UIAAA Connection

The podcast is making another visit to Davis County. UIAAA Connection #238 – Megan Tarbet, Assistant Director ofAthletics – Davis High School, is now available. Megan grew up in Kaysville and now works at her alma mater. A former basketball player at UVSC, she later completed her education at Weber State. Megan also competed in high school softball and now juggles her professional duties while rai...

The podcast makes another visit to Florida. UIAAA Connection #237 – Tammie Talley, CAA, Director of Athletics – Duval County Public Schools, is now available. Tammy Talley grew up in Jacksonville before moving to Crescent City,where she competed in multiple sports. A collegiate volleyball athlete, Tammy later served as the building athletic director at two schools before stepping into her current...

The podcast makes its second visit to Hawaii. UIAAA Connection #236 – Pastor Rob Araki, CMAA, Former Director of Athletics – Hanalani Schools K-12, is now available. PastorRob grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, near Wade Hampton High School, where former NIAAA President Darryl Nance worked. His mother hoped he would attend Bob Jones University, but he found his way to being a pastor by otherme...

The podcast makes another visit to Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #235 –Aaron Whitehead, Director of Athletics – Granite School District, is now available. Aaron, born in Sandy and a Skyline High graduate, played football before attending Southern Utah University, often called the “coaching factory.” Hebegan his education career at East High School, serving as head football coach, later moving...

The podcast makes another visit to Davis County. UIAAA Connection #234 – Tom Zarate - Director of Athletics – Northridge High School, is now available. Tom, born in Utah, moved frequently until settling near Ithaca, New York, by seventh grade. He attended junior high and high school in that area, shaped by theinfluence of parents who both worked in education. Tom later graduated from BYU–Idaho, wh...

The podcast makes its first visit to Wyoming. UIAAA Connection #238 – Ben Smith- recently retired Superintendent of Big Horn School District is now available. Ben grew up in Greybull, Wyoming, and attended RicksCollege after excelling as a three-sport athlete in high school. He completed a two-year mission in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His education career includes principal roles at four high schools—...

The podcast makes another visit to Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #232 – Justin Pitcher, CAA, Principal – Cottonwood High School, is now available. Justin, born in Riverton and a Bingham High graduate, competed in track and cross country. He launched his education career in Las Vegas, teaching middle school English. Early on, Justin discovered the critical lesson of recognizing trustworthy peo...

The podcast makes its 3rd visit to Washington. UIAAA Connection #231 – Melton Jefferson III, CAA, Director of Athletics – North Creek High School, is now available. Melton, born in Oklahoma and raised in Texas, earned degrees from four different colleges, shaping a broad educational foundation. During his second year as athletic director, the COVID pandemic struck, forcing him to adapt and step be...

The podcast makes another visit to Washington County. UIAAA Connection #230 – Mike Bair, Director of Athletics – Dixie High School, is now available. Mike, originally from Rexburg, later settled in Lovell, Wyoming. His father coachedwrestling at Ricks College, inspiring Mike’s athletic journey. In high school, Mike excelled in three sports. He began his career at Dixie High School in 1992, teachin...

The podcast makes another visit to Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #229 – Lei Lolohea, Director of Athletics – West Jordan High School, is now available. Lei Lolohea grew up in Long Beach before moving to West Jordan during high school. Now working at her alma mater, she continues a legacy shaped by former West Jordan athletic administrators Carlson Boudreau, Scott Briggs, and Dan Cowan. Lei pl...

The podcast makes another visit to Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #228 – Greg Southwick, Director of Athletics –Cottonwood High School, is now available. Greg grew up in Richfield, Utah, surrounded by the world of basketballthanks to his father’s coaching career. After spending 4 years as an athletic trainer at BYU, he transitioned to 17 years shaping young lives at Wayne High School. Througho...

The podcast makes its 13th visit to Indiana. UIAAA Connection #227 – Dan Armstrong, CMAA, Retired, former Director of Athletics – Northwest High School in Kokomo, Indiana, is now available. Dan grew up on a farm in western Ohio, right on the border, where living in two time zones was just part of daily life. A few years after Dr. Mike Blackburn’s departure, he stepped into the role of Director of...

The podcast makes another visit to Southern Utah. UIAAA Connection #226 – Lance Knight, CAA, Director of Athletics – San Juan High School, is now available. Lance grew up in Blanding, Utah, where he developed a passion for athletics and education. After earning his degree from BYU as a trainer, he returned to his alma mater, where he has spent the past 10 years teaching and serving as the Athletic...

