:16 – NOMAD organization
34:15 - 2 Minute Drill
Social Media Connections: Twitter: awjr21 @LoachapokaAD Instagram: awjr21
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today we take our first trip to the great state of New Mexico and sit down with the Athletic Director at Los Alamos High School in Los Alamos New Mexico, Ms. Ann Stewart. Ann has returned home to lead at the school she graduated from and has become a presence both at the state and national levels of athletic administration. We had a great time learning from her and talking about the upcoming National Athletic Directors Conference in Nashville, TN this December. Let’s settle in and get to know Ms. Ann Stewart.
Episode # 68: Graham Neff, Clemson University, Director of Athletics, Clemson SC
Today we head back to the college ranks to sit down with the Power 5’s youngest AD in 38-year-old Graham Neff of Clemson. But don’t let the age fool you.
He is one of the brightest stars in the profession who has helped develop several key areas of the department, including the financial philosophy, fundraising, student-athlete welfare, and external operations management, and in 2019 was named one of Sports Business Daily’s Power Players. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Graham Neff.
0:57- Introduction
6:47 - Navigating the Age Difference as a Young Leader
10:01 - The Right Timing to Make Changes as the New Leader
13:56- Being on Mission for People
17:16- Giving Away Control as the Leader
19:57- Modeling IPTAY at a Lower Level
23:22 -Leadership initiatives
30:10 - 2 Minute Drill
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @grahamneff
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today we make our first stop in the great state of Tennessee and get to know one of the best in the business in Mike Ellson. Mike is the former longtime AD at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, TN and also serves as the Executive Director of the TIAAA. Mike’s wisdom from a career that touched five decades is priceless and we can’t wait to share today’s conversation with you so let’s not waste anymore time as we get to know and learn from Mr. Mike Ellson.
Today we have a chance to sit down with a true game changer and difference maker in our business. Jen Brooks, Athletic Director at Ursuline Academy in St. Louis Missouri and the founder of the Global Community of Women in High School Sports in changing the narrative around what an AD looks like, and we are all better for it.
This is a great conversation for any AD at any level of experience so let settle in and get to know Jen Brooks
Today we sit down with an unlikely pair from the great state of Kansas. Brandon Clark is a state championship winning football coach and Kevin Chase hails from a four-generation ranching family that has also been in the banking business for five decades. Their story of connection paired with purpose is sure to inspire you and we think there is a ton in this episode that can help take your programs to another level. Let’s settle in and get to know The Coach and the Cowboy.https://coachcowboy.com/
Today we have a chance to learn from one of the most collaborative leaders in the business as we sit down with retired AD Scott Garvis. Scott has a highly decorated resume that we will discuss and continues to pour back into the profession through his podcasts as well as through his books which we will also dive into in today’s conversation. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Scott Garvis.
Today we get the pleasure to sit down with Nikki Norris for a second time on the podcast. Nikki is the Athletic Director at East Lansing High School in East Lansing Michigan. She joined us for a Special Edition back in November of 2020 when her state shut down athletics for a second time due to the pandemic but today, we join her under far different circumstances as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX with her and have a great time talking leadership. Let’s settle in and we hope you enjoy our conversation with Mrs. Nikki Norris.
Episode # 62:….Ross Bjork, Director of Athletics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Today’s conversation centers around the topic of growth as we sit down with the Director of Athletics at Texas A&M University Mr. Ross Bjork. Ross, originally from Kansas, grew up with a lifelong passion for all aspects of athletics.
His growth mindset is unmatched as he is constantly looking for ways to get better regardless of the source. He also stresses the importance of communication in leadership and how it can lead to clarity and mutual respect between all parties involved.
Let’s settle in and get to know the leader of the 12th man…Mr. Ross Bjork.
1:02- Introduction
6:17- Being Available & Connecting on Social Media
8:50- Social means Two-Way
11:05- Having Fun with Social Media
13:37- Attributes of a Successful AD
18:59- Keys to Evaluating Traditions when Leading a New Program
23:39- Teaching & Leading Highly Successful Staffs
31:00- Self-Evaluation- A Very Hard Thing to Do
33:39-Pros and Cons of Success
35:47- Importance of a Leadership Coach
39:51- 2 Minute Drill
Book Mentions: How to be Like Coach Wooden (Williams)
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @RossBjorkAD
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today we head to Arizona and sit down with Missy Townsend of Prescott High School in Prescott, Arizona. Missy and I had the opportunity to speak on facility improvement plans at the National Conference in Denver this past year and it won’t take long for you to realize that Missy is an innovative leader who left us with so much great information throughout this conversation. Let’s settle in and get to know Missy Townsend.
Today we get the opportunity to sit down with a legendary athletic leader in the state of Georgia. Mr. Johnny Seabrooks. Johnny is a Georgia Athletic Director’s Association Hall of Famer and a NIAAA State Award of Merit, and NIAAA Distinguished Service Award winner whose influence can be felt across the state of Georgia and beyond.
The former Director of Athletics for the Dougherty County School System in Albany, Ga leaves us with a wealth of knowledge from a storied career and a life well lived. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Johnny Seabrooks.
Episode # 59:….Betsy Butterick; Coach-Communication Specialist, Educator, Workshop Design & Facilitator…A Conversation on Communication!
Today we travel to Colorado Springs, Colorado and sit down with Betsy Butterick. Betsy is a former collegiate basketball and golf coach who also spent time in the WNBA and has since paired her degree in psychology and background in sport to become a communication specialist, educator, and coach to coaches across the country through her workshops and training. You will learn so much from Betsy as we talk all thing communication in this episode as we look for a better way to effectively reach our respective audiences. Let’s settle in and get to know Betsy Butterick.
1:03- Introduction
5:31- Why are we so BAD at communication?
7:12- Accountability to High Standards while Leading
11:45- Focusing on the Mental Skills
15:43- How to Practice Responsible Conversations
26:35- Listening with your Body
31:11- Keys to Communicating with our Stakeholders
44:36- 2 Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Leadership Embodiment (Palmer & Crawford)
Social Media Connections: Twitter: www.betsybutterick.com @betsybutterick -Twitter @betsy_thecoachescoach -Instagram
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 58:….Rebecca Moe, Director of Athletics, University Prep, Seattle WA
Today is another first as we make our initial trip to the state of Washington and have a great conversation with Rebecca Moe of University Prep in Seattle.
Rebecca is a lifelong Puma as you will hear and in her time, she has been able to see the school expand literally and create a culture of both accountability and growth in the process. Rebecca makes some great points today about the core principles of athletic administration and you’ll be better for it. Let’s settle in and get to know Rebecca Moe.
1:02- Introduction
5:27- The Positive Purpose of Title IX
11:21- Routines & Strategies to Help Us Stick in this Profession
13:44- Takeaways from reading The Practice of Groundedness
15:26- Importance of Being Involved in Campus Construction Projects
18:48- Supporting Your Coaches Through Being Present
22:52- Leading But Also Providing Different Voice for Your People
26:05- 2 Minute Drill
Book Mentions: The Practice of Groundedness (Stulberg) Why We Sleep (Walker)
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @RCMoe -Twitter @uprep_athletics -Instagram
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 57:….Matthew Raidbard; Author, Lead Like A Pro
Today’s guest is Dr. Matthew Raidbard. He is the founder of Raidbard Sports Leadership Consulting, a former College Athletics Administrator & Men's College Basketball Coach and author of the book “Lead Like a Pro,” which is the focus of our conversation today. We discuss the importance of surrounding yourself with different viewpoints and people as well as the power of self-reflection and the benefit it can have on your leadership ceiling. Dr. Raidbard customizes all trainings, education sessions, speaking engagements, and consulting work to address the specific leadership needs of your organization or team and you’ll find he did that for us today. Let’s settle in and get to know Dr. Matthew Raidbard.
1:06- Introduction
3:42- Blocking Out the Noise to Stay Focused
5:46- Leadership Styles: Good vs Elite
8:28- Working Together to Benefit the Organization
11:01- Leaders Learning from Failure
14:17- Successful Leadership Requires Flexibility
18:25- Self-Reflection to Learn Our Leadership identities
24:48- 2 Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Lead Like a Pro: Effective Leadership Styles for Athletic Coaches (Raidbard) Empire of Pain (Keefe)
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @coachraidbard
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today we have another repeat guest as we get a second chance to sit down with Dave Gordon. Dave Gordon is an internationally recognized brand, marketing, and communications expert. He is an inspirational speaker, author, coach, and leader on a mission to help people identify, communicate, and deliver their unique value to build stronger personal, team, and corporate brands.
We previously had Dave on to discuss his book TIP: A Simple Strategy to Inspire High Performance and Lasting Success. Today, we take a deeper dive into leadership as we discuss a leader’s personal mission statement, the role that risk and vulnerability play in a leader’s journey and what sets the best in any field apart from the rest.
Let’s once again settle in…and get to know Mr. Dave Gordon.
1:14- Introduction
5:52- Rule #1 in Leadership
7:19- Establishing a Personal Mission Statement
10:31- Taking Risks as Leaders
13:15- Being Vulnerable as a Leader
15:45- How to Brand Like the Elite Brands
20:29- Saying ‘I Don’t Know’ & Being a Generalists as a Leader
30:05- The One TIP to Making Us Better Leaders
33:00- 2 Minute Drill
Book Mentions: TIP: A Simple Strategy to Inspire High Performance & Lasting Success
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @DaveGordon_9
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today we make our first stop in the great state of Wisconsin as we sit down with the activities and Athletics director for Pewaukee Schools in Pewaukee Wisconsin…Jeff Behrens. Jeff touches on some great topics ranging from a great way to control fan behavior to personnel and making sure that you find the right people for your school and how to hold on to them in this conversation and I have no doubt you will be better for it. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Jeff Behrens.
0:58- Introduction
3:07- Successfully Navigating the AD Interview Process
6:40- Rule #1 for Serving as AD
8:00- FAN CAMP-Creating School Spirit & Appropriate Fan Behaviors
14:06-Student Leadership Groups-How to Lead them?
18:14- Positive Strategies to Build a Strong Coaching Staff
24:03- Raising the Level of Performance Within Your Coaching Ranks
29:45- 2 Minute Drill
Book Mentions: The Politics of Coaching (Pierson) Inside Out Coaching(Ehrmann) What Drives Winning (Ledbetter) Jon Gordon
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @JeffBehrens3
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 54:….Phillip Lansdell & Kimmy Porter, El Dorado HS, El Dorado, AR
Today we have the pleasure of sitting down with Athletic Director Phillip Lansdell and Head Basketball Coach Jimmy Porter of El Dorado High School in EL Dorado, Arkansas. Their boys basketball team was recently featured on ABC News when their team played Lake Hamilton high school in Percey, Arkansas. The night featured Andy Tolleson, a special needs student-manager, who played in the game and made a memory of a lifetime for him and anyone who was in attendance or who has seen the news piece.
But it was the actions of the El Dorado players...the opponent that struck us. Their ability to not only be in the moment but a part of the moment was something we just had to get to thew bottom of, so we reached out to Phillip and he and his coach Jimmy agreed to take the time to discuss the night and sportsmanship in general. If you haven’t seen the video yet, stop now and go check it out, then come back and settle in with us as we get a behind the scenes look at a true example of what sportsmanship looks like with Phillip Lansdell and Jimmy Porter.
0:00- Introduction
2:25- A Special Night for an Opponent ABC NEWS SPECIAL
7:34- Teaching Lessons Bigger than Oneself
12:01- Promoting Wining Beyond the Scoreboard as the AD
14:53- The Basics of Sportsmanship
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @PhillipLansdel1 @JimmyPorter_
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 53:….Darryl Nance, Director of Athletics, Greenville County Schools, Greenville, SC
Today’s conversation is a great one as we sit down with Darryl Nance, a CMAA who serves as the Director of Athletics for the Greenville County School System in Greenville South Carolina. A true believer in the power of betting on one’s self. Darryl touches on some great topics today including his innovative way to navigate the age-old question of playing time that you will want to hear. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Darryl Nance.
0:56- Introduction
9:14- Handling Playing Time Issues as a Coach & AD
22:36- Advice for the AD who feels ‘Lonely at the Top’
29:24- Strategies to Deliver Unpopular News Athletic Administrators Support System FACEBOOK GROUP mentioned in this episode.
40:38- Teaching Life Lessons to Students from the District AD Role
47:54- Being a ‘Guide Dog’ & not a ‘Guard Dog’
52:10- Importance of Being an Active Athletic Administrator
56:32-2 Minute Drill
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @CoachNance1
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 52…Rich Barton, Richfield High School, Richfield, Utah
Today we have the wonderful opportunity to sit down for a second time with Rich Barton. Rich is a CMAA from Richfield High School in Richfield UT who is leading the way as athletic leaders in that state work toward the passage of a senate bill that would reward athletic administrators who achieve national certifications.
This is quite frankly a bill that could affect us all and you will want to hear what Rich has to say about the legislation, its purpose, and ultimately it’s impact. Let settle in and learn from Mr. Rich Barton.
0:00- Introduction
2:07- Utah Senate Bill 67-; Compensation for Certified Athletic Directors
9:48- Laboring Through ‘2nd Half of the Day’ for an Athletic Administrator
15:04- Precedent for Compensating Certified Athletic Directors
23:21- Leadership Advantages of Being an Involved Athletic Administrator
27:57-Time Management for the AD
32:34- Why Hesitate Getting National AD Certification?
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @RichfieldRich
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today we sit down with Lamarr Glenn of South Paulding High School in Douglasville, GA.
Mr. Glenn was a four-year letterman of the Florida State University Football team from 1994-1998 where he was named Offensive Team Captain in 1998 while also being drafted in the sixth (6th) round of 1999 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Bucs. We discuss the impact that Coach Bobby Bowden had on him and how it has shaped who he is as an athletic leader and how he leads his coaches and athletes today.
Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Lamarr Glenn.
