Category: Athletic Directors

Listen on Apple. Listen on Spotify. Rob Higgins is new on the job but you would never know that if you visited USF like I did this week. He’s a former ball boy and alumnus. You cannot use the word “potential” anymore around USF. Instead, I think the Bulls have arrived and USF is set…

Listen on Apple. Listen on Spotify. Maisha Kelly joins Higher Ed Athletics for a conversation about Drexel athletics in a post-House era. We talk about her start as a 6th grade teacher and how she built her career over time in 10 years at Bucknell leading to becoming Drexel’s AD. Kelly is working with a…

Embedded Fan. Community Insights. Listen on Apple. Listen on Spotify. Nathan Christensen joins HEA to discuss several topics, including his journey to the role, how he specifically prepared for the interview process at ISU, and the unique timing of stepping in alongside new university president, Dr. Mike Godard. Interesting tidbit for those that will interview…

Embedded Fan. Community Insights. Listen on Apple. Listen on Spotify. Matt Roan was announced as the AD at James Madison University in April 2024 after previously serving as AD at both Eastern Kentucky (EKU) and Nicholls State. He was the youngest AD in the country at Nicholls State and talks about how those early days…

Listen on Apple. Listen on Spotify. Jeff Mitchell was named the AD at Ball State in February 2023 and has the Cardinals flying in the right direction. Mitchell starts with an explanation of how he evaluates a football game himself and then with his team. He then gives some advice to aspiring ADs on how…

Listen on Apple. Listen on Spotify. 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,…

Luke Bosso was seen as a non-traditional hire after working as an advisor for the Indiana Governor and holding other city and state government positions. Now entering year two of his tenure as the athletic director of the Jaguars, Bosso leads during a transformational time for the university. Formerly IUPUI, the institution officially changed to…

Auburn AD John Cohen hit the ground running after being named to the position in October 2022. Previously, Cohen was the AD at SEC foe Mississippi State. He talks about his mentors in current SEC ADs Greg Byrne and Mitch Barnhart and how they helped shape him into an AD while still being a baseball…

Jeramiah Dickey is the next guest on Higher Ed Athletics to talk about his rise to the AD position at Boise State and the behind-the-scenes work for the transformational changes the Broncos are experiencing. Intentionality is the theme I was left with after speaking with Dickey before, during and after the interview. Jeramiah explains how…

Former Racer starting quarterback Nico Yantko is now leading the Murray State athletic department. Yantko begins the conversation talking about his initial preparation for the interview and first days on the job. The conversation continues to speak heavily to his vision and decision-making. Yantko talks about the need to be quick but not in a…