UIAAA Connection

The podcast makes another visit to Utah County. UIAAAConnection #263 – Wendy Anae, CAA – President of the UIAAA and Director of Athletics – Timpview High School - is now available. Wendy, one of the podcast’s few two-time guests, opens the conversation by reflecting on highlights from the recent NIAAA Conference in Tampa. As current UIAAA President, she shares takeaways from last spring’s Section...

The podcast makes another visit to Utah. UIAAA Connection#262 – Eric Kjar, Seven-time State football champion and recently hired head football coach for Weber State University - is now available. Eric grew up in Kemmerer, Wyoming, competing in baseball, track, basketball, and football during high school. He continued his football path at Snow College, then competed at Wayne State College in Nebras...

The podcast makes its seventh visit to Florida. UIAAA Connection #261 – Nathan Whitaker, New York Times #1 Bestselling author - is now available. Nathan grew up in St. Petersburg and later in Gainesville, competing in baseball, basketball, and football during high school. He continued his athletic journey at Duke University, playing baseball and serving as a football kicker. A Harvard Law School g...

The podcast makes its first visit to Massachusetts. UIAAA Connection #260 – Ann Trytko, CAA, Executive Director - MSSADA, is now available. Ann grew up in WesternMassachusetts after her early years in Boston, attending parochial schools that offered limited athletic options for young women. She competed in basketball while also cheering for the boys’ team on the same days, gaining early insight in...

The podcast is making another visit to Northern Utah. UIAAA Connection #259 – Ross Arnold, Director of Athletics at Ogden High School, is now available. Ross Arnold grew up in South Whitley, Indiana, excelling in three sports at WhitcoHigh School before attending BYU and serving a two-year LDS mission in Rome, Italy. After returning, he married, completed his degree, and student-taught at Fremont...

The podcast is making another visit to Tooele County. UIAAA Connection #258 – Alex Huxford, CAA, Director of Athleticsat Grantsville High School, is now available. Alex grew up in Salem, Oregon, competing as a three-sport athlete before attending Ricks College and serving a two-year LDS mission. After returning, he studied at SUU, the “coaching factory,” and later coached three sports at Bonnevill...

The podcast is making its fourth visit to Oklahoma. UIAAA Connection #257 – Amanda Snider, CMAA, Assistant Director of Athletics at Broken Arrow High School, is now available. Amanda grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating from Union High School as a three-sport athlete. She attended the University of Oklahoma and spent four years on the pom squad. After earning a journalism degree, she entered mar...

The podcast makes another visit to Utah County. UIAAA Connection #256 – Toby Ryan, Director of Athletics – Timpanogos High School, is now available. Toby, Directorof Athletics at Timpanogos for the past year and a half, previously served as assistant AD under Frank Bramhall. Born in West Valley City, he moved to Sterling, Utah, in eighth grade and graduated from Manti High School. After serving an...

The podcast is making its third visit to Tennessee. UIAAA Connection #255 – Dan Schlafer, CAA, Board of Control - TSSAA, is now available. Dan grew up in Kentucky and graduated from high school in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father served as a pastor, and his mother taught piano. An all-around athlete, he played football at Carson Newman University before beginning a long career in education as a he...

The podcast is making its second visit to Alabama. UIAAA Connection #254 – Tara Osborne, CMAA, Assistant Director –AHSAA, is now available. Tara grew up in Trion, Georgia, excelling in three sports before competing in basketball at Columbus State University. Supported by her parents andgrandparents, she built a strong foundation in athletics and leadership. She reflects on her service with the NIA...

The podcast makes its fourth visit to Washington. UIAAAConnection #253 – Scott Nordi, CMAA, former Director of Athletics – Lakes High School, is now available. Scott, a Tacoma native and Mt. Tahoma High School graduate, played football for his father, who also served as the school’s AD. After earning a degree in athletic training from the University of Washington and later a teaching certificate,...

The podcast is making another visit to Utah. UIAAA Connection #252 – Everett Kelepolo, CMAA, Executive Director – UIAAA, is now available. Everett, one of a veryfew two-time guests on the podcast opens by highlighting the productive NEDC Summer Summit in Asheville, North Carolina. Everett, Executive Director of the UIAAA for the past sixteen months, shares insights from attending stateconferences...

