UIAAA Connection

The podcast is making another visit to Utah. UIAAA Connection #303 - Chris Baer, CMAA - Assistant Director ofAthletics – Park City High School - is now available. Chris takes listeners on a journey from Media, Pennsylvania, where he grew up playing football and lacrosse, to ParkCity High School, where he graduated in 2008. His lacrosse career continued at New York Tech before leading him to Westmi...

The podcast is making its second visit to New York. UIAAA Connection #302 – Jim Johnson – basketball coach andmotivational speaker - is now available. Coach Johnson grew up in Greece, New York, a suburb of Rochester, where his father became the head basketball coach during Jim’s eighth-grade year. He followed his father’s coaching path, playing basketball at Slippery Rock before attending SUNY Cor...

The podcast is making its third visit to Kentucky. UIAAA Connection #301 – Jackie Duval – Director of Athletics, Fayette County Public Schools - is now available. In this episode, Jackie shares a fascinating journey from growing up in Frankfort, Kentucky, as the daughter of a college basketball coach to becoming a leader in athletic administration. A standout athlete, she scored more than 1000 poi...

The podcast is making another visit to the UIAAA Board of Directors. UIAAA Connection #300 – Ron Dolphin, CMAA – Assistant Executive Director - Utah Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association - is now available. Ron opened thepodcast by describing his second career on the Colorado River as “Captain Ron.” He then discussed Grand County High School’s transition from traditional 11-man footb...

The podcast is making its 15th visit to Indiana. UIAAA Connection #299 – Phil Rison, CMAA, Executive Director,National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association – is now available. Phil is the first four-time guest on thepodcast, and he brings plenty of updates from the NIAAA office. He introduces new staff members Emily Morris and April Haffner, along with summer intern Landon Dennison,...

The podcast is making another visit to Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #298 – Dan Cowan, CMAA, Retired Director of Athletics – West Jordan H S – is now available. Dan Cowan reflects on a distinguished career dedicated to educational athletics and leadership. Growing up in Salt LakeCity, he excels as a three-sport athlete at South High School before attending the University of Utah, where he pla...

The podcast is making its first visit to Rhode Island. UIAAA Connection #297 – Elizabeth “Beth” Penkala, CMAA - Executive Director Rhode Island Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association - is now available. Beth reflects on a career shaped by leadership, innovation, and a passion for educational athletics. Raised in Rhode Island, she competed during the early years of Title IX, specializi...

The podcast is making its second visit to Michigan. UIAAA Connection #296 – Kevin Guzzo, CMAA, Director of Athletics – St. Josephs H S – is now available. Kevin proudly shared his roots as a "Yooper," growing up in the small Upper Peninsula community of Bessemer, Michigan. After earning a mathematics degree from Western Michigan University, he built a career dedicated to educational athl...

The podcast is making another visit to Cache County in Utah. UIAAA Connection #295 – Weston Zabriskie, Director of Athletics – Ridgeline High School – is now available. Weston reflects on a career built through coaching, leadership, and continuous learning. Raised in Moroni, Utah, he starred as amulti-sport athlete before graduating from North Sanpete High School. While attending Snow College he s...

The podcast is making its sixth visit to New Jersey. UIAAA Connection #294– David Frazier, CMAA, Director of Athletics – Rutherford High School – is now available. David shares a lifetime of leadership, athletic excellence, and service toeducational athletics. Growing up in Rutherford, New Jersey, he returned to serve at his alma mater after competing in basketball and track. At Manhattan College,...

The podcast is making another visit to Tooele County in Utah. UIAAA Connection #293 – Bailey Moss, Assistant Director ofAthletics – Stansbury High School – is now available. Bailey reflects on a journey shaped by adaptability, service, and a passion for educational athletics. Born in Washington, she lived in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon before moving to Utah during eighth grade. A three-sport ath...

The podcast is making its second visit to South Carolina. UIAAA Connection #292– Carlos Cave, CMAA, Director of Athletics – Beaufort County School District – is now available. Carlos shares the experiences and relationships thatshaped his career in educational athletics and leadership. After graduating from high school, he attended Georgia Southern University before returning to his alma mater to...

The podcast is making another visit to Davis County in Utah. UIAAA Connection #291 – Brian Berrong, Director of Athletics – Layton High School – is now available. Brian shares a journey marked by diverse experiences, meaningful relationships, and a commitment to serving students. Growing up in Weatherford, Oklahoma, he competed in football and track before attending Southwestern Oklahoma State Uni...

