The CALS Report

This month, Ryan Bradley sits down with Eddie Nunez, Director of Athletics at the University of Houston, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, growth, and navigating a new era in college athletics. Eddie shares his career journey from student-athlete to coach to administrator, including the lessons he learned at LSU and New Mexico that helped prepare him for the opportunity at Houston. He...

In Episode 21 of The CALS Report, Ryan Bradley talks with University of Pittsburgh Athletics Director Allen Greene. Greene shares perspective from his journey through college baseball, professional baseball, and athletic administration, along with lessons learned from leading at multiple institutions and building alignment at Pitt. The conversation touches on the realities of modern college athlet...

What does it take to go from a solid fundraiser to someone who consistently delivers at the highest level? In this episode of The CALS Report, the conversation goes beyond tactics and into mindset, discipline, and the small habits that build trust over time. Host Quinn Kavanagh, Associate AD for Major Gifts at Tennessee, is joined by two respected industry leaders. Brady Hart serves as Deputy AD a...

Georgia Tech AD Ryan Alpert joins The CALS Report for a candid look at his first year in the chair. From navigating high-stakes decisions to empowering his leadership team, Alpert shares what has surprised him most about the role and how he is building a modern athletic department in today’s NIL and revenue-driven era. Plus, registration is open for this year's CALS One-Day event at Georgia Tech i...

In this episode, we sit down with retiring University of Oklahoma Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione for an in-depth reflection on more than three decades of transformational leadership in college athletics. From the pivotal hiring of Bob Stoops and the launch of a historic capital campaign to Oklahoma’s move to the SEC and the rapidly evolving NIL era, Castiglione offers can...

Episode 17 of The CALS Report is a powerful look at leadership, momentum, and navigating success in today’s college athletics landscape. The Big Interview takes listeners inside what can only be described as a whirlwind month at Tulane and James Madison. Athletic directors David Harris and Matt Roan join Ryan Bradley to reflect on the rapid-fire reality of winning conference championships, earning...

In the big interview, we’re talking to Ross Dellenger, Yahoo Sports senior college football reporter. He shares his takes on some of the biggest issues shaping college football right now. The College Football Playoff. Expansion. Conference power. Private equity. And the uncertainty around federal legislation like the SCORE Act. Ross talks with our own Ryan Bradley about the decisions being made ri...

This episode begins with a deep-dive conversation with Justin Moore (Tulsa) and Fernando Lovo (New Mexico), two new athletic directors navigating unprecedented change in college athletics. They discuss stakeholder education around NIL and revenue sharing, the pressure of early coaching hires, aligning with campus leadership, and how relationship-driven markets like Tulsa and Albuquerque shape reso...

What does leadership look like in today’s ever-changing college athletics landscape? Episode 14 of The CALS Report features Beth Goetz, Iowa Director of Athletics, in a candid Big Interview that covers CALS 25, leading in college athletics today, the Ben McCollum hire, and the continued impact of Caitlin Clark on women’s sports and the Iowa brand. Goetz shares her approach to building alignment ac...

In honor of the 15th Collegiate Athletics Leadership Symposium (CALS), coming October 5–7 in Columbus, we’re sharing a special bonus episode of The CALS Report. This compilation features some of the most respected voices in college athletics reflecting on what CALS means to them—and to the industry. From ADs to commissioners, executives to thought leaders, each clip highlights the power of connect...

What does leadership look like when the stage gets bigger—and the stakes do too? Episode 13 of The CALS Report features Ross Bjork, Ohio State Director of Athletics and host of CALS 25, as he joins our Ryan Bradley for a wide-ranging Big Interview on culture, scale, and leading in the new era of college sports. Bjork reflects on his first year in Columbus—what he learned inheriting a powerful cult...

What does it take to lead with vision—and navigate the shifting landscape of college athletics? Episode 12 of The CALS Report brings together two of the most respected voices in the industry for timely insights and perspective. In The Big Interview, Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter joins host Ryan Bradley for a candid conversation on leadership, decision-making,...

