Robert Grasso explains his philosophy of leadership on how athletes must be great communicators. They must be able to communicate with teammates as well as the coaches. He stresses that team leaders should know the […]
Establishing a Coaches Academy [NIAAA]
By: Dr. Kechia Rowles, CMAA – Rockdale County Public Schools (GA) As an athletic director, whether at the school-level or in the district office, each school year presents its own challenges. In the same way […]
The MVP Process for Leading Adults with John Woods, CMAA – Libertyville High School (IL)
John Woods explains that in his coaching career he was very comfortable leading his players. As a new Athletic Director, he realized he had no idea how to lead adults. As he grew and matured […]
S.M.I.L.E. – The NIAAA Leadership Board Theme with Tol Gropp, CMAA – Timberline High School (Boise, ID)
Tol Gropp discusses his theme for the year is S.M.I.L.E., which stand for Serve, Mentor, Inspire, Love, and Encourage. When problems and issues occur, he encourages you to apply a smile as it will have […]
Minimizing Your Athletes’ Anxiety with Robert Schinke – Laurentian Univ.
Watch as Robert Schinke discusses minimizing your athletes’ anxiety. Lack of confidence is the main cause of anxiety for athletes as an upcoming event nears. Focusing on previous negative performances instead of their positive performances […]
Counteracting the Officials Shortage [NIAAA]
By: Jon Winer, CMAA – Capital Region Education Council School District (CT) The shortage of officials is an issue of which we are all aware, and the trends are moving in the wrong direction. The […]
Handling Parent Expectations in a Positive Manner with Josh Mathews, CMAA – Pope High School (GA)
Josh Mathews discusses strategies for handling parent expectations in a positive manner. He uses a PowerPoint that is distributed to all the individual booster club/parent pre-season meetings. This PowerPoint explains the athletics programs’ expectations for […]
Title IX: Be an Advocate for All Voices with Sue Enquist – UCLA Hall of Famer
Sue Enquist explains that before Title IX, about 1 in 29 girls participated in sports and today, that number is 1 in 3. She credits athletic directors for not just being compliant on Title IX, […]
Hiring Coaches: Communication Under Pressure with Gilbert Leal – Brownsville ISD (TX)
Gilbert Leal explains that in the process of hiring coaches, he wants to see the candidate’s ability to communicate under pressure. In a Zoom call, he presents the candidate with 20 questions and expects an […]
Navigating the Ascent – Katherine Williams, CAA – St. Teresa’s Academy (MO) – [NIAAA]
By: Katherine Williams, CAA - St. Teresa’s Academy (Kansas City) When I started as an assistant athletics director before becoming the head athletics director, I realized it provided me with a unique vantage point to understand the […]
ADs are a Pivotal Part of a School’s Leadership Team with Donna Hayward – Haddam-Killingworth High School (CT)
Donna Hayward, the 2023 National Principal of the Year, explains how her school’s Athletic Director is a pivotal part of her leadership team. The AD is highly visible at athletic and non-athletic events, demonstrating that […]
Fan Code of Conduct with Johnny Lee – Silas High School (WA)
Johnny Lee explains the importance of having a designated seating area for your opponents in all your athletic facilities. The purpose is to prevent any confrontations and he recommends that if there is a problem […]
Cake Auction Fundraiser with Jason Schroeder – North Scott High School (IA)
Jason Schroeder explains how his athletic department’s wintertime cake auction generates $20,000 per year. There are 3 cake divisions: professional, amateur, and student division, based on baking expertise. The top cakes are auctioned off by […]
6 Keys to Living Out Core Principles with Jeff Behrens, CMAA – Pewaukee High School (WI)
Jeff Behrens discusses 6 keys to living out your Athletic Department’s core principles: Define the core principles Incorporate the core principles into the mission/vision Communicate the core principles Infuse the core principles into the athletic […]
Are Your Coaches Prepared to Impact Today’s Athlete? with Ronnie Plyler, CMAA – Metrolina Christian Academy (NC)
Ronnie Plyler discusses the four key points he believes help ensure that his school’s coaches are prepared to impact today’s student-athletes. Know your constituents: survey kids and parents. Communicate and ensure that coaches do: as […]