1:00- Introduction
5:13- Life Lessons from Coach Bobby Bowdon
7:13- Being Forged into a Leader at Florida State
10:44- Tools that Help to Read a Situation
12:44- Tactics that Help to Reflect on Challenging Situations
15:58- Opening a New School as a New AD
21:05- The Part of the AD Role that Brings out his Passion
25:51- 2-Minute Drill
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @LGlenn31
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today we celebrate firsts on the podcast as we sit down with our first guest from the great state of Indiana as well as our first Collegiate President in Dr. Michael Lindsay of Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. Dr. Lindsay has won multiple awards both for his teaching and academic research and is the author of two dozen scholarly publications and numerous books, including, Faith in the Halls of Power, which was nominated for the nonfiction Pulitzer Prize in 2007, and his award-winning View from the Top, which has been translated into Chinese and Japanese and his most recent book, Hinge Moments, which was launched globally on the Taylor campus in 2021. Dr. Lindsay believes that leadership is fundamentally about talking to other people, truly listening to them and always being “in process” as we look to increase our capacity to learn and lead. Let’s settle in and get to know probably our first and only guest who holds a degree from Princeton University…Dr. Michael Lindsay.
1:27- Introduction
3:07- The Platinum Study…Studying 550 C-Suite Leaders
5:35- “Your 20s Establish Your 70s”
7:09- Advantages of Being a Generalist
10:23- The Essence of Leadership
11:46- Learning from a Front Row Seat in Leadership
14:46- A Successful Approach to Tough/Crucial/Responsible Conversations
16:48- Defining Education-Based Athletics
19:56- Characteristics Required for ‘Hinge Moments’
23:16- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Self-Renewal (Gardner) Faith in the Halls of Power (Lindsay) View from the Top (Lindsay) Hinge Moments (Lindsay)
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @DMichaelLindsay
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Welcome to Season 3 of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. We kick things off at the top with a conversation with newly appointed NIAAA President Mike McGurk of Lee’s Summit high School in Missouri.
Mike has served in a variety of leadership roles that have each helped to shape him as a leader not just at the local level but on the state and now national stage as well. Josh and I enjoyed sitting down and covering some basic fundamentals of leading in high school athletics and I know that you will be better after learning from him today. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Mike McGurk.
1:09- Introduction
5:31- Athletic Director Dress Code
9:29- Basic Fundamentals of Being a High School Athletic Administrator
13:43- Growing Your Capacity as a Leader
17:03- Observing Practice & Giving Feedback
19:22- Benefits of a Student Athlete Advisory Council
24:30- More Equipped By Being an Active Local School AD
26:59 -Time Management Skills for the AD
31:41-Serving as NIAAA President
37:02- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee)
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @MoCatFan
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Ladies and Gentlemen, today we close out season two on an incredibly high note as we sit down with Mr. Randy Gravitt, the CEO and Co-Founder of InteGreat Leadership. Randy has taught life and leadership skills to hundreds of audiences in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, presenting and consulting to organizations such as Chick-fil-A, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Kroger Pharmacy, the Winshape Foundation and Major League Baseball.
Long story short…he’s the real deal and this will be an episode you will need to go back and do a deep dive into with your notepad ready as Randy gives us a masterclass on leadership throughout this conversation.
Get ready to get better…as we settle in… and get to know and learn from Mr. Randy Gravitt.
Back in March of 2021 Josh and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Josh Brooks, the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics at the University of Georgia. Josh is a leader who understands the comfort in being uncomfortable and the benefits that such experiences can provide a leader as they grow, and you’ll hear that in our conversation today.
Josh has a levelheaded collaborative style about him and it will not take long for you to understand that there is something special about him and what he is putting together in Athens. Let’s settle in and get to know Mr. Josh Brooks.
1:00- Introduction
7:37- Defining & Evaluating Daily Successes
10:23- Processes Complaints & Finding Positives
14:12- Being Confident Enough to say “I Don’t Know”
17:14- Leveraging Social Media as a Positive
22:04- Facilitating Collaboration Among Your Staff
23:47- “Innovation of Strategy”
27:45- Growth Mindset while Respecting Traditions
30:22- Being True to Who You Are
32:34- Properly Preparing for the Biggest Outcome & Making Adjustments
35:55- Being ‘Elite-ly’ Structured
43:41- Importance of Hobbies-Personal Time
47:13- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Start With Why (Sinek)
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @Brooks_UGA Instagram: joshgbrooks
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today we sit down, once again, with author, podcast host and leadership expert Mr. Brian Dodd. Brian serves as the Director of New Ministry Relationships for Injoy Stewardship Solutions where he helps churches fully-fund their mission and vision. Brian’s objective is to add value to leaders and provide perspective, encouragement, and solutions to the issues they face daily and one way he does that is through his blog Brian Dodd on Leadership. Make it a must have for your regular leadership resources and thank us later because it is pure gold each and every time Brian posts. His ability to find leadership lessons in the everyday experience is second to none and we are really excited for Brian to sit down with us for this full episode as his book recommendation special editions are always a huge hit so make sure to go back and check those out. Let’s settle in and get to know…Mr. Brian Dodd.
3:10- Introduction
6:46- Developing Effective, Key Habits
15:59- Leading a Position that You Never Served In
20:22- Knowing ‘The Why’ of Your People
25:01- The Most Lasting, Impactful Thing a Leader Can Do
29:21- Assessing Your Capability Gap
33:00- Showing Confidence Yet Remaining Humble
40:23- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Leadership as an Identity (Loritts) Timeless (Dodd) Impact Players (Wiseman) The Lens (Scott)
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @BrianKDodd Website: Brain Dodd on Leadership
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Brian Dodd joins us again to review another great list of leadership books for you to pick up this holiday season as you prepare to take your leadership skills to another level in 2022.
- Leadership As An Identity by Crawford Loritts (character)
- The Barcelona Complex by Simon Kuper (soccer)
- Believe Us by Melissa Reddy (soccer)
- Chumps to Champs by Bill Pennington (baseball)
- A Season In The Sun by Lars Anderson (football)
- BE 2.0 by Jim Collins (business/organizational)
- The Leader’s Greatest Return by John Maxwell (personal growth)
- Impact Players by Liz Wiseman (peak performance)
- Raise Your Game by Alan Stein (peak performance)
- The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership by Tim Elmore (business/organizational)
If you have listened to the podcast of our guest today and noticed some similarities to ours that is not a mistake. Pastor Mike Linch and his podcast Linch with a Leader has served as a template for what Josh and I have wanted to build with our show. Mike leaves every room better than he found it and helps others close their own capability gap and reach their true full potential whether it be at the office or at home. Today we get the great pleasure of sitting down with Mike for a fun and powerful conversation about both life and leadership and we are very grateful that you have decided to join us today. Let’s settle in and get to know Pastor Mike Linch.
4:07- Introduction
6:05- What Makes an Elite Leader
7:29- Winning the First & Last Hour of the Day
11:45-DISC Training Benefits
15:41-Finding Harmony in Life
18:56- Leading Through Pain
23:07- Developing ‘Thick Skin’ as a Leader
29:58- The One Question You Have Never Been Asked
34:15- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Leadership Pain (Chand)
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @mikelinch Instagram: @mikelinch
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 44…Jamy Bechlar, Author/Speaker/Former Coach
Today’s guest sees his second time on the podcast as we once again hang out with Jamy Bechler. Jamy is a professional speaker, leadership trainer and executive business coach who works with teams ranging from major corporations to the NBA. Before going into full-time leadership work, Jamy served for 20 years as a college basketball coach, professor, and administrator. When he hung up the whistle, he didn’t stop coaching. Jamy just moved from the locker-room into the boardroom. He now travels the country motivating people and “coaching” organizations on how they can build championship teams and cultures. There’s so much great stuff in our conversation today so let’s settle in and welcome back Mr. Jamy Bechler.
1;06- Introduction
5:41- Taking Inventory of Yourself
8:22- Great Leaders &The 360-Degree Leader
15:42- Focus on the Process to be Fearless
19:34- Success is a Choice
24:35- Finish-You May be 3 Feet Away
32:07- The Butterfly Effect
34:49- Being Intentional on Social Media
40:17- Value of the Leader’s Word Choice
48:29- Why should Leaders be Readers
59:24- Understanding the Unsung Heroes
1:06:11- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: They Call Me Coach (Wooden) The Cubs Way (Verducci)
Can’t Hurt Me (Goggins) Lead for God’s Sake (Gongwer) Living with a Seal (Itzler) Calling Up (Nerbun)
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities. We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Josh Mathews, CMAA...
Today’s guests serve as the Executive Director and the Associate Executive Director of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association or NIAAA, Dr. Mike Blackburn and Mr. Phil Rison. These two leaders took some time out of their busy schedules and planning for the NIAAA Conference in Denver, Co this December to talk shop and leadership with Josh and I and you will not be disappointed as we learn from these two leaders in the industry. Let’s settle in and get to know Dr. Mike Blackburn and Mr. Phil Rison.
3:10- Introduction
6:14- Roles of the NIAAA Executive & Associate Executive Director
11:43- NIAAA LTI Courses-Professional Development for ADs
12:50- Characteristics of Building a Successful Team
17:37- A Leader’s Vision
19:59- Learning & Growing as a Leader
21:51- Stretching Those That You Lead
25:55- National AD Conference-Why is it Beneficial?
31:00- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: The Servant Leader (James A. Autry)
Coach Wooden’s Leadership Game Plan for Success (John Wooden)
Social Media Connections: Twitter: Dr. Blackburn @showingtheway Mr. Rison @philrison10
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
We had the pleasure to sit down with current NIAAA President Dr. Lisa Langston, CMAA from Forth Worth, TX on two different occasions and have combined both visits into this episode. A lifelong lover of athletics and the benefits that can be gained through both competition and being apart of a team, Dr. Langston is a leader who looks to bring out the best in those she works and interacts with and is always “in process” herself. Dr. Langston sees it as her purpose to make a difference in other people’s lives and we have no doubt she will make a positive difference in how you lead after today. Enjoy our conversations with Dr. Lisa Langston.
0:50- 8 Months as NIAAA President
2:36- Duties of the NIAAA President
3:37- 2021 National AD Conference
5:53- What do you get out of the conference?
10:37- Best Reward of Being the NIAAA President
14:00- Introduction
16:55- Why are you involved in athletics?
19:32- Books for the Athletic Leader
23:01- Building Positive Connections
25:42- Difficult Conversations that Lead to Resolutions
28:45- Rule #1 in Leadership
31:52- Using the Unique Talents Around You
35:16- Successful Teams
37:38- Inputs that Lead to Better Output
41:02- Making Sports Appealing Especially to Girls & Minorities
44:28- NIAAA Mentoring Committee
46:44- Most Memorable Speaker and Content
52:23- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Deception of Leadership (The Arbinger Institute) Wooden Pyramid of Success (John Wooden) Leading with the Heart (Mike Krzyzewski) 360 Degree Leader(John Maxwell) Mindset (Carol Dweck)
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @AD_DrLisa Instagram: @langston2127
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
Episode # 40…Allen Greene, Director of Athletics, Auburn University
Several months ago, we had the opportunity to hang out with an original outlaw….well not really but our guest today shares a name with one. Johnny Ringo of Highland Park High School in Dallas, TX.
Coach Ringo has built a culture based on a foundation of principles that focuses on not just mental and physical toughness but a commitment to respect all whom his students and coaches meet.
A true believer in self-assessment and the benefits that can be gained from it, Coach Ringo strives to serve as a beacon of hope for his students and coaches and we have no doubt he will make you better following our conversation today.
Let settle in…and get to know...Coach Johnny Ringo.
1:13- Introduction
2:37-The Why for Being Involved in Athletics
4:16- Evolving Yet Sticking to Core Values
9:16- Facilities
13:31- Community Impact Award from the Positive Coaching Alliance
15:20- Communication is the Most Important Thing We Do
17:23- Communication leads to Trust-Communicate!
19:38- Benefits of Using Photos on Social Media
21:40- #1 Skill for ADs to Deal with Coaches’ Personalities
26:18- Challenge of Being a Positive Leader Everyday
29:45- Purpose of Having Core Components for Your Athletic Dept.
32:58- Leadership Lessons from His Father, Johnny Ringo, Sr.
36:11- Coaches Outreach Program in the Dallas, TX area
37:44- 2-Minute Drill
Social Media Connections: Twitter: @ScotsAth Instagram: @hpscotsathletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today’s guest is Allen Greene, Director of Athletics at Auburn University. Allen is a humble, authentic, dynamic, and energetic collaborative leader, who is in his third year at Auburn after being named the program’s 15th director of athletics on Jan. 18, 2018. Allen served in the same capacity at the University at Buffalo prior to his arrival at Auburn.
One of the youngest athletics directors in the NCAA Power Five ranks, at 43, Allen is highly regarded by his peers and it will not take you long to see why the Tigers knew he was the one to lead them into a period of great growth for Auburn University and the Auburn community.
Grab something to write with and on as we settle in and get to know Mr. Allen Greene.
1:06- Introduction
3:15- Charisma-Can it be Developed?
7:40- The First Day in the Seat as Senior Director of Athletics
11:10- Being Uncertain Yet Not Unclear
13:45- Using Personal Stories to Instill Your Vision
15:34- Building an Athlete’s Brand for Life
18:38- Assessing a Person’s Capacity
21:22- Guiding Your Coaches to be more Introspective
23:12- Work-Life Structure
28:07- Qualities of Two Championship Coaches
32:03- Attributes of a 360-Degree Leader
34:24- Seeing More Minorities & Women in Athletic Leadership
39:09- ‘Is the Color of the Tie Important?’-Dress for Success
45:18- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: How to Lead (Rubenstein)
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
In today's Special Edition we sit down with Dr. Curt Miller. Curt serves as the Athletic Director at Oconee County High School in Watkinsville, GA and is the Vice President of the Georgia High School Association’s Board of Trustees. Curt also serves as the committee chairman for the GHSA Reclassification Committee and he wraps up the first meeting of the reclassification process held on Monday, August 23rd at the GHSA offices in Thomaston, GA.
