Hangin With The AD Podcast
by Don Baker & Josh Mathews
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker (CMAA), Cobb County School (GA) District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews (CMAA), The First Academy (FL) Assistant Athletic Director, 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. We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. 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.
Episodes
-
Episode 161: Dr. Dustin Smith - Executive Director of Athletics - Broken Arrow HS - Broken Arrow, OK - NIAAA President
In this Special Edition of the Hangin' with the AD Podcast we sit down for our annual conversation with the NIAAA President. This year with Dr. Dustin Smith of Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, OK as he discusses his theme of "making excellence normal", while discussing the conference and...
-
Episode 160: JP Nerbun - Executive Coach, Author, Podcaster, Founder of TOC Culture Consulting
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, where we bring you conversations with leaders who challenge us to think differently, lead intentionally, and ultimately get better at what we do. Today, we're taking the podcast international for the very first time as we welcome JP...
-
Episode 159: Brittany Spencer Grant - Athletic Director - Oregon High School, Oregon, WI
What does excellence really look like in a high school athletic department? Is it wins and championships? Is it the experience we create for student-athletes? Is it developing leaders, building community, teaching sportsmanship—or maybe it’s finding a way to do all of those things well? On this...
-
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...
-
Episode 157: Special Edition - Podcast Update with Josh and Don
Join us for this Special Edition of the Hangin' with the AD Podcast as we discuss our brief "break in service" as Josh and his family made a move to Orlando, Florida.
-
Episode 156: Dan Hauser - Vice President and Director of Athletics - High Point University - High Point, NC
Welcome back to another edition of the Hangin' with the AD Podcast. Today's guest is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking leaders in college athletics. Dan Hauser serves as the Vice President and Director of Athletics at High Point University in High Point, North Carolina, a position…
more -
Episode 155: Matt Whiting - Director of Athletics - Central Arkansas University - Conway, AR
On this episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast, we head to the Natural State and sit down with Matt Whiting, the Director of Athletics at University of Central Arkansas. Since stepping into the lead chair in 2024, Matt has been navigating the challenge of following a longtime athletic…
more -
Episode 154: Nathan Whitaker - Author - Speaker - Gainesville, FL
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today’s conversation is one we’ve been looking forward to for quite some time. Joining us is Nathan Whitaker — a New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, and Super Bowl champion. Many of you know his work alongside...
-
Episode 153: Kim Coleman - Executive Director - Athletes for a Better World - Atlanta, GA
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today, we’re bringing you a special conversation that goes beyond wins, losses, and championships—because as athletic leaders, we know the real impact of sports is found in the lessons that last long after the final whistle.…
more -
Episode 152: Dr. Kellen Lee - Mental Skills Coach at Seattle Mariners - San Jose, CA
Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today’s episode is one we’ve been excited about for a long time, because we’re diving into a space that’s become a true game-changer at every level of athletics: mental performance. Our guest today is Kellen Lee — a Certified Mental Performance...
-
Episode 151: Rob Seymour - Athletic Director - Fishers High School - Fishers, IN
Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. In this episode, we’re joined by Rob Seymour, an athletic director at Fishers High School in Fishers, Indiana, where he has served since 2014. Rob is the past president of the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, a member of...
-
Episode 150: Steve Throne, CMAA - 2025 NIAAA President - Activities Director & Assistant Principal - Millard South High School in Omaha, NE
Welcome back to the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast This is a special episode for us, because we’re joined once again by a familiar voice and a great friend of the show—Steve “Throney” Throne. Each year, we’re fortunate to sit down with the current President of the NIAAA, and this annual conversation...
-
Episode 149: Brian Dodd - Author - Leadership Expert - Top 10 Sports Books of 2025 - Woodstock, GA
Today we have the privilege of welcoming back a familiar face — our most tenured guest — Brian Dodd. This episode has become a highlight of our year because Brian joins us annually to unveil his Top 10 Sports Books, giving us plenty of ideas for our Christmas lists and leadership libraries.…
more -
Episode 148: Champ Bailey - NFL & College Football Hall of Famer - Positive Athlete Ambassador - Atlanta, GA
Today’s episode is one of those special moments for our podcast — a true honor to sit down with one of the greatest to ever play the game. Our guest is Pro Football Hall of Famer, College Football Hall of Famer, and Georgia legend Champ Bailey. Over a 15-year NFL career with Washington and…
more -
Episode 147: Bailey Miles - Host of the Building Excellence Podcast - Jenks, OK
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast! In today’s episode, we’re joined by someone who knows a thing or two about building leaders and pursuing excellence. Our guest is Bailey Miles, the founder and host of the Building Excellence Podcast. Bailey is an entrepreneur who’s...
