Category: Athletic Directors

Pepperdine Athletic Director Tanner Gardner discusses his path from management consulting to college athletics, including leadership roles at Rice before arriving at Pepperdine. He explains how Pepperdine’s Christian mission shapes hiring decisions, why cultural fit is essential, and how the university’s faith-based identity influences the student-athlete experience. Gardner also shares why he has been intentional…

Pauline Thiros has studied and worked her entire adult life at Idaho State University. The Bengals Hall of Famer served on the president’s cabinet as the VP for Advancement before moving into the AD position. Thiros shares the emotional state she found herself in when the opportunity to become the AD appeared, and why she…

Houston Athletic Director Eddie Nuñez joins Higher Ed Athletics for a conversation on how he is operating Houston athletics two years into his tenure. Nuñez discusses his working relationship with Chancellor Renu Khator and explains why he intentionally sought out presidents earlier in his career to better understand higher education leadership (and why future ADs…

Dan Bartholomae and I cover a lot in this conversation because there has been a lot going on with the Broncos. Bartholomae starts off explaining how WMU is going to play a hockey game at their football stadium next year and turning it into a weeklong community opportunity to get on the ice. We then…

Garrett Klassy has been the AD at Fresno State for almost 2 years and is leading the Bulldogs into the Pac-12 this summer. Expect to hear a lot in this interview, beginning with the evolving profile of the FBS AD position. I asked Garrett if he thinks FBS ADs will always be the key decision-maker…

Jamaal Walton is a former Keydet football team captain and came back as the VMI Athletic Director in May 2024. Walton shares what it’s like coming back as the AD at your alma mater and what others should consider if the same opportunity comes up. Walton then explains the situation that VMI was in when…

Just how difficult is it to run a FCS athletic department right now? In what ways will the football national championship help Montana State with both fans and corporations? Those that watch Higher Ed Athletics know I think highly of Leon Costello, and this interview will show you why. We talk about fan support and…

Dr. Andrew Goodrich starts the conversation discussing how the similarities of being an FCS AD (previously at Gardner-Webb) outnumber the differences of being an FBS AD despite the incredibly low number of FBS ADs coming from that background. He then walks through the Akron AD search process being an active AD at the time. Goodrich…