UIAAA Connection

The podcast is making its fourth visit to Hawaii. UIAAA Connection #278 – Keith Morioka, CAA, Retired HIADA - is now available. Kiki shares reflections on growing up in Hawaii and attending a private high school that shaped his early educational and athletic experiences. He recalls meaningful involvement with the HIADA and later service on the NIAAA Board, highlighting mentors and Hawaii legends s...

The podcast is making another visit to the Granite School District. UIAAA Connection #277 – Jeremy Barlow, Director ofAthletics – Granger High - is now available. Jeremy grew up in Enterprise, Utah, where sports and farm life shaped his work ethic and competitive drive. A multi-sport athlete atEnterprise High School, he later served an LDS mission in Los Angeles before earning his degree from Sout...

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

The podcast is making its fifth visit to California. UIAAA Connection #275 – Candace Cayer, CMAA, Vice Principal and Chair of the District Athletic Directors committee – Hacienda Lapuente Unified School District - is now available. Candacegrew up in Los Angeles, California, and competed in three sports during high school before continuing as a two-sport athlete at Cal State Los Angeles. Her profes...

The podcast is making its third visit to North Dakota. UIAAA Connection #274 – Lorell Jungling, CMAA, Executive Director - NDIAAA - is now available. Lorell reflects on growing up on a North Dakota farm, where athletics shaped his character through participation in basketball, track, and baseball. He speaks with admiration for North Dakota legends Darrell Anderson, Craig Perry, Ed Lockwood, and To...

The podcast is making another visit to Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #273 – James Edward, Editor, Prep Sports – Deseret News - is now available. James grew up in Murray, Utah, and moved to Holladay during his sophomore year,discovering at age ten a passion for journalism and a desire to become a sportswriter. A 1994 graduate of Olympus High School, he earned his degree from the University of...

The podcast is making its first visit to Maryland. UIAAA Connection #272 – Dana Johnson, CAA, Director of Athletic – Dunbar High School, Baltimore MD, - is now available. Dana grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Western HighSchool, an all-girls school where she competed in basketball, volleyball, and track. She continued her basketball career at Tennessee under legendary coach Pat Summitt...

The podcast is making another visit to northern Utah. UIAAA Connection #271 – Ken Crawford, CAA, Executive Director ofStudent Services and Athletics – Ogden School District, - is now available. Ken grew up in Emmett, Idaho, where farmwork shaped discipline and resilience from an early age. He competed as a three-sport athlete in basketball, baseball, and wrestling before walking on to BYU’s wrestl...

The podcast makes its third visit to Connecticut. UIAAA Connection #270 – Jen Gros, Directors of Growth and Partners – sportsYou - is now available. Jen grew up inDenver, Colorado and Columbus, Ohio, before attending Ohio State University, where she competed in rowing for two years. Following graduation, she built experience leading nonprofit organizations before joining sportsYou eight years ago....

The podcast makes its fifth visit to Wisconsin. UIAAA Connection #269 – Kyle LeMieux, CMAA, Associate Principal and Director of Athletics – West Waukesha High School - is now available. Kyle grew up in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, graduating from the local high school as a four-sport athlete. After completing studies at the University of Wisconsin, he spent time as a minister before transitioning into pu...

The podcast makes its second visit to Oregon. UIAAA Connection #268 – Tim Sam, CMAA, Director of Athletics - North Valley High School, Grants Pass, Oregon, is now available. Tim grew up in Nampa, California, before moving toAshland, Oregon, during eighth grade. He studied at Southern Oregon University, Oregon State, and the University of Oregon, earning his degree before launching an education car...

The podcast makes another visit to Southern Utah. UIAAA Connection #267 – Dustin Drake, CAA, Director of Athletics - Desert Hills High School, St. George, Utah, is now available. Dustin grew up in southern Utah and graduated from Dixie High School in 2001. He developed as a leader under several mentors, including his father, before stepping into his current role after a decade working in a middle...

The podcast makes its fifth visit to New Jersey. UIAAA Connection #266 – Sean Dowling, CMAA, Director of Athletics – North Plainsfield High School, New Jersey - is now available. Sean grew up in Oyster Bay on Long Island, stayinginvolved in every youth sport available and later competing in collegiate football. Before stepping into athletic administration, he coached both football and lacrosse, ex...

The podcast makes another visit to Utah County. UIAAAConnection #265 – Matt Norman, Director of Athletics Alpine School District - is now available. Matt, the son of a BYU professor, attended Pleasant Grove High School and graduated in 1984 as a three-sport athlete. He playedcollegiate baseball for what is now UVU. He speaks warmly about influential mentors in his life, including his parents, Daro...

The podcast makes its second visit to North Dakota. UIAAA Connection #263 – Todd Olson, CMAA, Director of StudentActivities – Fargo Public Schools - is now available. Todd Olson grew up in Cavalier, North Dakota, in a family devoted to education, with a father serving as superintendent and amother teaching in the local school. In high school, Todd competed as a four-sport athlete and later played...

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...