Don Baker suggests that your athletic department create a set of standards based on how you use social media and who is responsible for it. He also thinks having a pause system in place before […]
There Is Nobility in the Struggle with Dr. Colleen Hacker, FNAP – Team USA / Pacific Lutheran Univ.
Watch as Dr. Colleen Hacker discusses mental toughness and how today’s environment and culture do not value and respect the struggles and difficulties that athletes encounter. Not achieving in any form of athletics may be […]
Using Social Media to Your Advantage with Scot Hafley – Wichita Falls ISD (TX)
Scot Hafley explains how social media has changed. He informs his coaches that social media needs to be used after the games to narrate the message of the positive aspects of the game, so coaches […]
EP 139: Summer Strategies for a Winning Fall with Dr. Jeff Sullivan, CMAA – Montgomery County Public Schools (MD)
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30 episode, presented by HomeTown Ticketing, we sat down with Dr. Jeff Sullivan, CMAA, the Director of Systemwide Athletics for Montgomery County Public Schools in Rockville, Maryland. Topics covered in […]
4 Rules for Preparing for Difficult Conversations with Matt Hensley, CMAA – Mahomet-Seymour High School (IL)
Matt Hensley discusses 4 rules that help govern your preparation for difficult situations regardless of if it is for a parent, coach, or another stakeholder. He will cover and explain each rule in detail. Rule […]
DON’T WORRY HELP IS ON THE WAY – The Value and Importance of an Administrative Assistant [NIAAA]
By: Denny Ziegler, CAA – Strongsville High School (OH) The value and importance of an administrative assistant It was just past 9 a.m. on a Monday morning and already, your superintendent called about an issue, […]
Know Your Coaches and Develop Relationships Before Making Evaluations with Jeff Sitz, CMAA – Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association
Jeff Sitz discusses the importance of knowing your coaching staff and developing relationships with them before making evaluations. This applies especially when you are at a new school as you need time to understand who […]
Leadership is Authentic, Relentless, Selfless Service to a Cause with Colonel Craig Flowers – Sideline Leadership
Watch as Colonel Craig Flowers explains that the term leadership is often clouded by clichés. He explains that in its simplest form leadership is service to a cause. Many times, Coaches fail to define leadership, […]
EP 138: District Dive: Mitigating Sportsmanship, Improving Coach Ed, and May Decisions NOT to Make with Boulder Valley School District (CO)
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30 episode, presented by Concordia University Irvine, we take you to the foothills of Boulder, Colorado to learn from Harry Waterman, Boulder Valley School District Director of Athletics, and 3 […]
Recruitment and Retention of Coaches with Jennifer Frazier – McKinney ISD (TX)
Jennifer Frazier discusses the recruitment and retention of coaches. She feels that morale is an issue for many programs, and she discusses some steps they have taken to deal with this issue. Giving your team […]
Assessing Coaches for Growth with Dave Miceli, CMAA – Burr and Burton Academy (VT)
Dave Miceli discusses assessing coaches as a way of growing people rather than a way of checking boxes. He stresses that the assessment process must be based on a school’s core values. The process starts […]
Holding Students and Coaches Accountable with Todd Gulluscio – Shelter Island Union Free School District (NY)
Todd Gulluscio explains how he feels it is more difficult to hold people accountable today. Accountability is not a punishment and does not mean that you don’t care. When dealing with students, it is important […]
Work-Life Balance/NIAAA Professional Development with Jean Kinn Ashen, CMAA – North Salinas High School (CA)
Jean Kinn Ashen reflects on her career and discusses work-life balance and some lessons she has learned over the years. She also reviews the importance of professional development and how, for the last 26 years, […]
Helping Students and Families Transition from Middle School to High School with Mike Ellson, CMAA – TIAAA Executive Director (TN)
Mike Ellson discusses action steps that will assist students and families to transition from middle school to high school. He recommends that high school coaches reach out to incoming freshman in the hallways by introducing […]
To Lead is to Serve First [NIAAA]
By: Scott Paine, CMAA (Former Athletic Director) Leadership is influence, but you don’t need to have a title to be a leader. Everybody can have influence. To be an effective leader you have to be […]