-
Episode 146: Phil Rison - Executive Director - NIAAA - Indianapolis, IN
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast. Today, we’re excited to bring you a conversation with Phil Rison, the Executive Director of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Phil stepped into this role in January of 2023 after serving six years as...
-
Episode 145: Dr. Patrick Irving - Director of Athletics - Pittsford Schools - Pittsford, NY
Welcome to this episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Patrick Irving, Director of Athletics for Pittsford Schools in the Rochester, New York area. Patrick is the first New York athletic director we’ve had on the show, and he brings an incredible perspective from…
more -
Episode 144: Chris Harris - Athletic Director - Evangelical Christian School - Fort Myers, FL
Today on the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, we’re adding a new twist to our guest lineup. We’ve talked with high school and collegiate athletic directors, authors, speakers, and performance coaches—but this is the first time we’ve welcomed a TikTok star into the conversation. Chris Harris is the...
-
Episode 143: Dr. Sam Ferguson - Director of Athletics - University of Texas-Tyler - Tyler, TX
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast, where we sit down with leaders who are making a lasting impact in the world of athletic administration. Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Sam Ferguson, the newly appointed Director of Athletics at the University of…
more -
Episode 142: Marcus Woods - High School & Collegiate Official - Atlanta, GA
Welcome to episode 142 of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, where we explore the intersection of leadership, athletics, and education through the voices of those making a real difference in the lives of student-athletes. Today’s episode brings a fresh perspective to the show—one from the whistle’s...
-
Episode 141: Alex Demczak - Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur - Columbia, MO
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD podcast, where we talk leadership, culture, and the journey through athletics with those who are making an impact in the world of sports and beyond. In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Alex Demczak—a former Division I quarterback at…
more -
Episode 140: Jason Brett - Athletic Director - Houston County High School - Warner Robins, GA
Welcome back to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast, where we sit down with athletic directors and leaders who are shaping the future of high school sports. Today, we’re excited to bring on someone who knows a thing or two about building championship-level programs—both on the…
more -
Episode 139: Single Topic Series - AI - Chris Chism - Superintendent of Schools - Pearl Public School District - Pearl, MS
Today we bring you another edition of our Single Topic Series as we dive into the emerging world of AI and how it fits into the world of the athletic administrator. We head to Pearl Mississippi and speak with Chris Chism who serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Pearl Public School...
-
Episode 138: Stephen Mackey - Leadership Author and Speaker - San Antonio, TX
Welcome to another episode of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. This week we head west to Texas and sit down with leadership author and speaker Stephen Mackey. The episode kicks off with Mackey outlining his "6 Habits of Championship Character," a blueprint for cultivating student-athletes who...
-
Episode 137: Fred Ridley - Chairman - Augusta National Golf Club - Augusta, GA
Welcome to a special Masters Week edition of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. Today we have the distinct honor of sitting down with a man who stands at the helm of one of the most revered institutions in all of sports—Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club. In this conversation,...
-
Episode 136: Clay Scroggins - Author, Speaker - Atlanta, GA
Today we stay closer to home and sit down with author and speaker Clay Scroggins. His book “How to Lead When You're Not in Charge” is a must for anyone whether they are in a position of leadership or not. Everyone answers to someone, and Clay left us with some great nuggets as we all look to get...
-
Episode 135: Jim Peeples - Director of Athletics - Piedmont College - Demorest, GA
Today we stay a little closer to home but revisit the college ranks and sit down with Jim Peeples who serves as the Director of Athletics at Piedmont College in Demorest, GA. Jim is a product of being surrounded by some of the best in the business when he was younger, and he talks about how it...
