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 […]
How ChatGPT Can Help Manage Your Daily Emails with Jacob Burke – Herbert Hoover High School (IA)
Jacob Burke explains how using ChatGPT helps him manage his daily email load. He gives an example of a situation where his baseball program is going to join another school’s baseball program due to declining […]
How to Handle Cutting Athletes with Cameron Hill, CMAA – Valor Collegiate Academies (TN)
Cameron Hill discusses how his school handles the tough conversations of cutting players from their athletic teams. He will explain the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of their process. Some of the key takeaways […]
Athletes’ Stressors & Resilience with Dr. Peter Ormsby – Univ. of North Carolina at Pembroke
Watch as Dr. Peter Ormsby discusses athlete stressors and resilience. Nearly 33% of athletes report mental health symptoms which is higher than general population samples. He will explain some of the types of stressors that […]
Emerging AD of the Year [NIAAA]
By: Jack Tarr CMAA, Retired / New AD Coordinator for the NSIAAA The Nebraska State Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NSIAAA) in Nebraska started a new state award, the Mike Purdy/Mike McMahon NSIAAA Emerging AD Award, […]
EP 132: Hiring, Firing, and Inspiring with Dr. Mekia Troy, CMAA – Creekside High School (GA)
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30 episode, presented by Hudl, we sat down with Dr. Mekia Troy, CMAA, Athletic Director at Creekside High School in Fairburn, Georgia. In this episode, we discuss: Hiring processes Firing […]
Landing the Plane with Todd Gulluscio – Shelter Island Union Free School District (NY)
Todd Gulluscio discusses dealing with difficult personalities and the concept of ‘landing the plane’ with the goal of having a smooth landing. You must take into consideration the other person and how are they reading […]
Community Service Project with Kevin Belcher – Central High School (AZ)
Watch as Kevin Belcher discusses his school’s community action, literacy, and eligibility programs in conjunction with the 2nd and 7 Foundation. Students from the high school athletic student leadership advisory group will visit the middle […]
Are You Building a Better You? with Chet Scott – Built to Lead
Watch as Chet Scott explains why it’s necessary to build a “better you” to be an effective leader. The way coaches regulate or react to a room influences the type of team they have. He […]
Dealing With Someone Going Above You – Dr. Craig Perry, CMAA – US Council for Athletes’ Health
Dr. Craig Perry discusses an Athletic Director’s options when someone is trying to go above you to get to you. He explains that the culture has changed with the youth-sport industrial complex and the business […]
Our Mission Coaching/Leading/Teaching Girls with Meghan Orgeman – Alexandria Area High School (MN)
Coach Meghan Orgeman discusses the mission of coaching, leading, and teaching girls. The highlights include these key points: Socialize our girls to be imperfect within a supportive network of people who care deeply for them. […]
A Whole New World: NIL Deals for High School Athletes [NIAAA]
By: Josh Scott, CMAA – Springfield Public Schools (MO) and Ryan Miller, CMAA – Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (NJ) The rules that govern collegiate and professional sports differ from the rules that govern high school […]
EP 131: How to Efficiently Develop Students, Coaches, and Feeder Schools with Drew Tower – Hamilton Southeastern High School (IN)
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30 episode, presented by Hudl, we went to Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg, Indiana and sat down with their Athletic Director, Drew Tower. In this episode, we go in person […]