Hangin With The AD Podcast

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 kno...

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, LLCa...

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 co...

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...

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...

Episode # 75: Pairadocs: Dustin Smith and Danielle LaPoint 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...

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/

Episode # 73:  Dan Heck, Assist AD/Marketing & Fan Engagement, Auburn, AL 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 grea...

Episode # 72:  Josh Scott, Director of Athletics, Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, MO 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 executin...

Episode # 71:  Jen Doede, Stagg high School, Palos Hill, IL, Athletic Director 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...

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. Alb...

Episode # 69: Ann Stewart, Athletic Director, Los Alamos High School, Los Alamos, NM 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 admin...

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, stud...

Episode # 67: Mike Ellson, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Athletic Director 9retired), Nashville, TN 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...

Episode # 66:….Jen Brooks, CMAA, Athletic Director, Ursuline Academy, St. Louis, MO 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 bett...

Episode # 65: The Coach and The Cowboy, Brandon Clark & Kevin Chase, Derby HS, Derby, KS 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 sur...

Episode # 64:….Scott Garvis, retired, Athletic Director, Iowa 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 conversa...

Episode # 63:….Nikki Norris, Athletic Director, East Lansing HS, East Lansing, MI 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...

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 w...

Episode # 61:….Missy Townsend, Athletics Director, Prescott High School, Prescott AZ 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...

Episode # 60:….Johnny Seabrooks, retired Director of Athletics Daughterly County Schools, Albany, GA 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 acros...

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 communica...

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 gr...

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 viewpoin...