The podcast is making another visit to Cashe County. UIAAA Connection #251 – Wendy Egbert, Assistant Director of Athletics – Mountain Crest High School, is now available. Wendy grew up in Jerome, Idaho, competing in three sports during high school before earning a track scholarship to Utah State University. She shares her remarkable experience participating in the 1996 Olympic Trials in Atlanta, G...

The podcast makes another visit to Summit County. UIAAA Connection #250 – Brian Jacketta, Director of Athletics – South Summit High School, is now available. Brian grew up in Magna, Utah, proud to call himself a Cyprus Pirategraduate. He competed in football, basketball, and baseball as a youth and earned a math degree from the University of Utah. Over his career, Brian taught and coached at six d...

The podcast is making its first visit to Alabama. UIAAA Connection #249 – Dan Norton, CMAA, Former Director of Athletics – Auburn City Schools, is now available. Dangrew up in Auburn, Alabama, playing a wide range of sports throughout his youth. After graduating from Auburn University, he dedicated 25 years to education as a cross-country coach, shaping countless student-athletes. With astrong pas...

The podcast is making another visit to Northern Utah. UIAAA Connection #248 – Mary Kay Amicone, recent inductee into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame and former Head Coach – Softball, Weber State University, is now available. Mary KayAmicone grew up in Anaheim, California, spending her childhood playing street games, night games, and “over the line.” Inspired by her mother, who played for the Orange L...

The podcast is making its second visit to North Carolina. UIAAA Connection #247 – Deran Coe, CMAA, Director of Athletics – Wake County School System, is now available. Deran grew up in Western Pennsylvania in an athleticfamily, guided by a father who coached. He competed in many sports before attending Clarion University, where his leadership path continued to develop. Now serving as district athl...

The podcast is making another visit to Indiana. UIAAA Connection #246 – Phil Rison, CMAA, Executive Director – NIAAA, is now available. Phil, the first three-time guest on the podcast opens by highlighting the productive summerNIAAA Board meeting and the continued development of the 6th NIAAA Strategic Plan. He reflects on his experiences at various Section Meetings and shares exciting updates abo...

The podcast is making another visit to Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #245 – Lindsey Bluth-Baldwin, CAA, Director of Athletics – American Preparatory Academy Draper, is now available. Lindsey grew up in Molalla, Oregon, competing in basketball, volleyball, and softball during high school. She attended Western Oregon University and Utah Valley State College, beginning her coaching career in gir...

The podcast is making another visit to Utah County. UIAAA Connection #244 – Jeff Lake, CAA, Director of Athletics – Maple Mountain High School, is now available. Jeff grew up in Southern California and Utah, developing a passion fortrack that led to collegiate competition at Utah State. Now in his second year as a full-time athletic director, Jeff emphasizes the value of professional certification...

The podcast makes another visit to Ohio. UIAAA Connection #243 – Trey Newberry, CMAA, Director of Athletics – NewRichmond High School, is now available. Trey grew up in Cincinnati, staying active through a wide range ofyouth sports. He credits Big Rich Barton as a key mentor who shaped his approach to leadership. Now focused on giving back, Trey believes in sharing knowledge freely, stating that i...

The podcast is making another visit to Hawaii. UIAAA Connection #242 – Bill Villa, CAA, Executive Director – HIADA, is now available. Bill grew up on Oahu and graduated from Kamehameha High School, where his love for basketball took root. He played on the JV team at the University of Hawaii and later coachedmiddle school basketball at his alma mater. After years in the private sector, Bill returne...

The podcast is making its third visit to Oklahoma. UIAAA Connection #241 – Emily Barkley, CMAA, Director of Athletics – Union High School, is now available. Emily grew up in Tulsa, just a few miles from her current workplace. A three-sport athlete in high school, she reflects on the impact of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, an event that shaped her perspective during her teenage years. Her first j...

The podcast is making another visit to Utah County. UIAAA Connection #240 – Kyle Robinson, Assistant Principal – Timpanogos High School, is now available. Kylegrew up in Cedar City and graduated from the renowned SUU Coaching Factory. A three-sport athlete in high school, he has served at Timpanogos during two separate stretches in his career. Kyle fondly recalls working alongside hisfather during...

The podcast makes another visit to Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #239 – Andrew Blanchard, CAA, Assistant Principal – West Jordan High School, is now available. Andrew Blanchard grew up in West Jordan and now serves as assistant principal at his alma mater. He played college basketball at Salt Lake Community College and St. Martin’s University in Washington. Over 11 seasons, he led both boys’...