Today we wrap up our coach’s series with a conversation with one of the most successful high school baseball coaches not only in the state of Georgia but in the nation. Coach Micky McMurtry, retired head baseball coach of Lassiter High School in Marietta, GA.
Coach McMurtry helped establish Lassiter as a state power during his tenure and retired after the 2009 season with a total of 445 wins over 17 total seasons.
He was inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame in 2008 and led the school to two state titles in 1999 and 2006 with the 99 team being named National Champions.
It won’t take long for you to get an understanding of Coach Mic‘s mantra of “it isn’t about me…it’s about us” and how it helped shape his life as a successful teacher and coach whose influence is still helping those he has taught in coached along the way as they take on the world. Let’s settle in…and get to know Coach Micky McMurtry.
The NIAAA has taken on TUNNEL TO TOWERS as their initiative this year. I would like for each school to raise $100.00 for this needed charity. This September 11 will be the 20 anniversary of 9-11. Having some type of program at school during the anniversary might be a good time to get donations. Getting our athletes involved makes this a learning opportunity as our athletes were not born 20 years ago. The deadline is October 15. For more info on TUNNEL TO TOWERS go to, t2t.org.
353-63-5, 18 region championships, 10 state championships and 4 national championships…if I told you that would be your career record, I think most of us would take it.
In today’s episode we have the pleasure of going down memory lane as we learn from the greatest motivator of people I have ever known. My father, Coach Jerry Don Baker of Valdosta High School in Valdosta, Ga.
Moving from Texas as a small child he created a life in Valdosta where he still lives today surrounded by those he has influenced and motivated throughout the years. Settle in and let us introduce you to my dad…Coach Jerry Don Baker.
1:15- Introduction
9:08- A Story of the Mystique of Valdosta Football
13:12- Strategies to Find Success as an AD in a Small Town
17:12- Leadership Lessons from Coach Bazemore & Coach Hyder
22:03- Managing a Group of ‘Alpha’ Leaders
25:36- Winning was a Tradition
29:04- How a Vision Keeps You Ahead
33:46- Paying Your Dues
39:03- How an AD Should Treat His/Her Coaches
41:19- Relationships & Loving Your People
43:35- Integrity Required to Coach Your Own Children
48:20- Keys to Focus on When Hiring Coaches
50:55- Preparation!!!
55:37- The Ghost Stories from Valdosta Football
59:49- What are You Most Proud of from Years in Athletics?
1:02:25- 2-Minute Drill
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today guest will educate, motivate, and inspire you to be a better leader. Maurice Freeman of Brooks County High School in South Georgia has worn both hats as the athletic director and head football coach for the Trojans and has found great success in both roles.
Coach Freeman is a multi-generational leader in a small town that knows the definition of servant leadership and has leaned on his ability to serve and connect with others in both good and bad times as we will discuss today.
His philosophy of “bring that hammer” has transformed not only his school but his community and we have no doubt that it will change you after our conversation today. Let’s settle in and get to know…Coach Maurice Freeman.
1:10- Introduction
4:39- ‘Bring That Hammer’ slogan/motto
6:25- Being a Community Athletic Leader in a Small Community
8:46- Motivating a Group Around a Singular Goal
11:42- Teaching Lessons Beyond the Football Field
15:04- ‘Learning’ People
17:41- Enacting & Implementing a Vision
21:36- ‘The Fish Hawk’
24:57- Using Media & Social Media to Promote Your Program
31:31- Leading through Tragedy
38:46- Incorporating Family into Athletic Leadership
44:29- Teaching How to Love Each Other
50:43- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Coach Freeman: Twitter: @m14free Facebook: m14freeman
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
In this Special Edition we sit down with some great athletic leaders from the state of Georgia. These athletic directors were named "Athletic Director of the Year" in their respective classifications and they left us with so much great knowledge and will leave no doubt as to why they received this recognition.
· Class A (Private): Mike Emery – The Paideia School
· Class A (Public): Jason Lanham – Trion
· Class 2A: Kevin Grooms – Northeast Macon
· Class 4A: Henrietta George – Druid Hills
· Class 6A: Eddie Hood – Central Gwinnett - will move to Greene Co. for the 2021-22 school year and serve as the district AD for Greene Co. Schools.
· Class 7A: Brett Phipps – West Forsyth
Today’s guest is Rennie Curran. Rennie is a former high school, collegiate, and professional football star who has used his collective life experiences to become a keynote speaker, author, and the CEO of Game Changer Coaching. He delivers powerful keynote presentations, workshops, and one on one coaching on topics such as leadership, teamwork, overcoming adversity, and performance. His clients include Chick-Fil-A, Coca-Cola, SunTrust, University of Georgia, Associations, Sports Teams, Non-profit Organizations, and many more.
Rennie’s unique combination of leadership experiences with the NFL, the Jon Gordon companies and building his own company translates to a powerful and practical coaching style that you will benefit from today. Let’s settle in…. and get to know Mr. Rennie Curran.
1:15- Introduction
3:10- Leadership Fundamentals for Athletic Leaders
7:52- Experiences as a Son of Liberian Immigrants
10:45- Author of “Free Agent…”
15:03- Building Your Personal Brand
18:56- Definition of Leadership
23:31- A Leader of Significant Impact
30:03- An “Abundance Mindset”
32:48- Athlete 2 Athlete Series
39:38- Three Powerful Tips for Self-Improvement
44:19- Making Tough Decisions as a Leader
48:49- Building an Athletic Leader
50:57- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: https://renniecurran.com/free-agent-book-demo/
You can follow Rennie Curran: https://renniecurran.com/
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
In this Special Edition, we speak with Ira Childress, Athletic Director at Gulliver Prep in Miami, FL on the potential impact of the NCAA's decision to allow collegiate student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. Ira has a history with the NCAA serving as the Assistant Director of Leadership Development from 2008-2011.
Today we sit down with Tommy Marshall of the Marist School in Georgia as he wraps up a wonderful and impactful career as a teacher, coach, and athletic director. It's always a pleasure to sit down with Tommy and today is no exception.
Ladies and gentlemen, you are truly in for a treat today as we sit down with our guest Dexter Wood. As a football coach, Dexter won 3 state championships at Buford High School in Georgia and set the state of Georgia consecutive win streak record at 47 games in 2004. Coach Wood retired from coaching in 2005 with a career record of 257 wins 92 losses and 3 ties. In 1988, Dexter was a charter member of the Georgia Athletic Director’s Association and served as a member of the Executive Board of Directors from 1989 until 1996.
The definition of a humble servant leader, Dexter Wood’s influence reaches far and wide as he never hesitates to work with other leaders to help them maximize their potential. Grab something to write with and on as we settle in and get to know Mr. Dexter Wood.
1:19- Introduction
4:17- What led you to athletics?
6:50- Focusing on the Goals; Overcoming the Noise
9:52- Common Truths of Productive Leadership
14:09- Lessons from Coach ‘Bear’ Bryant
19:51- Learning Leadership from a Losing Season
-‘Finding a Person who is Hungry for Responsibility’
24:07- An Organized, Productive Preseason Coaches Meeting
28:27- Taking Care & keeping Your Energy Up
-Date Nights with Spouse & Kids
36:00- Gauging & Shaping the Morale of Your Staff
38:08- Importance of Helping Other ADs
40:09- Value of the GADA
43:45- Not Losing Site of the Ones You Serve
47:12- 4 C’s to Hiring Coaches
52:34- Be a Better Leader than Coach
56:33- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Good to Great (Jim Collins)You can follow Buford Athletics on Twitter @bufordathletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today’s guest is Vaughn Williams. Vaughn serves as the Director of Athletics at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. A multi-dimensional leader, who has harnessed the power of connection, I believe everyone is better after they are around him and we are very fortunate to have you experience this today.
Vaughn is a relationship builder who is not afraid of challenges and embraces being a life-long learner. He lives by the motto of “Just serve, show up, do your job and help others do theirs.” And that will not be the last piece of wisdom you will need to document as we sit down with him today. So, get something to write with and on… as we settle in and get to know…Mr. Vaughn Williams.
1:09- Introduction
7:03- Called, Opportunity, Serve- Vaughn Williams the Leader
7:37- Following a Beloved, Successful Predecessor
10:48- Being Consistent Fulfilling the Needs of Student-Athletes
14:04- Importance of Being Prompt
18:23- Recognizing the Leader Within You
23:21- Applying Leadership Traits Learned from His Parents
26:57- Assimilating New Student-Athletes During & After Covid
34:04- Strategies to Serve Everyone in Our Communities
40:23- Cultivating People Skills Within a Leader
47:12- Preparing Student-Athletes for What’s Next
54:08- The WHY behind Branding Through Social Media
59:08- Leading the Leader who has Talent but Lacks Experience
1:03:41- One Word from Each Stop in Vaughn’s Journey of Athletic Administration
1:05:50- Partnering with Your Best Friend, Your Spouse, to Lead in Athletics
1:07:32- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership (Hunter)You can follow Vaughn Williams and Bentley University Athletics on social media Twitter: @VW_BentleyAD@BentleyFalcons
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 33 … Lesley Broadwell, Cambridge High School (Milton, GA)
Today’s guest is Lesley Broadwell. Lesley serves as the Athletic Director at Cambridge High School in Milton, GA.
A Georgia native Lesley has worked her way up the ladder by being a believer in surrounding yourself with good people and then getting out of the way while they work to reach the collective goals established by all parties involved.
A leader through both the good times and the bad as she will discuss today, Lesley has a unique ability to connect with others using the power of a positive outlook that is felt by all who have interacted with her. Let’s settle in…and get to know…Lesley Broadwell.
1:03- Introduction
3:34- Advise for Females Entering Athletic Administration
4:35- Fostering a Strong Principal-AD Relationship
8:27- Setting Your Coaches Up for Success
10:14- Leading Through Tragic Loss in Your Community
13:39- Tough Conversations with Students & Your Community
18:38- Balancing the AD Role with Coaching
25:10- Ways to Evaluate Yourself as the Leader
27:46- The Cambridge Athletic Association
30:30- Promoting Females Succeeding in Non-Traditional Platforms
32:52- What Brings You Joy as AD?
35:10- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Lesley Broadwell on social media Twitter: @Cambridge_AD
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
SharpEdge Ventures is a sports entertainment consultancy that guides brand success through a variety of media, live events and corporate partnerships.
SEV's primary client is the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), a voluntary, non-profit organization composed of 450+ public and private high schools that supervise regulations for region and state competition in 18 sports and two activities.
SEV marketing services include: brand building, sponsorship sales, activation of corporate partnerships, merchandising, licensing, media right negotiations, social media, digital content, event operations and look of the championship.
Episode # 32 … Jake von Scherrer, Maclay School
Today’s guest is Jake von Scherrer. Jake serves as the Director of Athletic Enrichment at The Maclay School in Tallahassee, FL. A career Educator and a Certified Master Athletic Administrator with over 35 years of success as a teacher, Head Coach, and an AD Jake left us with some great insight and ideas that I know you will want to implement into your programs as soon as possible. Let jump in and get to know Mr. Jake von Scherrer.
0:52- Introduction
4:45 – Finding and Knowing Your Niche
10:30 - Using The Champions Comeback to Help lead Your Athletic Program
13:54 - Focusing on Character over X&O’s
17:52 - Changes to the Role as Athletic Administrator
21:27- Staying Connected to Coaches and Athletes
29:41 – Crucial Choices that Led to Success
36:52- Victory Educational Athletics
38:42 - Qualities to Look for in Hiring
41:08 - NIAAA Athletic Director Cohort Program
45:47 – Getting Your CMAA
47:14 - Competitive Sportsmanship
50:39 - 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Jake von Scherrer on social media Twitter: @jakestouchdown
The Educational AD Podcast Apple Podcasts YouTube
https://www.victoryeducationalathletics.com/
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Kate is the author of Confessions of an Imperfect Coach, the transformation story surrounding her perfect season experiment. She is the coauthor of Stick Together with Bestselling author and speaker Jon Gordon. She has also written the Coaches Emergency Practice Guide for youth lacrosse and Team 8.
She is sought after for her knowledge in both building and repair of team/business/organizational cultures. Her background in athletics is paired with her successful career in corporate sales, retail management, business growth consulting, and her start up boutique clothing line that was sold in high end boutiques around the world.
She is recognized for her work in creating internally motivated, high performing teams, and elevating relationships, connections, and mission driven personnel. Her high energy, connected approach brings excitement, buy-in, and the transformation that teams need to make positive, lasting change.
Kate is the VP of Leadership Development for the Jon Gordon Companies where she creates and delivers content for workshops based on Jon's proven principles, develops collegiate leadership infrastructure, delivers training, workshops, consulting, and keynotes, and advises all levels of business leadership and sports teams across the country.
She is a former NCAA lacrosse coach, National Coaches Education Trainer, holds a degree in exercise science concentrating on corrective exercise, and is a heavily certified fitness and nutrition specialist. She is a widely published contributor to many national publications, podcasts, and panels. She has been featured in numerous publications by US Lacrosse, Changing the Game Project, NFHS, the Positive Coaching Alliance, the Reformed Sports Parent, the Female Athlete Mentor Project, Minnesota Soccer Association, the Professional Women's Lacrosse League UWLX, and the Christopher Gabriel Program on ESPN Radio, among many others. Her blog articles are frequently shared upwards of 100K plus times throughout organizations across the globe, focusing on creating more connected leaders, positive culture, and dynamic learning environments.
https://www.kateleavell.com/
Episode # 31 … Jared Benko, 1st Year at Ga Southern
Today’s guest is Jared Benko. Jared is the Director of Athletics at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro; GA and we are so excited to have him sit down with us again. Jared joined us almost one year ago for episode 5 as he was literally on the road from his previous position as Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Financial Officer for nearly four years at Mississippi State University.