-
Episode 134: Joey Struwe - Retired Athletic Director - NIAAA PDA Academy - Sioux Falls, SD
Today is the first for the podcast as we head to South Dakota and sit down with retired AD Joey Struwe. We discuss his military service and how it influenced his leadership as an AD and how, as leaders, we must continually place a focus on the “little things” in order to lead effectively. Let’s...
-
Episode 133: Benj Miller - Entrepreneur - Speaker - Author - Podcast Host - Co-Founder and CEO of System and Soul - Atlanta, GA
Today we sit down with Benj Miller who is an entrepreneur, speaker, author, podcast host, and the Co-Founder and CEO of System and Soul, which is a business leadership development company. We talk about the common principles between the athletic and business worlds, the rewarding of failure…
more -
Episode 132: Amanda Snider - Deputy Director of Athletics - Broken Arrow High School - Broken Arrow, OK
Today we head back to the great state of Oklahoma and sit down with Amanda Snider who serves as the Deputy Director of Athletics at Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. She spoke about the importance of always doing your best because you never know who is watching and the demands…
more -
Episode 131: Emily Barkley - Director of Athletics - Tulsa Union HS - Tulsa, OK
Welcome to season 6 of the Hangin’ with the AD Podcast. We kick off this season with a top tier AD in the country in Emily Barkley of Union High School or Tulsa Union in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Emily talks about the power of the team that surrounds any athletic leader and the role they play in the…
more -
Episode 130: Jean Ashen - Retired Athletic Director - North Salinas High School - Salinas, CA
We wrap up 2024 with a great conversation with retired athletic director Jean Ashen. The long-time athletic director at North Salinas High School in Salinas, California, Jean talks to us about the close friendships that are made in the athletic administrator community, leading through change, and...
-
Episode 129: Brad Williams - Co-founder of Pure Athlete - Atlanta, GA
Today we sit down with the last piece of the Pure Athlete podcast in former athletic director and co-founder of Pure Athlete Brad Williams. We talk about marketing your program to your community and building your brand both inside and out with vison and hard work. Let’s settle in and get to know...
-
Episode 128: Brian Dodd - Author, Speaker, Leadership Expert - The Top 10 Sports Leadership Books of 2024
Brian Dodd sits down with us for the 5th instalment of his Top 10 Sports Leadership books list. Get ready to fill up your Amazon cart as Brain gives us some great ideas for our next book! CLICK HERE to visit Brian's website and see the full list.
-
Episode 127: Tol Gropp - Activities Director - Timberline High School - Boise, ID
Today we head out west again and sit down with Tol Gropp who serves as the Activities Director at Timberline High School in Boise, Idaho. We talked about the importance of increasing your capacity and learning from failure in order to be your best self and navigating the demands of being an...
-
Episode 126: Mister Kirkwood - Athletics Director - Head Boys Basketball Coach at Holy Cross School - New Orleans, LA
Today we head to the great state of Louisiana and sit down with Mister Kirkwood who serves as the athletics director and head boys basketball coach at Holy Cross School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mister believes in training the next generation of leaders up while surrounding yourself with good...
-
Episode 125: Xavier Antheaume - Director of Athletics and Title IX Compliance - Clark County School District - Las Vegas, NV
Today we head back west to sit down with Xavier Antheaume who serves as the Director of Athletics and Title IX Compliance for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, NV. We talk about the power of communication, positivity, and the desire to find fulfillment in the job of athletic...
-
Episode 124: Dick Kemper - Retired Executive Director of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association - Midlothian, VA
Today we head to Virginia and sit down with one of great veteran leaders of our profession in Dick Kemper, the retired former Executive Director of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association. Dick spoke to us about the power of not only continuing your professional development by…
more -
Episode 123: Kelly Fish - Assistant Head of School for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives - Currey Ingram Academy - Brentwood, TN
Today we head a few miles north and check in with Kelly Fish. Kelly is the Assistant Head of School for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives at Currey Ingram Academy in Brentwood, TN and served as the athletic director there for 11 years previously. A Bruce D. Whitehead Distinguished Service…
more -
Episode 122: Greg Byrne - Director of Athletics - University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa, AL
Today it’s back to the college ranks for a conversation with a leader we have had on our short list for some time in Greg Byrne, who serves as the Director of Athletics at the University of Alabama. We talk about the importance of continual growth as a leader and learning from those on our team…
more -
Episode 121: Wendell Staton - Director of Athletics - Georgia College & State University - Milledgeville, GA
Today we stay close to home and head down to Milledgeville, Georgia and check-in with Wendell Staton who serves as the Director of Athletics for Georgia College and State University. This is a powerful conversation about keeping the first thing first as a leader and not getting lost in the job,...
