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Blair joined HEA for a wide ranging conversation about Toledo athletics and his philosophy as a “modern athletic director.” Recorded the morning after the season/home opening football game, Blair discusses game day improvements and how him and his team solicit feedback and think critically about their game day management, including in-game note-taking, fan surveys and a fan council. He emphasized the importance of creative thinking and community engagement, highlighting initiatives like the dunk tank and flyover. Blair shared insights on Toledo’s Rise Together strategic plan, drawing from his experience at Washington State. The conversation includes the importance of collaboration with media members like the Toledo Blade help tell the story of the Rockets to the Toledo community. Smith asks about any trends spotted in recent AD turnover and whether we will see more sitting ADs at lower sub-divisions move into Power Four deputy positions in the future. Smith also shares how Blair’s approach to the position seems similar to that of a university president/chancellor, and Blair acknowledges that the role is probably just the new requirements of a modern day athletic director.

• 0:20 Institutional Profile
• 3:41 Football Game Day Improvements
• 8:12 Evaluation Process During/After Games
• 11:16 Secret Fan Research
• 15:28 Protocol Checks and Balances for Large Donations
• 19:10 Working Relationship with the Toledo Blade for Storytelling
• 25:47 Strategic Planning and How His Mind Operates
• 35:19 The Modern Day Athletic Director Operates like a President
• 39:25 Trends in AD Hires and Backgrounds
• 42:59 Idea Sharing/Stealing in College Athletics
• 46:45 What Skill or Area is Blair Trying to Improve On
• 49:53 Book and Podcast Recommendations (Smith and Blair)