A common sense and down to earth leader, I challenge you to find a more “people first” AD. Jared walks us through his first year “owning his own shop” as AD at Ga. Southern and breaks down some of the highlights and challenges that any new leader faces as they look to embrace the past while instilling their vision for the future. There’s plenty to learn from in this one…let’s settle in and catch up with a friend of the show…Mr. Jared Benko.
1:16 - Introduction
3:58 – The Story of Year One
6:25 - Number One Priority as a New Leader
11:08- Taking Ownership of the Job
15:13- Assessing Candidates Beyond the Interview
23:37- Evaluating the Talent on Your New Team
31:28- Using a Pandemic for Improvement
34:39- Enhancing the Student-Athlete Experience
39:24- Having a Servant Mentality
44:31- Being Engaged with Fans
50:28- What has Year One Taught You About Yourself?
53:47- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Jared Benko on social media Twitter: @GSAthletics @JaredBenkoInstagram: @GSAthletics
Find out more about Mr. Jared Benko and Georgia Southern University Athletics at:
Georgia Southern Athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 30 … Dr. Kaleb Stoppel, Olathe East HS (Olathe, KS)
Today’s guest is Dr. Kaleb Stoppel. Kaleb serves as an assistant principal and athletic director at Olathe East High School in Olathe Kansas. An innovative leader who loves to inspire others to be the best versions of themselves and is a champion for both athletics and the arts, Dr. Stoppel has harnessed the power of positive leadership and always sees the glass half-full as he leads his coaches, student-athletes, and the next generation of athletic leaders. Let’s settle in and get to know our first guest from the great state of Kansas….Dr. Kaleb Stoppel.
00:59- Introduction
4:56- Why are You an Athletic Administrator?
8:21- Having a ‘Beginner’s Mindset’
11:20- Importance of a Support System for the AD
16:32- Being In-Tune with Other Extra-Curriculars
20:15- Preparation, Promptness, Presence
24:41-Being Mr. Paranoia & Mr. Positivity
28:55- Why Are We Here?
33:48- Methods to Inspire Your Coaches
37:00- Making Big Picture Decisions
42:25- Student Recognition
45:40- Resources to Improve His Leadership Skills
51:01- Passion for Kansas High School Athletics
53:58- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Dr. Kaleb Stoppel on social media--Twitter: @ADStoppelOE Instagram: Kalebstoppel
Find out more about Olathe East Athletics at: Olathe East Hawks Olathe East Athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CMAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today we sit down with Scott Pederson of Positive Athlete. Scott has spent over 35 years of his career marketing some of the most high-profile events, corporations and celebrities in the world. He has staged a World Series, helped develop the National Football League’s most high-profile grass-roots event property (Punt, Pass & Kick), and negotiated endorsement contracts for professional athletes. He has consulted with each of the four major sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NASCAR and NBA) and with many sports franchises. He has also designed numerous programs enabling clients to leverage their sponsorship investments at retail, including Miller Brewing Company, Gatorade, Pillsbury and General Mills.
With the help of Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward, the Positive High School Athlete Awards were created in Pittsburgh and then in Georgia where over $400,000 in scholarships have been given away to student-athletes who have overcome obstacles, given back to their communities, and been a positive influence in their schools.
Positive Athlete Website
Episode # 29 … Brett Ledbetter/Becky Burleigh, What Drives Winning
What drives winning? That’s a really great question that I think we all would love to have the answer to. Well today we plan on getting you closer to that goal as we sit down with the co-founders of the What Drives Winning conference Brett Ledbetter and Becky Burleigh. Brett Ledbetter is a consultant, author, and speaker who has helped both coaches and athletes tap into their ultimate potential through his conference, Tedx talks, and his work as a “thought partner” for programs such as Gonzaga mens’ basketball, The University of Oregon Women’s basketball program, and The University of Florida’s softball and soccer programs, just to name a few. In 25 seasons at the helm of the University of Florida’s soccer team, Becky Burleigh, has led UF to a NCAA Championship, two NCAA College Cup appearances, 14 Southeastern Conference titles and 22 NCAA Championships berths. Coming into this season, in 30 seasons of coaching, Burleigh has compiled an overall record of 507-152-43 (.753) and her 507 wins places her No. 2 among active Division I coaches and No. 3 all-time for D1 career victories. What drives winning? This is going to be a good one. Let’s find out as we settle in and get to know Becky Burleigh and Brett Ledbetter.
1:48-Introduction
4:41-What Drives Winning program
7:05-Being a ‘Thought Partner’
9:32- Developing a Common Language in your Program
10:35-Makeup of a 360 Degree Leader
12:01-Environment vs Culture
14:34-What the Great Coaches Possess
18:49-Teaching & Demonstrating Character to your Program
22:14-“You are the Physical Manifestation of the Standard”
27:51-Having a Board of Directors vs Inner Circle
31:58-Importance of Finding a Community for the Leader
36:44-Understanding the Short Lifespan of a Team
38:55-Maximizing Your Ability as an Athletic Leader for your Staff
43:35-Prioritizing Character Studies with your Teams
50:42-Definition of GREATNESS
52:34-Helping Those We Lead Reset
54:13-What Drives Winning resources
1:00:08-2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: What Drives Winning books (WDW, What’s Really Important, WDW Teams, WDW Environments)
You can follow Brett Ledbetter and Becky Burleigh on social media
Twitter: WDWconvo BeckyBurleigh YouTube: What Drives Winning
Find out more about What Drives Winning at: What Drives Winning website
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
Don Baker, CAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 28 … Matt Williams/Matt Moody, North Cobb High School (GA)
Synergy is defined as the interaction or cooperation of two or more agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. This is a definition that surely applies to today’s guest. Matt Moody and Matt Williams serve as the principal and athletic director at North Cobb High School in Georgia. Matt Moody is a master communicator who has an uncanny ability to build positive relationships with everyone he meets, and Matt Williams is an award-winning athletic director in the state’s largest classification. Together these two leaders are creating the template for the productive principal-athletic director relationship and I have no doubt that you will take something from today’s conversation to help you in either role. Let’s jump in and get to know…Mr. Matt moody and Matt Williams.
1:17- Introduction
6:58- Promoting Your School Through Social Media
10:24- New AD with a New Principal
13:40- ‘Head Down-Head Up’ Balance
14:35- Being Aligned as a Principal and AD
17:25- Advice for Strengthening the Principal-AD Relationship
20:08- Leading as a Principal with Athletic Experience
22:19- Challenges Moving from Coach to AD in the Same School
23:28-Importance of Attending the GADA Conference
27:00- Connecting with Your Alumni
32:10- What is Special about North Cobb Athletics
35:10- Luncheon to Recognize Partners
38:05- Hiring Great Coaches and Great Teachers
41:06- Responding as AD to Passionate Parents
43:02- Leading with Rural Roots in an Suburban School; Being a Hospitable Leader
46:23- Presentation of Your School Facilities
49:39- Most Difficult Part of Being an AD
52:44- Most Rewarding Part of Being an AD
54:52- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: The Hospitable Leader
You can follow Matt Moody, Matt Williams, and North Cobb Athletics on social media
Twitter: NorthCobbPrincipal North Cobb Athletics Instagram: North Cobb Principal North Cobb Athletics
Find out more about North Cobb Athletics at: North Cobb Athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker partners with Josh Mathews to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
The why behind Leadership and Main is to inspire a generation of community leaders to make the turn from ordinary to extraordinary. When leaders arrive at that intersection, we want to provide the original and shared content to map his/her turn towards extraordinary. We define community leadership as the ability and willingness to use your influence to better others and the world you live in.
Leaders at the community level wield the greatest ability and awesome responsibility to positively influence Main Street America. Leadership and Main is not intended for those who settle for the status quo, the resistors, the self-seeking, bureaucratic minded, or those that feel the future of their community is decided by anyone other than the leaders who comprise it. It is solely intended for leaders in local communities who want to selflessly serve and simply make their community a better place to live, work, and play.
Leadership and Main is inspired by the incredible leaders in the community of Acworth, Georgia, a special community located in Northwest Georgia. Acworth is a community comprised of dynamic public servants, elected officials, entrepreneurs, pastors, educators, coaches, civic leaders, and volunteers working tirelessly towards a common vision to build, maintain and improve the standard of quality of life for its people.
Readers should expect original and sometimes shared content delivered to your inbox on Mondays that include strategies for becoming a leader in your community, lessons in community leadership, and stories of the characters that make Acworth such a special place. Follow our social media platforms for shared content from leaders at the local, national and global level through blogs, articles, podcasts, and videos.
https://leadershipandmain.org/
https://twitter.com/LeadershipMain
Episode # 27 … Lance Smith, Millard West HS (NE)
Today’s guest is Lance Smith. Lance serves as the Athletic Director at Millard West High School in Omaha Nebraska. A lifetime resident of the state, Lance has presented on both the state and national levels where he has become a recognized source in the area of social media and the positive impact it can have on an athletic program. This industry innovator also recently completed a term as the President of the Nebraska State Athletic Administrators Association. Let’s settle in…and get to know Mr. Lance Smith.
1:15- Introduction
3:58- Innovative Ways to Use Social Media
5:58- Using Skullsparks to Track Social Media Stats
7:21- Opendorse
9:45- Analytics from Twitter
12:05- Student Run Live Streaming
14:31- Leading the Nebraska State Athletic Administrators Assoc.
17:30- What to do when you don’t know something?
19:41- Creating an Athletics HOF
24:49- Using Committees to Hire Coaches
27:33- Challenges of Leading a Dept. where you Coached
30:24- Ways to Raise Your Ceiling of Leadership
35:21- What’s Next for Millard West after Covid?
38:10- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Radical Candor The Slight Edge
You can follow Lance Smith and Millard West on social media
Twitter: Millard West Wildcats Millard West Activities Lance Smith Instagram: Millard West Wildcats
Find out more about Millard West Athletics at: Millard West Athletics Website
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker partners with Josh Mathews to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Jamy Bechler is a professional speaker, leadership trainer and executive business coach who works with teams ranging from major corporations to the NBA. Before going into full-time leadership work, Jamy served for 20 years as a college basketball coach, professor and administrator. When he hung up the whistle, he didn’t stop coaching. Jamy just moved from the locker-room into the boardroom. He now travels the country motivating people and “coaching” organizations on how they can build championship teams and cultures.
In today's Special Edition, we dive into Jamy's latest project which is a online leadership program made for athletic leaders and teams based off of his book "The Leadership Playbook."
The Leadership Playbook Online Program Website
https://theleadershipplaybook.thinkific.com/
Visit Jamy Bechler's website for more information.
https://jamybechler.com/
Episode # 26 … Lindsey Schiefer
Today’s guest is Dr. Lindsey Swanson Schriefer (Sh-ree-fer). Dr. Schriefer serves as a licensed psychologist who guides individuals along their unique path to their full potential. She provides sport psychology consultation and psychoeducational evaluation services in the greater Atlanta area and we are very honored to have her sit down with us today. Over the past decade, Dr. Schriefer has worked with many diverse clients in a variety of settings, including college counseling centers, inpatient hospitals, and private practice. She has particular expertise in sport psychology. Dr. Schriefer has worked with both amateur and professional athletes in a variety of sports to manage performance anxiety, improve communication with teammates and coaches, recover from injury, and cope with disappointment and failure. Much of her work with athletes involves strengthening their mental game to enhance their performance and reach their potential. Dr. Schriefer also conducts psychoeducational evaluations to better understand a student's learning strengths and weaknesses and identify any learning or attention issues that are impeding academic success. Let’s settle in….and get to know Dr. Lindsey Swanson Schriefer.
1:39- Introduction
4:28- Thee Why Behind Being a Sports Psychologist
6:14- Family Ties to Athletic Greatness
11:36- Psychological Issues High School Athletes Deal With
14:22-What is Sports Psychology & Why Should it be a Part of every Athletic Dept
17:32- Training Minds to Enhance Performance & Reach Potential
22:28- Characteristics of the Elite
25:49- Breathing to Help Performance
28:05-Value of Thinking Time
31:36- The Power of the word Don’t
35:26- Handling the Struggles & Setbacks of Student-Athletes
40:09- Mental Mobility
42:48- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Dr. Lindsey Schriefer and The Athlete’s Academy on social media
Instagram: Lindsey Schriefer (@the_athletes_academy) • Instagram Facebook: Athlete's Academy - Home | Facebook
Find out more about Dr. Schriefer at: Dr. Lindsey Schriefer Homepage | Athlete's Academy
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker partners with Josh Mathews to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
EPISODE # 25 ...Homer Rice, retired, Georgia Tech AD
Today you all are in for a treat. We get to sit down with Dr. Homer Rice. The former athletic director at North Carolina and Ga. Tech, who at 93 still teaches classes, is a leader who many consider the godfather of athletic administration and whose book Leadership Fitness should be on the bookshelf of every leader. A small town kid from Kentucky, Dr. Rice served our country in WWII, played baseball with legends like Bob Feller and Jackie Robinson, coached football at all levels, high school, college , and the NFL…and coached a high school team and a prison team to undefeated seasons in the same year. Yes, I said prison team. They simply do not make’em like Dr. Rice anymore. Get ready for an amazing story of life and leadership as we get to know Dr. Homer Rice.