What does it take to build a program—and a culture—that lasts? Episode 11 of The CALS Report dives into the mindset, relationships, and resilience that drive sustainable success in college athletics. In The Big Interview, Texas Tech Head Men’s Basketball Coach Grant McCasland joins Ryan Bradley for a powerful conversation on belief, adversity, and the long game of leadership. From getting cut in 7...

Real-time leadership, high-stakes decisions, and front-line wisdom from the Group of Five—Episode 10 of The CALS Report dives into how today’s ADs are navigating complexity, staying grounded, and leading with conviction in the shifting landscape of college athletics. In The Big Interview, Ryan Bradley sits down with Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen, who shares lessons from a career spent...

Strategic vision, sport admin in the spotlight, and a call for values-based leadership—Episode 9 of The CALS Report explores what it takes to lead with clarity and courage in the most transformational era college athletics has ever seen. In The Big Interview, Ryan Bradley sits down with University of Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois, who shares how her team is...

In this episode of the CALS Report Ryan Bradley sits down with North Carolina Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham, who recently chaired the NCAA Men’s Basketball Selection Committee, for the Big Interview. Bubba offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the selection process, reflects on five unique years serving on the committee, and shares his perspective on revenue sharing, Olympic sport susta...

In this episode of The CALS Report, we sit down with two of the most respected young voices in the industry: Clemson Director of Athletics Graham Neff and Mississippi State Director of Athletics Zac Selmon. Hosted by Ryan Bradley, this candid conversation covers everything from navigating the transition to the AD chair, to the impact of the House Settlement, to building trust and driving innovatio...

This episode of The CALS Report Podcast is brought to you by Teamworks—the Operating System for Sports™. Trusted by over 5,000 teams, Teamworks is the strategic partner helping collegiate athletic departments navigate change, streamline operations, and deliver an exceptional student-athlete experience. Learn more at Teamworks.com College athletics is evolving faster than ever, and the leaders shap...

Episode 5 of The CALS Report takes you behind the curtain of college athletics like never before! From the thrill of the expanded playoff to transformative leadership insights, this episode delivers compelling stories and practical advice straight from the industry’s top voices. In this episode, Ryan Bradley interviews Boise State Director of Athletics Jeramiah Dickey and Arizona State Athletics D...

In this episode, Ryan Bradley sits down with Tommy McClelland, Vice President & Director of Athletics at Rice University, to explore his incredible journey. From becoming the youngest Division 1 Athletic Director at just 26 to leading Rice Athletics since August 2023, Tommy offers invaluable lessons on leadership, resilience, and making impactful decisions, including recent head coach hires in foo...

In this episode, Ryan Bradley sits down with Wren Baker, Vice President & Director of Athletics at West Virginia, for a compelling conversation on leadership in college athletics. Wren shares insights on building active and supportive networks, hiring and managing successful coaching staffs, and his incredible journey through the ranks of college sports. The episode also features "The Lobby" Round...

In Episode 2 of the CALS Report we’re joined by Joey Bailey (Mississippi State), Chris Davis (Georgia Southern), and Marshall Steward (Tennessee). They’re breaking down the highlights from CALS 24 and diving into key takeaways on leadership, networking, and the event’s impact on the college athletics community. Next, Ryan Bradley sits down with CALS cornerstone, Forest Reece, who has been with us...

In this clip, Forest Reece, CALS’ go-to guy since the event’s inception in 2011, reflects on the most rewarding parts of being involved in CALS over the past 14 years.

In this clip from The CALS Report, Jeff Mitchell, Athletic Director at Ball State, highlights the importance of building, growing, and maintaining your network throughout your career. Mitchell shares the invaluable benefits he’s gained from forming authentic relationships during his 13 years attending the Collegiate Athletics Leadership Symposium (CALS). Learn how these connections have shaped his...

In this clip from The CALS Report, Hunter Yurachek, Athletic Director at the University of Arkansas, shares what it takes to lead in today’s rapidly changing college athletics environment. Yurachek emphasizes the importance of being a constant learner, a sponge for information, and staying nimble and willing to change and adjust. His insights are essential for any aspiring leader or athletic admin...