The Advisor Before The Decision.
Travis Smiths hosts the conversation on university leadership in public and gives the advice in private.
Executive Services
Committee Support & President Advisory
Ideally at the FCS/I-AAA and D2/D3 levels, TRAVIS is ready to help guide search committees and advise presidents on their AD searches for a fraction of the cost of a traditional search firm. And Travis Smith can interview presidents on The Athletic Director show to reach a niche audience of sitting ADs and deputy ADs. The search process needs to be done in quiet, but explaining the job and expectations should be screamed loudly to an interested audience.
Deputy AD Searches
The audience of The Athletic Director show is full of capable deputies. Add this to internal TRAVIS research and a growing video library, ADs can partner with Travis Smith to identify and recruit deputies that fit their own leadership style and institution.
ADMINISTRATIVE EVALUATIONS
Before you make a change or extend a contract, you want clarity. Or maybe you’re a new president wanting to better understand the AD you inherited. TRAVIS provides independent qualitative evaluations of sitting ADs — assessing performance, culture, alignment with institutional priorities, and long-term fit. The TRAVIS process is modeled after traditional administrative review policies in higher education.
Succession Planning
Whether your AD is likely to leave due to retirement, not renewing a contract, or because your AD is poached by another school, the best time to think about your next AD is well before you need one. TRAVIS partners with presidents and chancellors to identify internal and external candidates, assess readiness, and build a transition plan that protects the institution