Episode 25: Homer Rice - Retired Athletic Director - Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA

EPISODE # 25 ...Homer Rice, retired, Georgia Tech ADToday you all are in for a treat. We get to sit down with Dr. Homer Rice. The former athletic director at North Carolina and Ga. Tech, who at 93 still teaches classes, is a leader who many consider the godfather of athletic administration and whose book Leadership Fitness should be on the bookshelf of every leader. A small town kid from Kentucky, Dr. Rice served our country in WWII, played baseball with legends like Bob Feller and Jackie Robinson, coached football at all levels, high school, college , and the NFL…and coached a high school team and a prison team to undefeated seasons in the same year. Yes, I said prison team. They simply do not make’em like Dr. Rice anymore. Get ready for an amazing story of life and leadership as we get to know Dr. Homer Rice. 1:19- Introduction 1:50- Definition of LEADERSHIP 3:02- Grant Teaff & Rice Family Success 5:50- Learning how to Coach as a Child 6:50- A Successful Playing Career 7:30- The Navy, Bob Feller, & Mike Brown 11:34- Being Coached by Homer Rice 14:34- Being a Coach under Homer Rice’s Leadership  16:28- Importance of Holding Leaders Accountable  18:14- The Total Person Program  22:58- Major Temptations as a Leader  24:05- Attitude Technique-Seeing Opportunities rather than Problems  25:07- Having A Daily Routine  25:47- Lessons from Meeting Jackie Robinson & Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 30:29- Dress for Success  31:43- Setting Goals for Success 33:57- Maximizing Each Day 35:50- Dealing with Loneliness as the Leader 37:57- Starting a Women’s Program at Georgia Tech  40:09- Moving from NFL success to Georgia Tech  43:20- Helping Attract the Olympics 45:46- Assembling a Staff 47:20- Teaching Championship Behavior 49:54- Improving Your Leadership Fitness 54:00- 2 Minute DrillBook Mentions:  I Dare You (William H Danforth)               Leadership Fitness (Homer Rice)                Lessons for Leaders (Homer Rice)About Hangin With The AD Podcast….Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker  partners with Josh Mathews to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics.  These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities. Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it.  Thank you for listening.  And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.   Don Baker, CAA.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)Josh Mathews, CMAA...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)