UIAAA Connection

The podcast makes another visit to Southern Utah.  UIAAA Connection #188 – Marcus Matua, CAA, Director of Athletics at Hurricane High School, is now available. Marcus was born in Long Beach and moved to Utah at a young age. He earned two Masters' Degrees from the University of Phoenix and SUU. His advice regarding spousal support and getting certified are not to be missed. Please Listen, Learn...

The podcast makes another visit to Utah County. UIAAA Connection #187 – Yahosh Bonner, Director of Athletics - American Heritage High School, is now available. Yahosh has eight siblings and come from the famous Bonner Family singers. You can hear him and his family perform on YouTube. In his seventh year as AD at American Heritage, he speaks about regarding building a proper relationship with the...

The podcast makes its fourth visit to Nebraska.  UIAAA Connection #186 – Jenny Wagner, CMAA, District Director of Athletics for Centennial Public Schools, is now available. In addition to her role at Centennial, Jenny currently serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the NSIAAA.  Little known fact, Jenny is the daughter of the legendary Jack Tarr. Her insight into listening and finding time for yours...

The podcast makes another visit to Northern Utah.  UIAAA Connection #185 – Kade Morrell, CAA, Director of Athletics at Morgan High School, is now available. Kade is another guest who taught at his alma mater, Wayne High School. His advice regarding connections and relationships is not to be missed. Kade speaks to the importance of becoming certified and getting to know the resources that are avail...

The podcast makes its fifth visit to Georgia. UIAAA Connection #184 – Kevin Grooms, CAA, District Director of Athletics for the Bibb County Schools, is now available. Kevin, from Thomasville, Georgia, and a three-sport athlete when he was younger, became a standout basketball player. He shares his vision to establish an aspiring AD cohort in Georgia that has paid big dividends. His insight to get...

The podcast makes another visit to northern Utah. UIAAA Connection #183 – Mike Russell, Director of Athletics at Westfield High School, is now available. Mike, the son of legendary AD and Coach Phil Russell shares his experience of growing up in gym with his dad. An interesting fact about Mike, he can be found standing next to the lifeguard platform wearing a stripped towel, when Wendy Peffercorn...

The podcast makes its first visit to Arizona.  UIAAA Connection #182 – Joni Pabst, CMAA, Executive Director of the AIAAA, former NIAAA Board Member and former Director of Athletics – Sahuaro High School, Tucson, is now available. Joni grew up in many states as her father served in the Air Force. In the early days of Title IX, she participated as a gymnast in high school and university. She shares...

The podcast makes another visit to southern Salt Lake County. UIAAA Connection #181 – Nate Marshall, CAA, Executive Director of the Providence Hall Schools, is now available. Nate shares his experience of growing up in Utah county where his father worked as a professor at BYU. He came directly from teaching college to become and AD, principal and now Executive Director. His in-depth discussion reg...

The podcast makes another visit to the Alpine School District. UIAAA Connection #180 – Kyle Sanderson, CAA, Director of Athletics at Pleasant Grove High School, is now available. Kyle is another of our guests who currently serves in the same high school he attended. He grew up in a wrestling family, Kael Sanderson is his first cousin, and has put that experience to work as the AD.  His advice rega...

The podcast makes it's second visit to Oklahoma.  UIAAA Connection #179 – Stephanie Blackwell, CMAA, Athletic Coordinator at Union Public Schools, is now available. Stephanie speaks to her youth and heavy involvement in gymnastics and cheer. She was a college cheerleader at the University of Tulsa.  She is passionate about certification and gives some tips on how to get involved.  His advice r...

The podcast makes another visit to the Davis School District. UIAAA Connection #178 – Jeff Emery, Director of Athletics at Viewmont High School, is now available. Jeff began his career as a college student coaching at his Alma Matter. His senior year in college, he coached football at Davis HS, Basketball at Viewmont HS and Baseball back a Davis. His advice regarding transparency and communication...

The podcast makes it's first visit to Vermont.  UIAAA Connection #177 – Frank Pecora, CMAA, former NIAAA Board Member and former Director of Athletics – Northfield HS, is now available. Frank talks about coaching baseball for over 50 years as well as serving as a building AD. Frank shares some unique and humorous stories about serving on the NIAAA Board of Directors. His advice about not avoid...

The podcast makes its 5th visit to Missouri.  UIAAA Connection #176 – Katherine "Kat" Williams, CAA, Director of Athletics at St. Teresa's Academy in Kansas City, is now available. Kat talks about her successful career as a track and field athlete in high school and college. She is another of our guests who currently serves in the same high school she attended. Her advice to take you...