1:19- Introduction
1:50- Definition of LEADERSHIP
3:02- Grant Teaff & Rice Family Success
5:50- Learning how to Coach as a Child
6:50- A Successful Playing Career
7:30- The Navy, Bob Feller, & Mike Brown
11:34- Being Coached by Homer Rice
14:34- Being a Coach under Homer Rice’s Leadership
16:28- Importance of Holding Leaders Accountable
18:14- The Total Person Program
22:58- Major Temptations as a Leader
24:05- Attitude Technique-Seeing Opportunities rather than Problems
25:07- Having A Daily Routine
25:47- Lessons from Meeting Jackie Robinson & Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
30:29- Dress for Success
31:43- Setting Goals for Success
33:57- Maximizing Each Day
35:50- Dealing with Loneliness as the Leader
37:57- Starting a Women’s Program at Georgia Tech
40:09- Moving from NFL success to Georgia Tech
43:20- Helping Attract the Olympics
45:46- Assembling a Staff
47:20- Teaching Championship Behavior
49:54- Improving Your Leadership Fitness
54:00- 2 Minute Drill
Book Mentions: I Dare You (William H Danforth) Leadership Fitness (Homer Rice) Lessons for Leaders (Homer Rice)
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker partners with Josh Mathews to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 23 … Jessie Rosa
Today’s guest is Jessie Rosa. Jessie serves as the Senior Director of Athletics at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama or AUM. Jessie has a passion for athletics that started at a very early age and it is this passion that has led her from being a collegiate athlete to the leader of the Warhawk athletic program today. Jessie is driven to serve her coaches and staff to ensure they are in a position to succeed and to provide her student-athletes the ultimate Warhawk experience like only she can. Josh and I know AUM is truly in great hands and you will have no doubt either after today’s conversation. Let’s settle in and get to know… Ms. Jessie Rosa.
1:09- Introduction
5:06- What attracted you to athletics?
8:30- Longevity at AUM
11:09- A Leadership Principle that Guides Jessie Rosa
14:52- Importance of Learning the Simple Tasks of the Department
19:06- The Rebranding Process
24:40- Budget & Finance: How it Helps Lead?
28:20- Being Detail-Oriented
31:35- Asking Questions of People in your Athletic Dept.
37:37- Morale in your Athletic Dept.
39:49- Leaning on Advice of Others
42:25- Interviewing for Integrity
46:40- Keeping your People First
52:25- #1 Resource as Athletic Administrator
55:06- Female Athletic Participation-Why it is Important?
58:09- Providing Attention to All Sports
1:00:33- Team Building with your Staff|
1:05:00- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Jessie Rosa and the AUM Warhawks on social media
Twitter: @JessieRosa @AUMathletics
Find out more about Jessie Rosa and AUM Athletics at: AUM Athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
EPISODE # 23 ...John Sgromolo
Today’s guest is John Sgromolo. John is both the head baseball coach and athletic director at Ridgeview High School, just outside of Jacksonville Florida. It will not take you long to feel John’s passion for both student-athletes and leadership in general. A lifelong learner, podcaster, and a believer that there is nothing that can replace a positive high school experience. I hope you enjoy our conversation with Mr. John Sgromolo.
0:20- Update Welcome
1:08- Brand from the District Level Athletic Director
2:22- Biggest Change going from Local School to District Level AD
4:28- Vision as the Director of Athletics for Clay County Schools
6:20- Successfully Interviewing for the District Level AD Position
9:05- National Athletic Administrators Day
13:02- Introduction
17:53- Being a High School Athlete
19:42- Benefits & Challenges of Being a Young AD
23:06- How the AD Role makes him a better coach
26:05- #MomandDadMonday
29:45- Developing a Culture with a Podcast
32:31- Leadership Lessons from an MLB Draft Pick
35:55- ‘A Minor League Moment’
40:20- Promoting and Celebrating the College Signings
42:14- The Value of Sportsmanship
50:54- The Value of the Athletic Director
52:00- Walk Off Charities
58:04- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow John Sgromolo on Twitter @CoachSgromolo or LinkedIn @JohnSgromolo or Email john.sgromolo@myoneclay.net
Book mentions: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
2020: Season 1-Year in Review
Welcome to another Special Edition of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today Josh and I are going to look back at season one of the podcast and talk about some of the highlights and things that we have both learned as we stepped into the unknown a bit and began to record our conversations with leaders all over the country and then polish them up and send them out to the world in the form of this podcast so let’s dive right in.
0:42- What conversations challenged you the most?
5:35- The best book purchases we have made from our conversations.
9:27- Most memorable quotes over the past season.
17:04- The most applicable lesson from this year.
19:04- Your biggest surprise from the first year of podcasting.
23:44- What have we learned about ourselves in Year 1?
26:04- What is something you hope to improve on in the coming year?
28:18- What would we do different if we were starting over?
31:16- What has been your favorite 2-minute drill question to ask?
Well, year 1 is in the books….we officially opened to the public the first week of March…Now 22 Thursday episodes, 14 special episodes, and almost 6000 downloads later, we are closing the doors on 2020 and moving into 2021….We want to say Thank You to the folks out there who have listened in this first year, the ones who have left a review or contacted us via social media, Thank You, and we now ask that you maybe pass this podcast on to a friend as a New Year’s gift…..We have a lineup of incredible guests waiting for 2021-we look forward to who our next guests might be-if you are listening or following us on Twitter, you are in range of being contacted…..In all seriousness, we love doing this and we look forward to another year-hopefully we can continue to enrich what you do in whatever leadership role you serve….Happy New Year, and until next time, Thank you for spending your time Hangin with the AD!
Episode # 22 … Matt McDonald
Today’s guest is Matt McDonald who serves as the athletic director at Lanier High School in Georgia. Matt feels he has truly been called to work with student-athletes and has a heart for the coaches he serves daily. An example to others of an active leader, Matt is intentional in focusing on the details of being an athletic director and how he can best create an environment where both his athletes and staff can thrive. Let’s jump in and get to know Matt McDonald.
0:58 - Introduction
3:45 - Sound Advice from an Experienced Athletic Director, Mark Whitely, Matt’s Father-in-law
6:28 - The college athletics department vs. the high school athletics department
8:40 - Promoting Lanier Athletics on Social Media
9:12 - Mantras & Disciplines Learned from the Marines
10:40 - The current state of Lanier Athletics
12:18 - Required Community Service for All Lanier Athletes
13:43 - Balancing the Job with Family & Higher Education
15:45 - Challenging and Trusting Your Coaches
18:55 - How to Celebrate a Championship Team
21:14 - A Leader with a Vision for His Athletic Department
22:44 - Emergency Preparedness for Athletic Leaders…Mentally Prepare!
27:17 - Purpose for Attending the National & State Conferences
29:03 - Communicating Athletics News to the School & Community
31:15 - Life outside of Lanier Athletics…A Life Serving Students
32:38 - Being a Servant Leader
34:30 - The Importance of an Aspiring AD Program- “An Evening with an AD”
37:30 - 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Lead For God’s Sake (Todd Gongwer) Miracle Morning (Hal Elrod)
You can follow Matt McDonald and the Lanier Longhorns on social media
Twitter: @LanierADNews
Instagram: Lanier High Longhorns
Find out more about Coach Matt McDonald and Lanier Athletics at: Lanier Athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast…. Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities. We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CAA.
Josh Mathews, CMAA
EPISODE # 21 ...Dr. Kechia Rowles, Director of Athletics, Rockdale Co (GA) Schools
Today’s guest is dr. Kechia Rowels. Dr. Rowels serves as the Director of Athletics for the Rockdale County School System in GA. A life-long learner from a coaching family Kechia is an advocate for student-athlete safety who has worn two hats as both an AD and an athletic trainer. Dr. Rowels has a passion for professional development at both the state and national levels and truly believes in the importance of sharing information and growing the profession together. Let settle in and get to know Dr. Kechia Rowels.
1:02- Introduction
6:07- Rarity of Being AD & Athletic Trainer
8:07- Using her AT skills at the National Ad Conference
8:50- Student Athletic Aide Camp
13:00- Her AD Pedigree, daughter of Johnny Seabrooks
17:53- Professional Development through the LTI courses
21:00- The Flag Football Initiative
23:50- The Future of the AD role
25:37- What should ADs talk more about?
27:33- How to Prepare to be a HS AD
30:11- What Currently Takes Most of Your Focus?
34:06- Benefitting from Feedback
37:25- Disparities Between Academic Achievement & Athletic Participation in High Schools
43:00- 2 Minute Drill
You can follow Dr. Kechia Rowels on Twitter @RCPS_AD
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Today we sit down with Brian Dodd. Brian’s blog “Brian Dodd On Leadership” is a go to resource for those both in and out of leadership positions seeing over 70,000 readers per month as well as being an author and the co-host of the Pursuit of Service Podcast.
To learn more about Brian Dodd and to get the following Book List, visit his blog website www.briandoddonleadership.com or connect with him on Twitter @BrianKDodd Today, Brian Dodd shares his Top 12 Sports Books on Building Winning Cultures
(Listed in no particular order)
- The Dynasty by Jeff Benedict
- Win Forever: Live, Work, and Play Like a Champion by Pete Carroll
- Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success by Phil Jackson
- Legacy by James Kerr
- The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class Team by Mike Krzyzweski
- Gridiron Genius: A Master Class in Building Teams and Winning at the Highest Level by Michael Lombardi
- Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Program by Urban Meyer
- 4th and Goal Everyday: Alabama's Relentless Pursuit of Perfection by Phil Savage
- The Cubs Way: The Zen of Building the Best Team in Baseball and Breaking the Curse by Tom Verducci
- The Captain Class: A New Theory of Leadership by Sam Walker
- The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership by Bill Walsh
- Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization by John Wooden
Other Books Mentioned: War Room, 3 Ring Circus, Hardwork, Bear, Chasing the Bear, Homegrown, Uncommon, The Pyramid of Success, Timeless
Episode # 20…Kirk Barton
Today’s guest is Kirk Barton, Director of student activities at Norcross High School in Norcross, Ga. Under Kirk’s leadership the Blue Devils have recorded 10 state championships and consistently sent student-athletes to both the collegiate and professional levels. A leader with a true heart for kids and a collaborative spirit amongst his peers Kirk delivers so much practical information in our conversation today that I know you will be able to implement in your program immediately. Let’s jump in and get to know Mr. Kirk Barton.
0:57- Introduction
6:15- Creating Community through Your Alumni
8:13- Total Program Leadership
9:18- Sport Specialization & The Multi-Sport Athlete
13:44- The Impact of Installing a Videoboard on Your Campus
16:15- Leading a Program with a History of Pride, Excellence, and Achievement
22:30- Challenges of Being Director of Athletics & Activities
25:20- Keys to Event Management
30:44- Key Events that Shaped Your Life
33:08- Leading the Next generation of ADs in Gwinnett County
36:48- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions- The Old Man in the Sea (Ernest Hemingway)
You can follow Kirk Barton on twitter @norcrosssports
Find more about Coach Barton and Norcross Athletics at: Norcross High School Athletics
About Hangin with the AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker, CAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
SPECIAL EPISODE … Dan Schuster, Director of the NFHS Learning Center, Indianapolis, IN
0:17-Introduction
1:00- What NFHS looks for in adding courses
2:12- NFHS Parent Credentialing resource
7:26- Meeting the Parents where they are
9:26- Molding Parents as an Extension of the School & Community
11:47- Are you a 10/10 Parent? Interactive Evaluation through this Course
14:13- Using ‘The Parent Seat’ to deliver expectations for Parent Fans
17:14- Video Resources for the ADs & Schools
19:28-How do you recommend using this new Parent Professional Development Tool?
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
EPISODE # 19 ...Charlie Cobb, Director of Athletics, Georgia State University
Today’s guest is Charlie Cobb. Charlie serves as the Director of Athletics at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. Cobb was hired in August of 2014 to build a winning program “the right way” per President Mark Becker. Since his hire, multiple new facilities have opened, while student-athletes maintained above a 3.0 Grade Point Average for the 12th-straight year, including a record 3.40 GPA in spring 2020. Georgia State has also received the Sun Belt's Institutional Graduation Award twice under his tenure.
Among Cobb’s biggest projects has been participating in the acquisition, purchase, and re-purposing of Turner Field, transforming the former Major League Baseball home of the Atlanta Braves into the home of Georgia State football.
Through the implementation of the department's strategic plan, Cobb is focused on building a Culture of Success at Georgia State based on five themes: Academic Achievement, Competitive Greatness, Ethical Behavior, Social Responsibility, and Community Engagement.
Get ready to take notes and learn from another great leader as we settle in and get to know Mr. Charlie Cobb.
1:30- Introduction
7:37- Implementing a Strategic Plan into Your Athletic Department
12:52- Fundraising for Capital Projects
17:38- Building the Facilities at Georgia State
20:51- Importance of the Locker Room
24:36- Learning from Coach Bill Curry’s time at Georgia State
28:59- State of the Program Statement: Informative, Detailed, Emotional
34:03- Being an Active Athletic Department on Social Media
39:52- Keys to the Hiring Process
49:34- Finding Courage through Adversity
50:55- “The Dream is Free. The Hustle is Sold Separately.”
54:05- 2 Minute Drill
You can follow Charlie Cobb on Twitter @CCobbGaStateAD
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
EPISODE # 18 ...Doug Killgore, Retired Athletic & School Demonstrator, Arkansas
Today you all are in for a true treat. Our guest on this episode of Hangin’ with the AD is Mr. Doug Killgore, also known as the Bow Tie AD. Mr. Killgore is a state and nationally recognized athletic administrator who brings decades of experience to the table and provides some great information that you will immediately be able to implement into your athletic department. Let’s jump in and get to know the Bow Tie AD…Mr. Doug Killgore.
0:58- Introduction
3:47- The Bow Tie AD
7:15- Being a Good Speaker and Presenter… ‘SWOT’
10:22- Focusing on Learning… ‘Learning is all about Connections’
13:32- LTI: 790...Learning How to Present Professionally
14:17- Being Involved at the NIAAA level
16:35- What to Look for in a Candidate for Hire?
20:36- Connection & Admiration for UCONN Women’s Basketball
23:54- The Making of a Hall of Fame Career
“...warm by fires others built and we drink from wells others dug...”
26:38- Positive Communication with Parents
29:35- Future Challenges for the Athletic Administration
32:39- Social Media: What Have You Learned from It?
