EP 10: Troy Dannen plus Brent Jones, Ryan Ivey, & Stephanie Rempe

Real-time leadership, high-stakes decisions, and front-line wisdom from the Group of Five—Episode 10 of The CALS Report dives into how today’s ADs are navigating complexity, staying grounded, and leading with conviction in the shifting landscape of college athletics. In The Big Interview, Ryan Bradley sits down with Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen, who shares lessons from a career spent leading at every level—from FCS to the Big Ten. With candid insight on governance reform, presidential alignment, and what it takes to make hard decisions in public, Dannen offers a clear-eyed view of leadership under pressure and the responsibility that comes with the chair. In The Lobby, three sitting ADs—Stephanie Rempe (Nevada), Brent Jones (Troy), and Ryan Ivey (Louisiana Tech)—bring a front-line perspective to the real work of leading through change. They explore how they’re approaching the House settlement, building campus culture, managing resource constraints, and investing in the people behind the programs. Episode 10 is a powerful look at leadership across levels—blending national context with campus reality, and reminding us that clarity, courage, and connection still drive the best in college athletics.