In 2019, after being accepted into the higher education doctorate program at IU, I launched Higher Ed Athletics—a podcast built to explore leadership and strategy in college sports, especially from the perspective of athletic directors and the university presidents and chancellors who hired them. After almost 5 years of just asking questions, I started releasing individual episodes talking about predictions and reactions to AD hires. And more often than not I was right about the name or the profile of the hire. Then I knew I was on to something. Today, HEA exists to rethink how ADs are studied, prepared, and hired. Thanks for watching, listening, or taking a chance on me as I disrupt the traditional model of executive search.
With 10+ years in college athletics and two degrees, my best education experience was working as an assistant for Indiana University President Pam Whitten. Working for her gave me a unique appreciation for the complexity and responsibility of campus leadership.
Aside from being an awesome (her words) husband and cool (my words) dad to our 3 boys, I love my Church family and coaching my kids’ sports teams. I love visiting college campuses on road trips, reading biographies, and listening to podcasts like Acquired, Founders, My First Million, and Unashamed. My favorite book for athletic directors is Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin.