The Journey: Leaders In College Athletics Share Their Wisdom

West Virginia President Michael T. Benson sits down with CSA Senior Consultant and former North Carolina State University Chancellor Dr. Randy Woodson for a candid conversation about his experience as a student-athlete, his commitment to scholarship, and his journey to the president's office - which began with his first job after graduate school: roofing houses. Benson: "We'd get started early, at 5 o'clock in the morning because the shingles would get so hot by noon, and I was talking to one of my co-workers. It turns out his dad worked at the University of Utah in fundraising... that led to my being hired as a Major Gifts Officer in 1995."Benson, who has served as a president at five institutions, also offers insight into the process of academic publishing, discusses the impact of his mentors on his trajectory, and reflects on the value of team sports.00:00 - Introduction01:58 - Talk about the transition from the academy, the faculty, to the presidency. 08:55 - Let's talk about how you've woven scholarship throughout your career into the role you currently play. You've had a passion for research universities... you've taught at every institution you've served, even as a busy president.15:58 - Talk about the critical role athletics plays in higher education and the current issues that university presidents face in trying to manage 21:08 - What opportunities and challenges do you see for West Virginia University? What gets you excited to come into the office?

Welcome to Season 2 of The Journey Podcast! In this episode, CSA Search & Consulting Founder and Chairman Todd Turner sits down with Bill Polian, a Hall of Fame NFL executive who served as President of the Indianapolis Colts and General Manager of three clubs - the Colts, Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills. Polian, who began his career as a scout, was awarded the NFL Executive of the Year honor six times and served as GM and President of the Colts during the team's Super Bowl XLI win in 2007. Bill and Todd discuss the current state of the game at both the professional and collegiate levels, including the tension between administrators and head coaches over contract terms, buyouts and success on the field. Polian: [ADs] "are being taken advantage of by a small group of agents who essentially control the markets... are you going to miss out [on hiring] a star if you say no to some demands? History tells you no.... it's foolish to simply get caught up in this inflationary spiral."The duo also consider issues of team culture in an era of NIL and the transfer portal, including a need for collective bargaining and the need for regulations controlling player movement.

In this episode, CSA Search & Consulting President Drew Turner catches up with Toledo Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan Blair. They have an in-depth conversation from Bryan's journey from growing up in South Carolina, to law school to rise to the big chair at Toledo. His perspective was shaped by his parents as his mom was his middle school principal and his dad an entrepreneur. Bryan shares candidly about his approach in preparing and interviewing for an AD job. His insight on what to do when you’ve heard the word no will leave you encouraged and empowered.

"Growing up, I was always drawn to leadership." That's Western Michigan Vice President and Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae in conversation with CSA Vice President for Consulting Dr. Brad Bates. In this episode of The Journey, Dan and Brad reflect on Dan's journey from Indiana University Public Policy student to the big chair, with stops at Pittsburgh and Oregon State along the way. Dan shares the story of how he skipped his senior year spring break to shadow athletic administrators at Pitt and discusses the best advice he ever received from Oregon State AD Scott Barnes: "Get out of your comfort zone." Dan and Brad also talk about the parallels between music and sports and celebrate the success - including a national title in ice hockey - that the Broncos have enjoyed during Dan's tenure in Kalamazoo.

Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman joins CSA Founder Todd Turner to reflect on their 48 year relationship in the industry and Val's journey as a trailblazer and icon in women's sports as an athlete and sports business leader. Val discusses her early exposure to athletics via her grandfather and father, both of whom served as high school athletic directors, and shares the story of her arrival at Virginia as one of the first women to receive an athletic scholarship. Todd and Val walk through Val's time as an athlete, including the period between graduating from UVA and going to UCLA for law school when Val played basketball in France, and her early days at the NBA under Commissioner David Stern. Val offers insight into the leadership lessons she took from Stern and others at the league office before sharing more about her experience as the first president for the WNBA and how that league formed the foundation and shaped the trajectory of women's professional sports in the country. Val and Todd also discuss the changing landscape for college athletics, including the need to keep academics as a core piece of the experience: "I think the messaging is getting lost a bit as we talk about... the transactional nature of college sports now, at some levels in some sports. Because of that, the economics that have crept in, academics has been pushed to the side in some places."

College Basketball Analyst and Hall of Famer Debbie Antonelli joins CSA Senior Advisor and former University of Virginia Athletics Director Craig Littlepage to reflect on a journey that has taken her from the hardwood to the broadcast booth. As she approaches 40 years as a men's and women's basketball analyst for dozens of media organizations, Antonelli shares insight into the challenges and opportunities she experienced as a trailblazer for women in basketball broadcasting. Antonelli opens up about her time playing for Coach Kay Yow and the NC State Wolfpack; her experience walking the parallel path of wanting to coach and wanting to be an AD; her early days as an athletics administrator at Kentucky and Ohio State and how those roles presented her with the opportunity to lead the charge in increasing the visibility of women's hoops on the air. Antonelli: "In women's basketball, there was one game on television and that was the CBS National Championship, so there wasn't all the opportunity and inventory that there is today." Antonelli and Littlepage also discuss Antonelli's philanthropic endeavors, including her annual 24-hour free throw fundraiser that supports the Special Olympics.