35:41- Desserts and Bow Ties
35:54- Leading, Learning, & Growing from Feedback from Staff & Experiences
38:22- 2 Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Leading with Integrity: The 28 Essential Leadership Strategies of Solomon by Pat Williams with Jim Denney
You can follow Doug Killgore on Twitter @BowTieAD
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 17 … Scott Stricklin, Director of Athletics, University of Florida
Today’s guest is Mr. Scott Stricklin. Scott serves as the Director of Athletics at the University of Florida in Gainesville Florida. Scott is a strong leader with tremendous experience who shares the University of Florida’s most treasured values, from the success and well-being of their student athletes to excellence across the expanse of both men’s and women’s sports. A forward-thinking national and regional leader in the field of athletics administration, Stricklin serves as chair of the SEC's Working Group on Fan Experience and has served as the SEC's representative on the NCAA Division I Leadership Council. Stricklin is also known for his accessibility and interaction with fans on social media. Stricklin has earned praise for his performance, earning the 2015-16 Athletic Director of the Year Award from the National Association of College Directors of Athletics, which highlights the efforts of athletic directors at all levels.
1:32- Introduction
4:35- What was High School athletics like for you?
7:48- Following an Uber Successful Leader
10:17- Creating a Staff of Senior Leaders
12:30- Recognized by ADU as 2nd highest collegiate AD in terms of impact
15:02- How to know when its time to change positions
18:34- Best Thing about being AD at Florida
20:43- Doing ‘In Person’ vs other forms of Communication
22:25- New Habits during the Covid quarantine
23:50- Importance of serving outside of your own organization 25:41- Implementing the What Drives Winning program
28:20- Value of having Professional Speakers for your coaches & staff
30:18- Fundraising: a wide range of giving options
33:27- Recognizing and Involving up-and-coming leader
40:48- Learning and Maturing as a student assistant under legendary baseball coach, Ron Polk
46:06- Understanding your Brand and how to promote it
49:49- Strategies from chairing the SEC working group on Fan Experience
51:40- Connecting Dodger Stadium, Google, and the future of Florida facilities
54:51- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Team of Rivals (Doris Kearns Goodwin) The Splendid and the Vile (Erik Larson
You can follow Scott Stricklin on social media Twitter: @ScottStricklin Instagram: @Scottstricklin
Find out more about Mr. Scott Stricklin and the University of Florida Athletics at: Florida Gators Athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
SPECIAL EPISODE … Lanness Robinson, Director of Athletics Hillsborough County Public Schools & NIAAA President
0:19-Introduction
0:35- Inspecting a Year of Unknowns
2:59- What do you want the NIAAA to be known for?
5:32- Implementing Personal Decision-making Style with Large Organizations
10:03- Deciding to go Virtual with the 2020 National AD Conference
12:48- Satisfaction in Making Hard Decisions
14:19- The 2020 National AD Conference in Tampa-what virtual looks like!
20:16- Importance of ADs to be involved with the NIAAA and State Associations
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
EPISODE # 16 ...Amanda Waters, AD-Mater Dei (CA) High School
0:08- Welcome to the Double Episode with Amanda
1:27- Vision for taking over a Highly Successful Athletic Department
4:38- Immediate changes upon changing positions
6:50- Leading in a Headlining, Nationally Recognized Athletic Department
9:15- Excitement surrounding Return to Play & Return to School
13:24- How to Connect with Amanda Waters
Today’s guest is Amanda Waters, Amanda serves as the athletic director at Carlsbad High School in California. The 2018 Norm McKenzie Award winner for best Athletic Director with under four years of experience in her area, Amanda has a passion for kids and a unique ability to connect the present with the past and keep the Carlsbad alumni engaged at a high level both in the community and on her coaching staff. Let’s jump in and get to know Mrs. Amanda Waters.
14:23- Introduction to Amanda Waters
17:24- Prestige of being the Norm McKenzie Award winner in San Diego
18:49- Definition of The Lancer Way
20:18- Developing HS Alumni relations
23:28- Adopting the InsideOut Initiative
27:07- Managing a Daily Schedule as Coach-AD
30:08- How to Keep Good Coaches
33:56- Bringing back alumni as Assistant Coaches
38:22- The ADs role in showing respect for Officials
41:18- Providing Professional Development for your Staff
42:38- Benefits of AD plus Athletics Assistant Principal
45:45- Applying a Mission Statement & Sportsmanship in a HS Athletic Dept.
47:09- Having an App for your Athletic Dept,
48:54- Overseeing nontraditional sports like Surfing
52:10- 2 Minute Drill
You can follow Amanda Waters on Twitter @MaterDeiAD ... @awatersmaterdei on Instagram.... the National AD Resource website... Mater Dei Athletics website
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 15 … Ira Childress, Athletics Director, Gulliver Prep School, Miami, FL
Today’s guest is Ira Childress. Ira serves as the Athletic Director at Gulliver Prep High School just outside of Miami Florida. A true believer in the power of building positive relationships, Ira is a two-time nominee for national athletic director of the year as nominated by Varsity Brands, as well as a published author who has a passion for maximizing the student athlete experience. Ira also uses his experiences working for the NCAA to better serve his student-athletes each and every day. Let’s settle in and get to know… Mr. Ira Childress.
1:01 – Introduction
5:50- Relating back to the High School Athletics Leader
8:19- A Transformational, Outside-the-Box Leader
12:01- The National AD Collaboration with Amanda Waters
14:44- Lessons from Coach Brian Kelly, Notre Dame Head Football Coach
17:44- What Led to being nominated as Varsity Brands Athletic Director of the Year
22:44- Career in Sports Night & Student-Athlete College Recruiting Seminar
27:41- Increasing Fan Attendance for High School Athletics…’the Blue Zoo’
31:20- Gulliver Prep Student-Athlete Advisory Council
35:30- Creating a Hall of Fame for a High School Athletic Dept.
39:05- Skills taken from working in Leadership Development at the NCAA HQ
41:00- “Run from being good. Chase being Great.”
44:25- Establishing Credibility with a New Staff of Coaches
46:32- A Head Coaches Retreat at the High School level
50:40- Ira ‘the Author’
55:35- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Beating the Odds (Ira Childress)
You can follow Jayme Pendergast and Life University Athletics on social media
Twitter: @GulliverAD
Instagram: Gulliver Prep Athletics
Find out more about Mr. Ira Childress and Gulliver Prep Athletics at: Gulliver Prep Athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb). @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 14 … Jayme Pendergast
Today’s guest is Jayme Pendergast. Jayme serves as the Director of Athletics for Life University located in Marietta, Ga. She is a small-town girl who has done and who continues to do big things. A lover of learning and one who fosters a growth mindset in those around her Jayme has been a pivotal part in the tremendous growth that Life Athletics has experienced in recent years growing to serve over 500 student-athletes while seeing multiple programs rise to new heights of success. Let’s jump in and get to know Mrs. Jayme Pendergast.
1:02 - Introduction
4:51 - Leading an Athletic Department of over 500 athletes
6:36 - What makes a Great Coach? What do you look for when hiring a new coach?
8:00 - Benefits of a Sports Psychology Degree
9:41 - What shaped Jayme Pendergast’s Leadership Style
12:12 - What does a successful ‘student-athlete experience” look like?
14:09 - Motivating Your Coaching Staff
17:45 - Promoting your Programs through Social Media
19:49 - Three Pieces to Success -Show Up, Engage, Be Coachable
22:52 - The Intrigue of Life University Athletics
24:12 - Developing an Athletic Department Hall of Fame
25:55 - A Fan of Author, Joshua Medcalf
27:05 - Systems & Processes…Data Collection
32:11 - Facility Improvement through a Video Room
33:39 - AD Honor Roll
35:18 - Initial Trust & Respect when Meeting New People
38:55 – Highlights of Life University Athletics
41:52 - Leadership Qualities from Dr. Ike Reighard
44:00 - 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Infinite Game (Simon Sinek) Talent Code (Daniel Coyle) Chop Wood, Carry Water (Joshua Medcalf) Pound the Stone (Joshua Medcalf) Burn Your Goals (Joshua Medcalf) Tipping Point (Malcolm Gladwell) Culture Code (Daniel Coyle) Talking with Strangers (Malcolm Gladwell)
You can follow Jayme Pendergast and Life University Athletics on social media Twitter: @JaymePendergast @LifeUAthletics Instagram: Life U Athletics Jayme Pendergast
Find out more about Mrs. Jayme Pendergast and Life University Athletics at: Life U Athletics
EPISODE # 13 …. Leah Thomas
Today’s guest is Leah Thomas. Leah serves as an assistant athletic director of student-athlete development within the Georgia Tech Athletic Association, responsible for overseeing the wellness and development of more than 400 Georgia Tech student-athletes. She was a founding member of the Collegiate & Professional Sports Dietitians Association (CPSDA), an organization that supports registered dietitians working in performance settings and is featured in the College Football Hall of Fame as one of the leading and longest-serving sports dietitians working in college football.
A finalist for the Allied Health Professional award in 2019 as well as a competitive runner who in 2004 was an Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, Leah has a passion for both nutrition and education and is making not only short-term changes in the health of the athletes at Ga. Tech but helping them create lifelong habits that will benefit them long after they leave the flats. Let’s jump in and get to know Mrs. Leah Thomas.
1:28- Introduction
3:49- Bridging the Gap to Performance through the Georgia Tech Total Person Program
6:21- Developing a Nutrition Plan for Athletes
8:10- Taking Athletes to the Grocery Store-Nutrition Counseling
11:12- In-Game Fueling and What it looks like!
17:40- The Importance of the Relationship between Nutritionist/Coach and the Athlete
21:35- Leading in the world of Student-Athlete Development
24:38- Real, Applicable Ways to Improve the Well-Being of the Student-Athlete
28:40- What does a Hydration Plan look like? The Right Stuff electrolytes
32:09- The ‘FUN’ in the Evolution of Student-Athlete Development
35:05- Getting ‘Buy In’ from Coaches when Implementing a Nutrition Plan
37:10- Grocery List for Athletes … Leah Thomas’ Grocery List & Meal Ideas
40:02- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Leah Thomas on Twitter @GTSprtNutrition or Georgia Tech Athletics @GTAthletics
Find more about Leah Thomas and The Georgia Tech Total Person Program at:
The GT Total Person Program
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)
Episode # 12 …Scott Kelly, Athletic Director, Lassiter HS (GA)
Today’s guest is a fellow Cobb County AD Scott Kelly of Lassiter High School in Ga. Scott has a unique perspective on leadership and undoubtedly you will feed off his passion for the Lassiter community, school, and athletic programs. Grab something to write with and on because I know you will surely find something today that you can immediately implement into your program. Let’s jump in and get to know Mr. Scott Kelly
0:52- Introduction
2:56- Living Through 30 Years at Lassiter HS
3:41- First Memory of Lassiter HS
5:03- What Memories Fuel Your Fire?
6:58- Benefits to Coaching and Staying at a School for a Long Period
9:51- Experiences that Lasted through Your Different Roles at LHS
12:09-Passing on Your Passion to Young, New Coaches
20:52- Navigating the Role as AD while being a Parent of Athletes
23:39- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Scott Kelly on twitter @LassiterSports
About Hangin with the AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
SPECIAL EPISODE … Dave Gordon, speaker/author, TIP: A Simple Strategy to Inspire High Performance & Lasting Success
0:40- Preview to the Book, Inspiration to Write TIP
4:25- The Importance Foreword written by Jon Gordon
7:49- Looking in the Mirror to Help You Lead
11:00- Most Important Asset: Reputation
16:50- Understanding Your Skill Set
20:10- ‘Never Not a Representative’ of Your Brand
22:20- ‘My Pleasure’ vs ‘No Problem’
28:24- The Story of the Spilled Bottle of Wine
31:23- Return on Actions
34:09- ‘True Differentiator…is Service’
40:16- Advice to Coaches/ADs to ensure Team Performance
44:25- Making a Great First Impression
48:32- Why ADs/Coaches Should Read TIP
54:07- Revamping Your Personal Mission Statement
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
EPISODE #11 … First Year ADs: Brittny Jones, Pebblebrook (GA) HS; Amanda Pittman, South Cobb (GA) HS; Ryan Dyer, North Paulding (GA) HS
Beginner, Apprentice, Learner. All of these are words used to describe “the Rookie.” Today we have a special treat for you as we sit down with three first year AD’s and get their thoughts on the ups, downs, and unexpected turns that make up the first-year athletic administrator experience. Amanda Pittman of South Cobb High School, Brittny Jones of Pebblebrook High School, and Ryan Dyer of North Paulding High School, all in GA have just concluded their first year as the athletic director at their respective schools and like us all… felt as if they were drinking from a fire hose most of that time. With lessons learned and experience gained they look forward to year two and growing in the profession along the way. Let’s settle in and get to know our first year AD panel.
1:17- Introduction
3:59- One Main Thing You Didn’t Know
8:00- Preparing to be an Athletic Director: What Would You Do Differently?
13:29- Managing the Overlap of Sports’ Season
19:08- Amanda: Attending the National AD Conference
21:05- Ryan: Leading a Book Study and Coaches Clinic with Your Staff
22:39- Brittny: Her Life’s Work at Pebblebrook
25:35- Define First Year Athletic Director
28:26- Bragging on Your Program
32:37- Lessons Learned During Covid19
36:45- Being Present for Everything as the AD
44:42- Balance of Life as the AD
53:20- Struggles of the First Year AD
57:28- Grading Your First Year
59:04- What Have You Learned about Yourself in Year 1?