The podcast makes another visit to the Jordan School District. UIAAA Connection #175 – Ben Morley, CAA, Director of Athletics at Copper Hills High School, is now available. Ben shares his experience of growing up in Sanpete county and finding his was to earning a Master's Degree from Columbia University. Ben coached football and girls basketball successfully for years before taking over as AD....

The podcast makes another visit to northern Utah.  UIAAA Connection #174 – Clay Chournos, Director of Athletics – Bear River High School, Garland, Utah, is now available. Clay is another of the few podcast guests that work at their alma matter. He is a member of the UIAAA ADEC and the discussion around surrounding yourself with quality people is not to be missed. Please Listen, Learn and Share! Yo...

The podcast makes its fourth visit to the six annual recipients of the UIAAA Scholarship. UIAAA Connection #173 UIAAA Student Scholarship Recipients: Brevan Egbert – Sky View, Malea Hansen - Syracuse, Tate Kjar – Corner Canyon, MacKenzie Mayer – Grand County, Journey Toomey – North Sanpete and Daren Tovey - Viewmont, is now available.  Listen as the scholars share their stories on how they became...

The podcast makes it's fourth visit to Missouri.  UIAAA Connection #172 – Dory Smith, CMAA, former NIAAA Board Member and former Director of Athletics – Villa Duchesne High School, St. Louis, is now available. Dory's first opportunity in coaching came when she worked as a waitress. She would leave after lunch and coach.  She went to college before title IX funding for female athletes and w...

The podcast makes its third visit to Nebraska.  UIAAA Connection #171 – Steve Throne, CMAA, NIAAA President Elect and Director of Athletics/Assistant Principal, Millard South High School in Omaha, is now available. Throney's advice regarding being willing to do the work to be a successful AD is not to be missed. Listen as he takes us on his educational journey. Please Listen, Learn and Share!...

The podcast makes another visit to Utah County.  UIAAA Connection #170 – Jesse Roberts, CAA, Director of Athletics – Spanish Fork High School is now available. Jesse a graduate of Tabiona High School, chose a career in education over fighting wildfires. His reasoning – do you want to make money or do you want to make a difference?  Jesse also serves as a member of the UIAAA ADEC. Please Listen, Le...

The podcast makes its fourth visit to Georgia.  UIAAA Connection #169 – Dr. Mekia Troy, CMAA, Director of Athletics, Creekside High School is now available. A lifelong resident of Georgia, Mekia is another of the podcast guests that works at the same school which she graduated. She played basketball at Barry College, and currently serves the NIAAA on the national faculty of LTC 706. She and her co...

The podcast makes its first visit to Iowa.  UIAAA Connection #168 – Larry Moklestad, CMAA, Retired, Former Director of Athletics, Boone High School, is now available. Larry, born and raised in Iowa, got his first job at the age of 21 as the head football coach at Radcliff HS. He served as the Director of Athletics at Boone HS for 24 years. His advice for new athletic administrators? – Don't be...

The podcast makes another visit to Utah County.  UIAAA Connection #167 – Jeremy Main, Director of Athletics – Orem High School is now available. Jeremy worked and coached in high schools in Chicago and Rock Springs, Wyoming, before coming to Orem in 2021. He was a 3-sport athlete while attending Tooele High School, and is the only guest who previously spent time as a radio play-by-play game broadc...

The podcast makes its first visit to Wisconsin.  UIAAA Connection #166 – Jeff Sitz, CMAA, Executive Director – Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association is now available. Jeff is another of the few guests that worked at the same school which he graduated from. In fact, his father was a teacher and a coach at the same high school. Jeff first attended the NIAAA National Conference in 1984 in Milwauke...

The podcast makes its first visit to the Utah State Board of Education.  UIAAA Connection #165 – Teri Davis, Physical Education Specialist and curricular Content Specialist for the USBE is now available. Teri attended high school in Washington. Before her current job, she spent years in coaching and in officiating. She speaks about her efforts with the UIAAA to bring LTI courses to Weber State and...

The podcast makes another visit Northern Utah. UIAAA Connection #164 – Mitch Arquette, CAA, Director of Athletics for the Ogden School District, is now available. Mitch is one of the few guests who served as Athletic Director at his alma mater. He shares some great stories from his years as a coach and school AD.  Mitch gives importance advice not trying to install too much change too quickly. Ple...