-
Episode 120: Dan Talbot, CMAA, CIC - Senior Director of Athletics for the Polk County School System - Lakeland, FL
Today we stay a little closer to home and head south to Lakeland Florida as we sit down with CMAA Dan Talbot who serves as the Senior Director of Athletics for the Polk County School System. We talk to Dan about a NIAAA course he has helped develop on managing tragedy within an athletic…
more -
Episode 119: Dr. Troy Urdahl - Author - Director of Athletics, Activities, Facilities, & Transportation - St. Anthony Village High School - St. Paul, MN
Today we head north and meet with Dr. Troy Urdahl who serves as the Director of Athletics, Activities, Facilities, & Transportation at St. Anthony Village High School in St. Paul, Minnesota. We talk about how to get better each and every day and defining our leadership purpose as we guide those…
more -
Episode 118: Tim Selgo - Retired Collegiate AD, Author, Speaker - Grand Rapids, MI
Today we have the pleasure of introducing you to an AD who is not a stranger to success. Tim Selgo was at the helm at Grand Valley State University in one of the most successful runs of any university at any level. It’s our hope that you lean in today and learn from one of the best to ever do it....
-
Episode 117: Jennifer Baker - Associate Vice Provost and Director of Athletics & Recreation - Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, MD
There is a saying that if you are the smartest person in the room…you need to find another room. Well, we found a much smarter room today as we sit down with Jennifer Baker who serves as the Associate Vice Provost and Director of Athletics & Recreation at Johns Hopkins University. A military...
-
Episode 116: Jeff Francoeur - Former MLB Player - Current Broadcaster and Co-host of the Pure Athlete Podcast - Buford, GA
Today we wrap up our back-to-back episodes with two of the three co-hosts of the Pure Athlete podcast as we sit down with former Major League Baseball standout and current broadcaster Jeff Francoeur. Jeff talks about the coaches who poured into him, and we dive deeper into the importance of both...
-
Episode 115: Britt Lee - Partner and Co-Founder - Pure Athlete - Alpharetta, GA
Today we sit down with Britt Lee, the co-founder of Pure Athlete, an organization and podcast that helps youth athletes maximize their potential for success in sports and in life. Their pillared approach focuses on vision, grit, skill, belief, and character and helps to also guide parents through...
-
Episode 114: Single Topic Series - AD Workshop - Kevin Petroski - Athletic Director - Athens Academy - Athens, GA
This week we have another installment of our Single Topic Series as we sit down with Kevin Petroski, Athletic Director at Athens Academy in Athens, Ga. to discuss his annual AD Workshop. This is a concept that we think can catch on across the country as athletic leaders look to find professional...
-
Episode 113: Trish Witkin, CMAA - Director of Athletics - Glastonbury High School - Glastonbury, CT
Today we head north to sit down with Trish Witkin who serves as the director of athletics at Glastonbury High School in Glastonbury, Connecticut. A past president of the NIAAA, Trish let’s us behind the curtain of a successful career and we have no doubt you’ll be better after our conversation...
-
Episode 112: Kevin Goll - Senior Associate AD and Chief Strategy Officer - Baylor University - Waco, TX
Today it’s off to the great state of Texas as we sit down with Kevin Goll who serves as the Senior Associate AD and Chief Strategy Officer for the Baylor Bears of Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Kevin talks about his unique route to athletic leadership and the lessons he has learned along the...
About this show
Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker (CMAA), Cobb County School (GA) District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews (CMAA), The First Academy (FL) Assistant Athletic Director, 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. We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests. 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.
Hosted by
Don Baker & Josh Mathews
Categories