1:02:18- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: You Win In the Locker Room First by Jon Gordon & Mike Smith Atomic Habits by James Clear
You can follow the First Year ADs on Twitter: Brittny Jones @bjones1105 ; Amanda Pittman @SouthCobbAD ; Ryan Dyer @NorthAD_Dyer
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
EPISODE #10 … Carter Wilson, retired Decatur HS AD
Today’s guest is Carter Wilson. Mr. Wilson’s career spanned 38 years and saw him make stops at both the high school and collegiate levels. Carter assisted in the development of a successful Division I basketball program at Georgia State University from 1985 until he was named Head Basketball Coach at Georgia State in March of 1993 where he led the Panthers through June of 1997. Arguably Carter’s greatest work occurred while he served as Athletics Director and instructor for the City Schools of Decatur from 1999 until his retirement in 2017. A 2018 inductee of the Georgia Athletic Director’s Hall of Fame, Carter Wilson’s commitment to the idea that athletic endeavors build character has certainly been evident not only in his own life but also in the lives of those fortunate to find themselves within his sphere of influence which thankfully after today includes us all. I hope you have something to write with and on because this conversation was truly special. Let’s settle in..and get to know…Mr. Carter Wilson.
1:32- Introduction
9:05- Vision as a Leader
10:15- Implementing John Maxwell’s Top 3 Leadership Qualities into your Athletic Dept.
14:17- What is Coaching?
18:48- Michael Jordan’s-The price to winning and leadership
23:12- Coach Wilson’s Leadership Pedigree
28:07- Understanding MLK’s idea of servant leadership
31:00- Coach Wilson’s contribution to the NIAAA’s Guide to Athletic Administration
38:39- The ADs involvement in building projects
41:21- Importance of having an Athletic Master Plan
43:23-Things to put on your radar as an Aspiring AD
49:25- Dealing with the ‘Politics’ of being an AD
52:36- The Ultimate Success Story…Lanard Copeland
1:00:20- 2-Minute Drill
1:05:25- Thoughts on Improving Race Relations in our Society
Book Mentions: NIAAA’s Guide to Athletic Administration
Leadership Fitness, Dr. Homer Rice
You can follow Carter Wilson on social media--Twitter: @bigdubster
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
EPISODE #9 … Kevin Petroski, Athens Academy
Today’s guest is Mr. Kevin Petroski. Kevin serves as the athletic director at Athens Academy in Athens, GA. A veteran athletic administrator who was recently named the state athletic director of the year by the Georgia Athletic Director’s Association, Kevin values the importance of maximizing the student-athlete experience both on and off the field. A trusted resource for his peers, Kevin enjoys collaborating with others in the industry to share ideas and concepts to better not just his program but high school athletics as a whole. Let’s jump in and get to know Mr. Kevin Petroski.
1:08- Introduction
4:11- Helping the High School Leaders
6:49- An Illustrious Cornhole Career
10:40- GADA State AD of the Year, Who helped Kevin get there?
13:35- Using Social Media Graphics to Promote Your Brand
17:28- Spartan of the Week
20:19- Planning for Facility Improvements
25:38- Challenges you face as AD
29:50- Situations that have Defined Kevin as the AD
31:44- Best Part of the Role as AD
34:06- How will the Role of AD change over the next decade
36:41- Evaluating your Staff in Thirds: The Good, The Better, The Best
38:45- Tools & Resources for the Athletic Administrator
42:35- Evaluating your Athletic Program
44:10- Preseason Quiz for Coaches
48:15- The Value of having Hobbies as an AD
51:34- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Athens Academy Athletics and Kevin Petroski on social media--Twitter: @SpartanAthletic
Find more about Mr. Kevin Petroski and Athens Academy Athletics at: www.athensacademy.org/programs/athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
EPISODE # 8 ...Coach Bill Curry
Today’s guest is legendary player, coach, and leader Bill Curry. If you don’t have something to write with or on now stop the podcast and take care of that because this one is special! Josh and I had the honor of listening and learning from Coach Curry who was so very generous with his time. A member of the legendary Green Bay Packers coached by Vince Lombardi and the Baltimore Colts coached by Don Shula. Coach Curry then went on to be the Head Football Coach at Ga. Tech, Kentucky, Alabama and Ga. State. An ACC Coach of the Year and 2x SEC Coach of the year. Coach Curry has been named the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year and in 2007 was recognized as the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award winner. Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and moved as we settle in and get to know Coach Bill Curry.
1:21- Introduction
4:04- Coach Curry’s High School Days
6:29- The ‘Straightforward, Honest’ Coach
7:52- Investing in the Younger Generation… ‘Magnanimitas’-Greatness of Spirit
10:45- Being Loved & Coached by Coach Bobby Dodd
14:18- Working for a great Athletic Administrator, Dr. Homer Rice
17:56- Who Equipped Bill Curry for a Lifetime of Success
21:18- Teaching Teams to Work Together as ‘Brothers and Sisters’ (Andrew Young)
25:00- Importance of Reading, Prioritizing Your Life while Coaching
27:39- Where did Coach Curry find Advice & Answers to his Players Issues
31:30- Taking Personal Responsibility for Societal Issues
34:59- Being Proud of a Full Resume after a Life in Coaching
37:07- 2 Minute Drill
43:51- “The Huddle” …written & narrated by Coach Bill Curry
You can follow Coach Bill Curry on Twitter @CoachBillCurry
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
EPISODE # 7 ...Dr. Curt Miller
Dr. Curt Miller accepted the position of Athletics Director and Assistant Principal at Oconee County High School in Watkinsville, GA late in the spring of 2020.
Today’s guest Dr. Curt Miller serves as the Director of Athletics for the Henry County School District in Georgia. Curt is a coach’s kid who has been surrounded by athletics his whole life and it is in these experiences that he has been led to his current position. Curt has a passion for professional development and growing through networking with others in the industry. From a coach to a local school AD and now working at the district level Curt has learned something different along each step of the way that he is ready to discuss with us today. Let get started with or conversation with Dr. Curt Miller.
1:37- Advantages of having a Former AD as your Principal
2:52- A New Approach as a Local School Ad after being a District AD
5:38- Supporting a First Year Principal from the Role of AD
7:21- Things that Should be on the Radar of a Brand-New Athletic Director
9:55- The Importance of Connecting with your New Staff
14:08- Tips to Navigate the AD Interview Process
19:56- Introduction
23:40- Professional Development for Athletic Directors and Coaches through Aspiring AD and Head Coach Cohorts
29:04- Being ‘Over-Prepared’
31:40- Importance of Athletic Directors being involved with State (GADA) and National (NIAAA) Associations and the State Athletic Associations (GHSA)
36:53- Intentionally Improving the Performance of your team/staff members
39:57- A Father’s Legacy of Coaching and Leadership passed down to his Son (initial reference at 9:50)
44:22- What a Paperless Athletic Office looks like.
46:31- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Dr. Curt Miller on twitter @Curt_Miller30 or @HCAthletics_HCSor @OCHS_Athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
SPECIAL EPISODE … BJ Pilling, Executive Vice President of GoFan Ticketing
0:40- History of GoFan & Huddle Tickets
2:10- What does a relationship between a high school & GoFan look like?
3:06- Trend of Universities moving to ‘Contact-less’ payments related to high school events
4:21- Removing Cash from Events… ‘Cashless’ High School Events
1) Season Ticketing/Sports Passes
2) Presale during Game Week
3) At-Venue Ticketing Component—QR Code, GoFan Box Office, ‘Contact-less’ Cards/Mobile Payments
6:43- The number of schools moving to cashless ticketing.
7:40- What should the high school AD look for when considering going cashless?
8:32- How Covid19 changed the conversation of between ADs and ticket companies.
9:52- Recap the 3 ways to buy tickets digitally using GoFan
10:53- Expectations of Fans going forward regarding ticketing at events
11:09- Feedback from GoFan spring webinars
Archive webinars can be found at: https://www.huddletickets.com/
12:40- What will the high school event ticketing experience look like in 10 years?
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
EPISODE #6 … Tommy Marshall
Today’s guest is Tommy Marshall. Tommy serves as the Director of Athletics at the Marist School in Atlanta, Ga. A two-time President of the Georgia Athletic Director’s Association and a 2015 GADA Hall of Fame inductee, Marshall was also elected by the national membership to serve as an at-large member on the Board of Directors for the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).
Coach Marshall has been in athletic administration for over 30 years and his impact on Marist can be found in the numerous sportsmanship awards and state titles that are displayed on the walls and trophy cases throughout the school’s Centennial Assembly Center. Sports Illustrated named Marist the 15th ranked high school athletic program in America, and Marist was awarded the GADA Directors Cup for Best Overall Athletic Program for 16 consecutive years, all under Marshall’s leadership.
Before becoming athletic director at Marist, Marshall coached football, basketball, baseball, tennis and wrestling at the high school and college levels. As the head football coach at Walton High School, he was named Cobb County Coach-of-the-Year for three consecutive years and was a part of championship football teams at both Furman University as well as Marist. I hope you enjoy our time with Mr. Tommy Marshall.
1:37- Introduction
3:26- The Uniqueness of a Being a Leader at the Marist School
4:23- Attending & Participating in Practices as the AD
6:29- Being Involved with the NIAAA and GADA (state AD association)
7:54- Knowing Their Names-Athletes and Coaches
9:38- Teaching Your Student Spectators the Expectations for Sporting Events
-What does it look like to sit amongst our fans at games?12:38- Coaches/Staff Meetings
15:10- Leading a ‘Family’ Athletic Community
17:30- Support Staff & Delegating for the Athletic Administrator
20:34- The Marist Blue & Gold Circle- Recognizing Key Contributors to your Athletic Program
22:10- Developing an Athletic Handbook
26:00- Expanding Your Programs’ Exposure using Pixellot & NFHS Network
Public Address Announcer Guidelines & Code of Conduct
30:54- Importance of a Leader Having a Personal Mission Statement
32:20- The Incredible Value of a Supportive Spouse
34:29- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Marist Athletics and Tommy Marshall on social media--Twitter: @MaristBooster
Find more about Mr. Tommy Marshall and the Marist School Athletics at: https://www.marist.com/athletics/war-eagle-athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA. @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
SPECIAL EPISODE … Dr. Robin Hines, GHSA Executive Director
0:33- How ADs could be preparing to Return to Athletics
2:28- A Measured Return to Athletics-What will it Look Like?
5:38- Who the GHSA is consulting with for COVID19 information.
9:10- Enrollment Requirements to be eligible to participate in GHSA Athletics
10:17- GHSA Oversight During the Summer of 2020
12:01- Changes to the GHSA Pre-Participation Physical Exam Policy for the 2020 Summer
15:30- The State of Athletic Leadership Moving into the next Decade
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. He attended Valdosta State University receiving a degree in Secondary Education in 2000. He earned a Master of Educational Leadership from Jacksonville State University in 2005 followed by a Specialist in Educational Leadership from The University of West Georgia in 2018. Don was an assistant coach at Valdosta High School in Valdosta, Ga. where he was a member of the 1998 state championship football coaching staff following a playing career at Valdosta High School where he was a member of the 1992 state and national football championship team and where he also served as a defensive captain on the school’s 1995 state runner-up team. Following his time in Valdosta, Don served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and athletic director at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw, Ga. from 2000-2019. Don was named the Region 3-7A Athletic Director of the Year in 2017 and was named the Cobb County Athletic Director of the year for the 2018-19 school year. He is a member of the Georgia Athletic Director’s Association (GADA) and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and has served as a speaker at the GADA conference.
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) since July 2012. He attended Shorter College, where he played baseball from 1997-2001 receiving a degree in middle grade education. In 2007, Josh received his master’s in educational leadership from Jacksonville State University. Started his career coaching in 2001 at Centennial High School (Roswell, GA) before moving to Lassiter High School (Marietta, GA) in 2005. He was a part of state championship coaching staffs in 2006 (baseball) and 2007 (softball). Since becoming AD at Pope, the Greyhounds have won several region and state championships and achieved two GADA Regions Bank Directors Cup Awards, recognizing the top athletic programs in the state. Josh has been an active member of the GADA and NIAAA since becoming AD in 2012. He regularly attends the state and national conventions and received his Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) certification in 2016. Finally, Josh was
Episode # 5 … Jared Benko
Today’s guest is Jared Benko. Jared serves as the Director of Athletics at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga. A forward thinker who has come back to his native state Jared shared some great insight with us about the power of relationships, being a critically thinking leader and harnessing all the resources around you to best market your product to the masses. Let’s jump in and get to know Mr. Jared Benko.
0:54 - Introduction
4:13 - Getting Settled in Statesboro
6:38 - The Concept of Character through Attitude to your Staff
8:07 - 3 Guiding Principles: Be Humble, Serve Others, Always Tell the Truth
9:17 - Comprehensive Excellence
13:28 - Removing Roadblocks for your Staff
16:19 - Connecting with your Student-Athletes
18:08 - Importance of Self-Assessment
20:08 - A Creative Strategy Division
23:40 - Being Innovative in everything we do at Georgia Southern
24:22 - The Hiring Process during Covid-19
28:30 - Alignment at the Top
30:59 - What does a Prepared College Student-Athlete look like?
34:26 - True Blue Friday!
37:00 - 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: The Trillion Dollar Coach
You can follow Jared Benko on social media Twitter:@GSAthletics @JaredBenko Instagram: @GSAthletics
Find out more about Mr. Jared Benko and Georgia Southern University Athletics at:
Georgia Southern Athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb). @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
SPECIAL EPISODE … Zach Reed, Georgia Tech & Paul Hogan, Clemson—Sports Performance during Covid 19
Zach Reed….Georgia Tech, Player Development Coach. Zach works with the Yellow Jacket’s football and track & field programs. He is in his 9th year working in the strength and conditioning program at Georgia Tech. Zach has served as a high school coach at Kennesaw Mountain prior to coming to Tech. He holds multiple certifications in the strength and conditioning field as well as the fields of weightlifting and sports medicine. He works alongside the Georgia Tech nutrition department to development their athletes in the Georgia Tech Total Person Program. He was a four letterman at Tennessee Tech before he began his coaching career.