The podcast makes another visit to Southern Utah. UIAAA Connection #225 – Kim Monkres,  Principal – Crimson CliffsHigh School, is now available. Kim grew up in Utah, graduating from Roy High School and Weber State beforeembarking on a career in education. She began teaching at Bonneville High School and has since made an impact at six different high schools and junior highs. Her dedication to stud...

The podcast makes its fifth visit to the six annual recipients of the UIAAA Scholarship. UIAAA Connection #224 UIAAA Student Scholarship Recipients: Regan Browning – Manilla,Emerson Geilman – Bountiful, Ainsleigh Kasprick – Grand County, Erick Robinson - South Sevier, Shae Stephenson – Ogden, Boston Valdez - Tooele, is now available.  Listen as the scholars share their stories on how they became o...

The podcast makes its fifth visit to Florida. UIAAA Connection #223 – Dan Talbot, CMAA, Senior Director of Athletics – Polk County Public Schools, is now available. Dan’s journey has taken him across the country, growing up in New York, Colorado, and Alaska. With experience as an Athletic Director at four different high schools and two years coaching with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he brings a wea...

The podcast makes another visit to Northern Utah. UIAAA Connection #222 – Ron Gualtier, CAA, Director of Athletics – Mound Fort Middle School, is now available. Ron grew up in Iowa, where he developed the grit and determination of an old-school wrestler. Before transitioning into education, he spent years working in the flooring industry. A proud Utah State graduate, he has dedicated the past seve...

The podcast makes its second visit to Arizona. UIAAA Connection #221 – Missy Townsend, CMAA,  Director of Athletics – Prescott High School, is now available. Missyattended Yavapai College, where she showcased her skills on the basketball court before beginning her career in education. She started teaching in the Peoria School District in Phoenix and discovered a passion for working withathletes, f...

The podcast makes another visit to Northern Utah. UIAAA Connection #220 – Scott Yetter, CAA, Assistant Director of Athletics – Ogden High School, is now available. Scottgrew up in the small town of Prosser, Washington, nestled in the Yakima Valley. Following in the footsteps of his father, a high school coach and math teacher, he pursued a career in education and coaching. He spent 12 years teachi...

The podcast makes its first visit to Illinois. UIAAA Connection #219 – Mike Morris, CMAA, Executive Director of the Illinois Athletic Directors Association, is now available. Mike grew up in central Illinois and has spent his life immersed in education and athletics. As the oldest of seven children, he learned the value of leadership and perseverance early on. With a father who was a teacher and c...

The podcast makes another visit to central Utah. UIAAA Connection #218 – Barry Smith, Director of Athletics – North Sevier High School, is now available. Barry grew up in Circleville, Utah, and is a proud graduate of Piute High School. With a father who balanced life as both a coach and a dairy farmer, he learned the values of hard work and dedication from an early age. A graduate of SouthernUtah...

The podcast makes its fourth visit to Wisconsin. UIAAA Connection #217 – Peggy Seegers-Braun, CMAA, Director of Athletics at Devine Savior Holy Angels High School, is now available. Peggy has been in education for 41 years. She played collegiate softball and her father fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Peggy works at one of two all-girls high schools in Wisconsin. She just finished serving as a V...

The podcast makes its first visit to Mississippi. UIAAA Connection #216 – Mike Kimmons, CAA, Retired and former Athletic Administrator at Adamsville High School, is now available. Mike studied to become an FBI agent but instead became an educator. He coached football for 15 years before getting into athletic administration. He was Host Committee Chair of the 2007 NIAAA Conference in Nashville and...

The podcast makes another visit to Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #215 – Nate Foster, Director of Athletics at Summit Academy, is now available. Nate, graduated from Brighton High School, the University of Utah and Westminster. His first job was not in education but at the Road Home. In his second year as the AD, Nate is working on his CAA. His advice about you don't know what you don't know i...

The podcast makes its fourth visit to Kansas. UIAAA Connection #214 – Al Sersland, CMAA, Retired, former Principal at Circle High School is now available. Al, a native of Iowa, speaks to coaching and being an AD before taking the job as a Principal. He talks about the idea of accreditation and how the NIAAA earned that designation.  His advice about athletics being the front porch and sells your s...