Building a Culture for the Coaches with Arlisa Williams – District of Columbia International School (DC)
Arlisa Williams discusses the importance of developing a great culture as you coach your coaches. Culture keeps everyone on the same page and prevents different coaches in your system from doing their own thing. Effective […]
“Wringing Out the Sponge”: Providing a Helping Hand to Colleagues – [NIAAA]
By: Gary Stevens – (Retired) Athletic Administrator – Thornton Academy – Saco, Maine As a basketball coach early in my career, I was determined to be the master of my craft. I wanted my teams to […]
A Hidden Issue in High School Sports: NIAAA & AD Insider Roundtable Discussion
The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and AD Insider have partnered up to discuss an important (and hidden) problem in high school sports all over the country. Join us in this roundtable discussion, presented […]
Hire Coaches Who Can Impact Kids with Leslie Slovak – (Retired) Richardson ISD (TX)
Leslie Slovak explains what she looks for in hiring coaches. It is very important to her that candidates have a love for kids. Her favorite question to ask head coach candidates is what their greatest […]
Creating a Monthly Coaches Professional Development Meeting with Dave Miceli, CMAA – Burr and Burton Academy (VT)
Dave Miceli explains that having a monthly coaches meeting is a very effective way of enhancing professional development. These are athletic director-led, themed meetings with food and small rewards for those regularly attending. It is […]
When to Let a Coach Go with Joe Kimling, CMAA – Washington High School (OH)
Joe Kimling discusses when it is time to let a coach go and the importance of following the established process for doing so. He will discuss in detail the method of evaluation that he uses […]
A Hidden Problem in Your School and How to Get Ahead of It with Karrah Ellis, CMAA – Franklin Public Schools (MA)
Karrah Ellis explains that there may be a hidden problem in your school and how you can get ahead of it. She explains that teen gambling is a risk and is on the rise. Gambling […]
Event Management: Appreciate & Empower Your Workers with Rob Seymour, CMAA – Fishers High School (IN)
Rob Seymour explains that all events depend on workers, and you must empower them so they can control any situation they may face based on your guidelines. Pre-Event communications are important, focusing on gate assignments, […]
Controlling Fan Behavior in an Emergency Situation with Josh Mathews – Pope HS (GA)
Josh Mathews discusses the importance of controlling fan behavior in an emergency situation. Usually, fans at an athletic event are evacuated due to severe weather, but it could be because of any number of issues. […]
Sharing Your Purpose: Weekly Life Lessons to Build Champions for Life [NIAAA]
By: Dr. Troy Urdahl, CMAA – St. Anthony Village High School (Minnesota) “Most people miss opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”-Thomas Edison I believe the transformative power of high school […]
Finding Resources and Tools for ADs with Craig Perry, CMAA – U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health (USCAH)
Craig Perry, CMAA, discussing finding resources and tools for Athletic Directors. He explains that the NIAAA and its network of people, along with State AD Associations, and school districts provide valuable resources and information. No […]
Supporting Sportsmanship, Mental Health, and Well-Being [NIAAA]
By: Stephen Baldwin, CAA, Maureen F. Ruby, Ph.D., and Mel Horton, Ed.D. Class Act and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) What is the Class Act Program? The Class Act Program in Connecticut is a […]
Chief Educational Officer (Coach of Coaches) with Dr. David Hoch, CMAA
Dr. David Hoch likes the term Chief Educational Officer, but he considered himself the “Coach of Coaches.” His job was to help his coaches get better, and this had a direct impact on the student-athletes’ […]
What Is the Mission of Your Athletic Program with Chris Fore – Eight Laces Consulting
Chris Fore explains that one of the hurdles in building a championship-caliber athletic program is defining the vision and mission of the program. It is key that the school board, superintendent, principal, AD, and coaches […]
Promoting Culture with Student Recognition and Coach Accountability [NIAAA]
By: Denny Ziegler, CAA - Strongsville High School (OH) Many athletic administrators talk about culture and the importance of culture, but very few know how to recognize culture as the appropriate way to sustain a highly suitable […]