Paul Hogan….Clemson University, Senior Assistant Football Strength & Conditioning Coach. Paul is in his 9th year serving in his role in the Clemson strength and conditioning program. He trains the lineman in the Clemson football program. He holds multiple certifications in the strength and conditioning field as well as the field of nutrition. Paul played four years at Alabama prior to signing a free agent contract with the Oakland Raiders. He has spent time working in the weight rooms and on the field as a coach at the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama prior to coming to Clemson. Hogan is a native of Valdosta, GA, playing at Valdosta High School. He was inducted into the Valdosta High School Hall of Fame in 2019. He is married (Jennifer) and they have two sons.
0:51- What NCAA is allowing for virtual workouts and conditioning.
4:58- The Challenge of Nutrition during Covid19
8:20- Developing Athletes who may not be as Talented
11:48- Aptitude for High School Athletes
15:21- The Focus for Coaches coming out of Coivd19
21:23- Resources for Strength & Conditioning during Covid19
26:40- Basic Exercises that can be done Anywhere, Anytime
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb). @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
EPISODE # 4 ...Tonya Sebring
The essence of competitiveness is liberated when we make people believe that what they think and do is important - and then get out of their way while they do it. This is a statement I believe today’s guest Tonya Sebring would agree with. Tonya serves as the Director of Athletics for the Cherokee County School District in Ga. She has been a trailblazer from a young age as a member of the first fastpitch softball team at Kennesaw State University followed by a successful transition from player to coach that culminated in a state championship. She also was inspired to begin a small celebration of female athletes that just recently was attended by over 700 female athletes in her district and it is her vision for this celebration to eventually spread throughout the state and beyond. Let’s settle in and get to know Tonya Sebring.
1:12- Introduction
3:22- What should Success look like to the Athletic Administrator?
5:13- Challenges Facing the AD Moving to Lead at a Local Rival School
6:46- National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebration
9:33- College Recruiting Perspective from the First Fastpitch Recruit in Kennesaw State History
-How Social Media Fits In
12:47- The Appreciation of Being the First Fastpitch Coach at Woodstock
14:05- What Makes Up a Special Team?
-Blind Faith
15:57- Assisting the Local School ADs from the Top Down
19:06- Leading with a Competitive Spirit
21:31- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Tonya Sebring on twitter @CCSDSports
Find more about Mrs. Sebring and Cherokee County Athletics at: Cherokee Athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb). @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
Special Edition: Amanda Waters, Carlsbad High School Athletic Director; Carlsbad, California
0:33 - AD Collaboration Idea...Where did it come from?
4:35 - Special Guests on the AD Collaboration
6:20 - Highlights from the AD Collaboration
7:55 - Virtual Banquets, Signings Days, and Other Virtual Events
11:06 - Where does this Virtual World take the Role of AD?
13:25 - What are you trying to do during this "new normal?"
15:14 - How to be a part of the AD Collaboration
Links to Connect for the AD Collaboration
www.nationalADresource.com
Amanda Waters on Twitter @CarlsbadAD
Email Amanda Waters awaters@carlsbadusd.net
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb). @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
Episode # 3 … John Cohen
Today you are truly in for a treat. Our guest today is John Cohan the Director of Athletics at Miss. State University. A true forward thinker, under Cohen’s watch, 34 teams have advanced to postseason play, including a school-record 13 during the 2018-19 athletic year and the top four Director's Cup finishes in school history have occurred in the last four years with three being under Cohen’s watch.
Since becoming athletic director, Cohen has been the driving force for numerous state-of-the-art facility projects on campus, including the new $68 million Dudy Noble Baseball Field, which opened in full capacity in the spring of 2019. A winner of almost 300 games as head baseball coach at Miss. State, John Cohan delivered so many winning ideas and practices in our conversation today.
Cohen, who spent more than two decades coaching college baseball, was named MSU’s head baseball coach in July of 2008. Nine years later, Cohen’s official role in administration began when he assumed the role of associate athletic director in addition to head baseball coach. The following November, he took charge of an athletic department that has since achieved new heights in athletic, academic, facility, and fundraising achievement. Cohen is the only coach in SEC history to win an SEC championship, SEC tournament championship, and advance to the College World Series both as a player and head coach.
1:23- Introduction
4:03- The John Cohen Podcast
5:29- Being A Forward Thinker in the World of Athletics
-What’s Best for the Kids and the Program -Putting Your Pride Aside8:41- Caring for the Total Student-Athlete
10:28- Hiring and Teaching Younger Coaches
-Get Experience Doing the Little Things14:17- The Smallest Change that Produced the Greatest Results
16:08- How Did John Cohen Train to be an Athletic Administrator?
-Listen and Take Notes when around Greatness
-Train Others So They Can Help You as the Leader19:40- Crucial Nature of Being Out & Amongst Your Staff, Players, Community -Let the kids know you (AD) are in the trenches with them22:42- Perception of Others & Focusing on the ‘Totality of Mississippi State Athletics’ 24:52- The Life as a SEC/D1 Athletic Administrator
- ‘It’s A Lifestyle. See you at the Park!’28:02- The Traits of a Prepared Freshman Collegiate Athlete
- ‘Precision Dominates Opinion'
31:05- The Advantage of an English Degree
32:27- The Hiring Process
38:24-The Question That John Cohen Has Never Been Asked
40:36- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: The Fish That Ate the Whale (Rich Cohen)
You can follow John Cohen on social media Twitter:@JohnCohenAD Instagram: @hailstate Facebook: Mississippi State Athletics
Find out more about Coach John Cohen and Mississippi State University Athletics at: Mississippi State University Athletics
SPECIAL EPISODE … Stephanie Blackwell, Athletic Director, Bixby (OK) High School
0:35 – Oklahoma State BOE Cancels School & Activities for the Remainder of 2019-20 school year
2:35 – Grading & Eligibility in terms of Digital Learning
4:31 - What the Decision Means for Summer Activities in Oklahoma
6:41 - Other Decisions Coming from the OSAAA
7:18 - Addressing the Mental Health of Athletes during this Pandemic
9:31 - How to Handle Special Events like Senior Nights, Awards Banquets, Signing Days, etc.
11:47 - Extra Year of Eligibility for Sports?
13:06- How to Encourage Coaches & Athletes During Quarantine
You can follow Stephanie Blackwell on social media Twitter: @SBlackwell34 @HomeofSpartans
Find more about Mrs. Stephanie Blackwell and Bixby High School Athletics at: www.bixbyspartanathletics.com
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb). @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
Episode # 2 … Tony Wolfe
Today’s guest is Tony Wolfe. Tony serves as the Director of Athletics at Buford High School in Buford, Ga. Tony brings a wealth of knowledge to his position following an extremely successful coaching career in football, baseball, and in his current role as the Wolves softball coach. A Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Famer, Coach Wolfe is a true servant leader who pours into his coaches and athletes and is the definition of a life-long learner, always looking for ways to get even better. Let’s settle in and get to know Coach Tony Wolfe.
1:00- Introduction
4:28- What Drives Winning, Brett Ledbetter Leadership resources
- Processes, People, Connections….
5:45- Relationships…Making an Impact on the Modern High School Athlete
9:08- Using Your Platform as an Athletic Administrator
12:11- Mentors…Who Influenced Your Leadership Style?
14:43- Strategies Coach Wolfe uses to Lead Coaches & Students
- “Intangibles must be better than your Talent!”
- “Where is your Culture?”
20:00- Leading an Elite Group of Coaches in an Elite Program
24:12- Being an Elite Leader Among Elite Coaches
- Learning to Lead from the Younger Generation
27:47- Annual Kickoff Dinner for the Buford Athletic Staff
34:48- Renovating Fields…Switching to Synthetic Turf
40:33- Reaching Your Highest Potential as an Athletic Leader
43:47- Learning from a Legend-Dexter Wood
-Poise and Class
-Process Over Outcome
-Vision of Greatness
47:46- 2-Minute Drill
Book Mentions: Chop Wood, Carry Water (Joshua Medcalf)
The War Room (Michael Holley) What Drives Winning (Brett Ledbetter)
You can follow Tony Wolfe on social media Twitter: @bhscoachwolfe or @bufordathletics Instagram: @bhscoachwolfe Facebook: Tony Wolfe
Find out more about Coach Tony Wolfe and Buford Athletics at: Buford Athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
SPECIAL EPISODE … Jasper Jewell
2:14 - The Decision to Postpone the 2020 GADA Conference
5:18 - Potential Dates for Rescheduling the 2020 GADA Conference
7:07 - Possible Alternatives for the 2020 GADA Conference LTI classes
9:03 - Thoughts on the GHSA Decisions for the Remainder of the 2020 school year
11:35 - Thoughts on Spring Sports in Georgia based on the current state of the COVID-19 Coronavirus
13:03 - What have you learned through handling the Circumstances around this Pandemic
You can follow Jasper Jewell on social media Twitter: @1APS_Athletics
Find more about Mr. Jasper Jewell and Atlanta Public Schools Athletics at: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb). @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
Special Episode … Scott Pederson
Welcome to a special edition of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. In an attempt to bring some normalcy to a very abnormal time …today we sit down with the President and CEO of a great organization…Scott Pederson of Positive Athlete. Positive Athlete is a celebration of young Athletes who have overcome difficult circumstances, given back to their schools and communities in a significant way, or just have an infectious positive attitude that makes everyone around them a better person. Through public recognition, scholarships, and job opportunities Positive Athlete gives student-athletes a national media platform to inspire other athletes through their stories of perseverance and positivity. I hope you enjoy our conversation with Mr. Scott Pederson.
2:39 - What is the Positive Athlete?
8:00 - Recent Book Release from Positive Athlete
13:22 - The Story of Carson Oaks…Strikeouts for the Macon Food Bank
16:03 - Reach and Growth of Positive Athlete
18:48 – Using your School Programs to Grow the Program within your School
-Scholarships, Free Tickets, Resume…Free Gifts!
21:50 - Jobs Pipeline on the Positive Athlete Website
24:18 - Changes to the 2020 Nomination Deadlines…Nominate Now!
29:13 - Why is this Program Important for Schools Today
Book Mentions: The Positive Athlete (Scott Pederson)
You can follow Positive Athlete on social media…
Twitter: Positive Athlete Positive Athlete Georgia
Instagram: Positive Athlete
Find out more about the Positive Athlete program at: Positive Athlete
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb). @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
EPISODE #1… Jasper Jewell
The only thing constant in life is change and there’s nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction. Our guest today, Jasper Jewell, has been a driver of positive change in his district for more than a decade. Jasper serves as the Director of Athletics for the Atlanta Public School System in Atlanta, Ga. After a distinguished career as a teacher and coach Jasper made the transition to administration and has never looked back. The current president of the Georgia Athletic Directors Association, he has a true calling for student-athletes and creating safe and positive environments that allow them to reach their full potential while always having an open door to help those in the industry. I hope you have something to write with and on as we sit down with our guest today…Mr. Jasper Jewell.
1:11- Introduction
2:43- Changing the Culture of a District-level Athletics Department… Changing vs. Sustaining
5:23- What makes a District-Level AD proud?
7:36- Learning ‘Your Craft’ through being involved with the NIAAA and State AD Associations (GADA);The WHY for All ADs Attend Conferences?
13:30- Participating in Professional Development Opportunities
15:45- Creating, Fostering, & Implementing the Vision of the Athletic Administrator
20:55- How to Have Balance as an Athletic Administrator?
22:41- 3 Pieces of Advice for the Local School Athletic Administrator
24:18- Do You Want to Be an Athletic Director? Do This!
27:09- What’s Next?
29:00- Mentors… Whose Shoulders are You Standing On?
32:10- 2-Minute Drill
You can follow Jasper Jewell on social media Twitter: @1APS_Athletics
Find more about Mr. Jasper Jewell and Atlanta Public Schools Athletics at:https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/athletics
About Hangin With The AD Podcast….
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics. These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.
We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it. Thank you for listening. And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb). @mathews14 (twitter) @jwmathews14 (instagram)
Host Don Baker (Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District, GA) interviews co-host Josh Mathews (Athletic Director at Pope High School, GA) in the second of two "Getting to know your host" episodes.
Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) since July 2012. He attended Shorter College, where he played baseball from 1997-2001 receiving a degree in middle grade education. In 2007, Josh received his master’s in educational leadership from Jacksonville State University. Started his career coaching in 2001 at Centennial High School (Roswell, GA) before moving to Lassiter High School (Marietta, GA) in 2005. He was a part of state championship coaching staffs in 2006 (baseball) and 2007 (softball). Since becoming AD at Pope, the Greyhounds have won several region and state championships and achieved two GADA Regions Bank Directors Cup Awards, recognizing the top athletic programs in the state. Josh has been an active member of the GADA and NIAAA since becoming AD in 2012. He regularly attends the state and national conventions and received his Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) certification in 2016. Finally, Josh was named Region AD of the Year in 2015 and 2017 and was the GADA 6A AD of the Year in 2017.
Host Josh Mathews (Pope HS Athletic Director, GA) interviews co-host Don Baker (Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District, GA) in the first of two "Getting to know your host" episodes.
Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. He attended Valdosta State University receiving a degree in Secondary Education in 2000. He earned a Master of Educational Leadership from Jacksonville State University in 2005 followed by a Specialist in Educational Leadership from The University of West Georgia in 2018. Don was an assistant coach at Valdosta High School in Valdosta, Ga. where he was a member of the 1998 state championship football coaching staff following a playing career at Valdosta High School where he was a member of the 1992 state and national football championship team and where he also served as a defensive captain on the school’s 1995 state runner-up team. Following his time in Valdosta, Don served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and athletic director at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw, Ga. from 2000-2019. Don was named the Region 3-7A Athletic Director of the Year in 2017 and was named the Cobb County Athletic Director of the year for the 2018-19 school year. He is a member of the Georgia Athletic Director’s Association (GADA) and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and has served as a speaker at the GADA.
Sit down with Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director Josh Mathews and Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District (GA) Don Baker as they discuss the origin and purpose of the Hangin' with the AD Podcast as well as upcoming guests that will be featured.