The podcast is making its third visit to Illinois. UIAAA Connection #290 – Jen Doede, CMAA, Director of Athletics – Amos Alonzo Stagg H S – is now available. Jen shared how an unexpected setback became the foundation for a rewarding career in athletics. Growing up in Tinley Park, Illinois, she graduated from high school before attending North Central College, where she competed in volleyball. An A...

The podcast is making another visit to Wasatch County. UIAAA Connection #289– Wade Discher, Director of Athletics – Wasatch High School – is now available. Wade reflects on a career built through service, relationships, and a lifelong loveof athletics. Growing up in Absaraka, North Dakota, he graduated from high school in 1989 before attending the University of Mary in Bismarck. As a young athlete...

The podcast is making its third visit to South Dakota. UIAAA Connection #288 – Cory Aadland, CMAA, Director of Athleticsand Activities – Mitchell School District – is now available. Cory reflects on a career rooted in small-town values and shaped through meaningful leadership opportunities. Aftergraduating from a small South Dakota high school in 2000, he attended Minnesota State University Moorhe...

The podcast is making another visit to Northern Utah. UIAAA Connection #287 – Shanna Hales, Assistant Director of Athletics – Box Elder High School – is now available. Shanna grew up in Duchesne, Utah, where she competed as a four-sport athlete in volleyball, track, softball, and basketball. She later attended Southern Utah University, known as “The Coaching Factory,” and spent three years throwin...

The podcast is making another visit to Cashe Valley. UIAAA Connection #286 – Kevin Andersen, Director of Athletics – Mt. Crest High School – is now available. Kevin spent his early years in Grace, Idaho, before moving during his freshmanyear and eventually graduating from Mountain Crest High School, where he now serves at his alma mater. His professional journey began at Bear Lake High School in M...

The podcast is making another visit to southern Utah. UIAAA Connection #285 – Dan Stewart -Founder, and Russ Orvin – Director of Business – Strike Visual - is now available. Russ and Dan join the podcast to share perspectives shaped by unique personal and professional journeys. Russ, born in AmericanFork, later lived in Winslow (think Eagles) and Mesa, Arizona, and gained international experience...

The podcast is making its fifth visit to Hawaii. UIAAA Connection #284 – Greg Van Cantfort, CMAA, Director of Athletics – Kalani HS – retired - is now available. Gregentered the world in Maryland during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis and shares a memorable story connected to that moment in history. In third grade, his family relocated to San Francisco, where he completed elementary, junior...

The podcast is making another visit to Eastern Utah. UIAAA Connection #283 – Camie Oakey, CAA, Assistant Athletics Director – Union High School – is now available. Camie grew up in South Jordan, Utah, before relocating to Oklahoma during junior high and later to Dallas for high school. A talented basketball player, she competed four years for the University of Utah and contributed to the Utes’Elit...

The podcast is making its fifth visit to Washington. UIAAA Connection #282 – Jeff Lowell, CAA, Director of Athletics, Activities and Title IX – Bellevue School District - is now available. Jeff grew up in a military family as the son of anaval pilot, living in several states and spending part of his elementary years in Norway, where baseball first captured his interest. He also serves as the chair...

The podcast is making another visit to Central Utah. UIAAA Connection #281 – Harold Robinson, CAA, Assistant Principal – Millard High School – is now available. Harold grew up in Fillmore, Utah, and served an LDS mission in Oklahoma between studies at Ricks College and Snow College. His path into interscholastic athletics began while coaching junior varsity basketball and working in the insurance...

The podcast is making its second visit to South Dakota. UIAAA Connection #280 – Jim Dorman, CMAA, Executive Director -SDIAAA - is now available. Jim grew up in Castlewood, South Dakota, where he and his three brothers worked for their father at the local newspaper, gaining early lessons in responsibility and commitment. Athletics at SDSU shaped his perspective, especially after starting as a junio...

The podcast makes its first visit to Mississippi. UIAAA Connection #279 – Tabitha Beard, Co-Activities Director – Oxford School District - is now available. Tabitha shares her journey from Columbus, Mississippi, where early experiencesbabysitting and working at Winn-Dixie shaped a strong work ethic while she competed in softball, basketball, and track. She emphasizes the value of face-to-face comm...