Higher Ed Athletics

Dr. Kevin White joined Higher Ed Athletics to discuss his new book, The Good Sport: Reflections on a Full Life in College Sports. The former multi-stop AD (Loras College, Maine, Tulane, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Duke) and now senior advisor for Huron's intercollegiate athletics business talks about his experiences and the importance of political IQ and the art of anticipation. This book and c...

For those that don’t know, I started HEA in 2020 to interview ADs in hopes of studying the position as a career one day in a research setting or at an industry search firm. I will be finishing my doctorate dissertation on athletic director hiring trends in 2025-2026 academic year,  so I thought it was time I start finding my own voice on the subject of AD hires and AD trends . instead of only aski...

www. HigherEdAthletics.com . Nathan Christensen joins HEA to discuss several topics, including his journey to the role, how he specifically prepared for the interview process at ISU, and the unique timing of stepping in alongside new university president, Dr. Mike Godard. Interesting tidbit for those that will interview with a search firm - Christensen was asked in two different AD searches about...

Matt Roan was announced as the AD at James Madison University in April 2024 after previously serving as AD at both Eastern Kentucky (EKU) and Nicholls State. He was the youngest AD in the country at Nicholls State and talks about how those early days prepared him for his role today. The conversation turns to how ADs can interact with a new incoming president that didn't hire them, and how to p...

Dr. Sharon Gaber is the fifth chancellor at UNC Charlotte and is the latest campus CEO to join Higher Ed Athletics for a wide-ranging conversation. The talk begins with Chancellor Gaber explaining the strategic plan that has helped Charlotte inch closer to its goal of being a R1 research university. The conversation turns to cabinet leadership and Dr. Gaber gives advice to aspirational athletic di...

Many people in athletics are aware that Tarleton State has reclassified recently from D2 to D1-FCS with aspirations to eventually join the FBS ranks as the institution grows. But I have always been more interested in learning about Tarleton State the institution and behind-the-scenes of President Hurley's leadership style. This conversation is packed with wisdom that can be applied to either the p...

Jeff Mitchell was named the AD at Ball State in February 2023 and has the Cardinals flying in the right direction. Mitchell starts with an explanation of how he evaluates a football game himself and then with his team. He then gives some advice to aspiring ADs on how to prepare and what to expect in joining a president's cabinet. Smith asks how far out an AD can realistically look and prepare...

Blair joined HEA for a wide ranging conversation about Toledo athletics and his philosophy as a "modern athletic director." Recorded the morning after the season/home opening football game, Blair discusses game day improvements and how him and his team solicit feedback and think critically about their game day management, including in-game note-taking, fan surveys and a fan council. He e...

Listen to this history lesson on American higher education with Dr. Michael Benson, the president of Coastal Carolina University and author of a biography about Daniel Coit Gilman, a pioneer in higher ed as the 1st president of Johns Hopkins University. Benson and I focus on how the then presidents of Cornell, Harvard and Michigan helped the trustees of JHU write the job description of the preside...

President Benson spoke with me about several changes within the Chants athletic department, including why former AD Matt Hogue wanted to switch roles at the university. Benson described his quick and quiet search process with the help of Joe Moglia and former Mizzou AD Mike Alden that ultimately landed them new AD Chance Miller. Benson talked about the newly announced convocation center/arena and...

Luke Bosso is entering year two of his tenure as AD of the Jaguars at a transformational time for the university. Formerly IUPUI, the institution officially changed to IU Indianapolis as of July 1, 2024. The athletic department has been hard at work for the launch of the IU Indy Jaguars for over two years since the breakaway between Indiana and Purdue Universities was announced. Behind the scenes...

Donde Plowman became the chancellor at UT-Knoxville in 2019 and will be known to the HEA audience as the person that hired Danny White to help turnaround the athletic department. Plowman identifies proudly as a builder and an organizational scientist. This interview focuses on changes she made, why she thinks Danny White was able to get buy-in with Vols fans, and shares several internal/external c...

Auburn AD John Cohen hit the ground running after being named to the position in October 2022. Previously, Cohen was the AD at SEC foe Mississippi State. He talks about his mentors in current SEC ADs Greg Byrne and Mitch Barnhart and how they helped shape him into an AD while still being a baseball coach. Cohen shares what a head coach experience brings to the AD chair and whether the changes in c...

Travis: "If you are invited to join an FBS conference, what would the institution have to consider if you're fielding those offers?" Mario: "The institution would probably have to consider how fast I could get there to sign the paperwork." From the HEA archives in November 2021 with timeless insights. Mario Moccia is an alumnus and former standout baseball player at New Mex...

From the HEA archives in May 2021 with timeless insights. Arizona State University as an institution is known for innovation and doing things differently. As you'll discover in this interview, the athletic department has embraced that culture of innovation under President Crow and Vice President/Athletic Director Ray Anderson. This episode is packed with campus collaborations, such as with the...

Jeramiah Dickey is the next guest on Higher Ed Athletics to talk about his rise to the AD position at Boise State and the behind-the-scenes work for the transformational changes the Broncos are experiencing. Intentionality is the theme I was left with after speaking with Dickey before, during and after the interview. Jeramiah explains how he learned from great ADs like Mack Rhoades, Lisa Campos an...

Former Racer starting quarterback Nico Yantko is now leading the Murray State athletic department. Yantko begins the conversation talking about his initial preparation for the interview and first days on the job. The conversation continues to speak heavily to his vision and decision-making. Yantko talks about the need to be quick but not in a hurry when making decisions as a new AD even when you w...

The first ever commissioner on Higher Ed Athletics, Ohio Valley Conference's Beth DeBauche joined the show for a wide-ranging conversation. DeBauche is a new NCAA Board of Governor member and shares her thoughts on balancing her past NCAA national office experience and tradition with the need to address the future of college athletics. She shares the role of a conference commissioner for those tha...