Boise State Director of Athletics Jeramiah Dickey sits down with CSA President and CEO Drew Turner to open up about his journey in college athletics - including the pivot he made as an undergraduate at the University of Texas Austin from nearly dropping out before senior year to meeting athletics legends such as Mack Rhodes (then at UTEP) and Chris Plonsky (UT) and carving out a path in athletics administration. Dickey shares the origin behind his "What's Next" mentality, crediting his parents and his network of mentors for always inspiring him to push for more: "Whatever your passion is, reach for greatness." Dickey and Turner also discuss the uniqueness of the Boise State AD search, conducted in the heart of the pandemic; offer advice for negotiating an AD contract; and talk about evaluating career opportunities. Dickey: "Go where you can be your authentic self."

National Association of Basketball Coaches Executive Director Craig Robinson joins CSA Senior Consultant and former University of Virginia Athletics Director Craig Littlepage for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey in athletics - as a standout men's basketball student athlete at Princeton, a professional player in Europe, a Division I head coach and now with the NABC. Robinson and Littlepage reflect on the evolution of the sport and how coaches and administrators can use the changing landscape to enhance the student-athlete and fan experience; discuss the value of higher education; offer advice for young and mid-career professionals; share their favorite Pete Carril stories; and develop the Mount Rushmore of Princeton University Basketball.

Former Head Football Coach Tyrone Willingham (Stanford, Notre Dame, Washington) sits down with CSA Founder and Chairman Todd Turner to reflect on his journey as an athlete and coach. Tyrone and Todd discuss their shared time together as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Washington before diving into the state of college football today, sharing insights on the transfer portal, NIL, the expanded College Football Playoff, and more.

Women Leaders in Sports CEO Patti Phillips sits down with CSA Vice President and Chief of Staff Marcy Lanoue for a wide-ranging reflection on her career journey, including her "corporate athlete mentality," and why she champions the story of women in sports. Patti: "Everything is learnable - you just have to be willing to put in the work." Patti and Marcy also discuss what to expect at October's annual Women Leaders in Sports Convention, the evolution of growth, the power of speaking potential into other women, and the most valuable insights from the mentors in Patti's life. Patti: "Having people around you that see potential in you is really, really important. They see that by how you're showing up every single day."

In this episode of The Journey, CSA Vice President Dr. Brad Bates sits down with his friend and colleague Josh Fenton, Commissioner of The Summit League, to learn more about his journey to the Commissioner's chair and reflect on their shared time at Miami (OH) University. Fenton shares more about his original career aspiration - becoming a collegiate hockey coach - including his experience writing letters to several Division I hockey programs looking for his first opportunity before connecting with the RedHawks then-Head Coach Rico Blasi and moving to Oxford as a volunteer assistant coach while attending grad school. Fenton: "For some reason you saw something - I'm not sure what you saw - but then I had an opportunity to work with you more directly in the Athletics Department in the roles that you afforded me." Bates: "Pretty shortly after your arrival, I remember Rico coming over and saying, 'Keep your eye on Josh.'" The two also discuss the development of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, '80s music and the current state of college athletics.

In this episode of The Journey, CSA Senior Advisor and former University of Virginia Director of Athletics Craig Littlepage sits down with NCAA Vice President for Women's Basketball Lynn Holzman to reflect on her beginnings in sport and her career trajectory, which includes a stop as the Commissioner of the West Coast Conference. Holzman shares insight into advancing as a senior administrator, provides her thoughts on what makes a successful basketball coach and discusses the ongoing momentum for women's basketball.

In this episode of The Journey, CSA Senior Advisor and former University of Virginia Director of Athletics Craig Littlepage sits down with Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez to learn more about her journey within college athletics, including stops at the NCAA, San José State, Cal, Oklahoma, and the West Coast Conference.

In this episode of The Journey, CSA Senior Advisor and former University of Virginia Director of Athletics Craig Littlepage sits down with College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock to discuss Hancock's journey within college athletics as the first full-time director of the NCAA Final Four, first executive director of the Bowl Championship Series, and first executive director for the CFP.

In the premiere episode of The Journey Podcast, CSA Founder and Chairman Todd Turner sits down with Duke Vice President and Director of Athletics Emeritus Kevin White to reflect on White's journey as an athletic administrator and discuss the future of the industry. Follow along with Collegiate Sports Associates: https://twitter.com/CSA__Sports