Episode 158: Randale Richmond - VP & Dir. of Intercollegiate Athletics - Kent St. Univ. - Kent, OH

Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast, today we welcome Randale Richmond, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Kent State University. Randale’s journey in athletic administration has come full circle. He spent 10 years at Kent State working in compliance, academics, and student-athlete services before moving to Old Dominion University, where he continued to expand his leadership responsibilities. In 2021, he returned to Kent State as the university’s 12th Director of Athletics and was elevated to Vice President in 2023. At the center of Randale’s leadership philosophy is a commitment to developing people. He has described his purpose as being a transformational leader who positively impacts the lives of others, while building an athletic department that is student-athlete centered, coach led, and administrator supported. In today’s conversation, we talk about his journey to the AD chair, developing culture, leading people through change and uncertainty, preparing student-athletes for life beyond competition, and what leadership looks like in today’s rapidly evolving world of college athletics. There is plenty here for athletic administrators at every level to take back to their own programs. So settle in as we talk leadership, athletics, and the responsibility that comes with sitting in the AD chair with Kent State Vice President and Director of Athletics, Randale Richmond.