Send Your Athletes Out with a Bang – John Sgromolo, CAA – St. Johns Country Day School (FL)
John Sgromolo discusses creating an elite and memorable awards night for your athletes. Student-athletes only participate and represent your school for four years. As athletic administrators you can help create a lifetime of memories through […]
Recruiting the Next Generation of Coaches and Officials [NIAAA]
By: Gary Stevens, CMAA – Thornton Academy (Saco, Maine) Like many state high school athletic associations, the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) has developed a social media campaign to attract recruits to fill its depleting ranks […]
EP 136: The Coach-To-AD Journey with Andee Bouwhuis, CMAA – Bingham High School (UT)
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30 episode, presented by HomeTown Ticketing, we sat down with Andee Bouwhuis, CMAA, Athletic Director at Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah. Topics covered in this episode include: The […]
Athletic Directors Have a Vapor Trail of Influence with Sue Enquist – UCLA Hall of Famer
Sue Enquist explains how there are different types of leaders and not everyone will act and sound the same way. The key is not just being loud but connecting with people and doing so with […]
Don’t Make Parents Adversaries with Dr. Dustin Smith – Broken Arrow Public Schools (OK)
Dr. Dustin Smith explains that parents are advocates for your program and advises not to turn them into adversaries. He recommends working with and alongside parents, as they are allies. The administrators, coaches, and parents […]
How Your Coaches’ Conduct Impacts Game Officials with Debbie Decker – (Retired) Katy ISD (TX)
Debbie Decker explains that the conduct of coaches and fans has a direct influence on retaining game officials. They have initiated a program that focuses on treating officials with respect at all times. Coaches are […]
Developing a Coaching College with Kevin Grooms, CMAA – Bibb County School District (GA)
Kevin Grooms explains that the coaching college is designed to assist Athletic Directors in finding the ideal coach. The college is made up of different courses that focus on skills that all coaches and administrators […]
Branding Your Athletic Program [NIAAA]
By: Jeff Berry, Assistant Principal for Athletics and Activities – Colonial Forge High School (VA) We all see iconic team logos that are easily recognizable in college and professional athletics. The interlocking NY of the […]
EP 135: From the NFL to High School AD with Bo Orlando – Berwick Area Senior High School (PA)
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30 episode, presented by HomeTown Ticketing, we sat down with Bo Orlando, a former professional football player for 10 years who has taken over the Athletic Department at Berwick Area […]
EP 134: Athletic Department Audit Ideas and Action Planning Advice with Jamy Bechler – Jamy Bechler Leadership
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30 episode, presented by Concordia University Irvine, we sat down with Jamy Bechler, a former college basketball coach and high school Athletic Director for over 20 years. He now runs […]
Where to Draw the Line with Rob Rafeh – Marin Academy (CA)
Rob Rafeh explains and gives an example of where he had to draw a line with a coach about a change in policy. The policy change involved videotaping of games for only one sport. This […]
Emergency Action: The Importance of Policy and Procedures with Dr. Chad Asplund – U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health
Dr. Chad Asplund explains the importance of having defined policies and procedures regarding a school’s in-game emergency action plan. It is key that everyone is on the same page on how the plan is defined, […]
Streaming Athletic Events with a Student-Led Network – Elder High School (OH)
Watch how Elder High School streams their athletic events using their student-led news network. Elder claims to be the first high school to stream an athletic event over the internet starting in 2000. All sports […]
Effective Communications with Jean Kinn Ashen, CMAA – North Salinas High School (CA)
Watch as Athletic Director Jean Kinn Ashen, CMAA emphasizes the importance of virtual communication in school athletics. She stresses that not all meetings have to happen in-person. In fact, sometimes it is more effective/convenient to […]
EP 133: 9 Takeaways from the Nike Coach of the Year Clinics
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30 episode, presented by Concordia University Irvine, we’ve compiled 9 pieces of advice for Athletic Directors and Coaches from the 2024 Nike Coach of the Year Football Clinics. The 2024 […]