1.question Podcast

David Shaw, Head Football Coach at Stanford, visits @1QLeadership to discuss the recruiting philosophy of "Start as you mean to go on." Shaw emphasizes that coaches should be the adult in recruiting conversations. He mentions differences in communicating to today's youth as opposed to 10-15 years ago. Shaw also gives insight into what he sees as a major deficiency in the development of young people today, mentioning the responsibility of leaders to teach humility, and model self-evaluation.

Greg Burke, longtime Director of Athletics at Northwestern State, visits the 1.Question Leadership Podcast to discuss adjusting as a leader after almost 25 years in the chair. He talks about working with a multi-generational staff as he leads people that have been with him for decades and people who recently joined the department. Burke also addresses his efforts to give his staff and coaches insight on issues affecting the college athletics industry as a whole.

Mark Alnutt, Director of Athletics at University at Buffalo, visits 1Q for a conversation on being in the AD chair at a place where there have been a succession of great leaders. He talks about how his default skill of building relationships has helped to create a successful environment. Throughout the discussion, Alnutt continues to emphasize that knowing his staff beyond the office is what will help him continue to elevate the department.

Mel Tucker, Head Football Coach at Colorado, visits @TaiMBrown and the 1.Question Leadership Podcast to talk about the process of creating a culture for winning. He covers the intentional brand transition from establishing his culture in year one to his #TheBuild in year two. He shares the importance of being a relentless recruiter in order to build on the foundation they have laid in season one. He characterizes an environment of integrity and expectations as the two primary factors for creating success. The conversation wraps with Tucker giving his thoughts on the importance of people and building margin in the day for internal reflection and growth.

Cathy Rossi, Deputy Director of Athletics at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, visits 1Q to discuss her role as the number two. She talks about what to look for when initially assessing the financial health of an athletics department. Rossi goes on to speak about starting in ticket sales and working her way into the business of college athletics.

Tavaras Hardy, Head Basketball Coach at Loyola University Maryland, joins @TaiMBrown on the 1.Question Leadership podcast on the topic of being a new leader in the head coaching role. Hardy, discusses the adjustments he has made as a head coach from year one to year two. He identifies transparency and accountability as two areas he heavily focuses on. Hardy also gives the methods for self-reflection he and his staff use for continuous internal evaluation.

Chrissi Rawak, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at University of Delaware, visits @TaiMBrown on the 1.Question Leadership Podcast on the topic of ensuring good leadership exists throughout an entire organization. Rawak discusses the discovery that her department was missing the mark on the foundational elements of a successful functioning organization. She goes into the steps she has taken to be intentional with the learning and development of people who are leading other people in her department.

Coach Tremaine Jackson, newly named (and first time) Head Football Coach at Colorado Mesa, engages in an insightful conversation with Coach Glenn Caruso of Unversity of St. Thomas, Coach Tim Lester of Western Michigan, and @TaiMBrown on the topic of being a first-time head coach. Jackson gets advice from Caruso and Lester on addressing the team for the first time, hiring staff, and developing a successful organizational culture.

Jashell Mitchell, Manager of Diversity & Inclusion for NFL Operations, visits 1.Q to discuss the opportunities she creates for Student-Athletes from HBCUs. Mitchell, former Associate AD for Internal Operations at North Carolina Central, has a history of working in football after spending time as a DFO. She oversees the HBCU Careers in Football Forum through which students are nominated by ADs, SWAs and/or Conference Commissioners from HBCU campuses for internship opportunities with NFL teams and events.

Anton Goff, former AD at Bowie State, Hartford, and St. John's visits the 1.Question Leadership Podcast to give insight into his reason for abruptly leaving St. John's. Goff talks about the stresses of living separate from family and speaks on how he will handle living situations moving forward. The conversation also covers Goff's success in developing relationships in development and the idea of carrying those relationships to other Athletics Director positions.

The tables are turned on @jayfhicks as his Sports Creatives Podcast is commandeered by 1Question Leadership Podcast host, Tai M. Brown. Hicks is put in the in the guest's chair as Brown asks questions about leadership in the collegiate sports creatives industry. Specific topics cover how creatives can value themselves and what to look for in an athletic department that values creatives.

Jim Grobe, former head football coach at Ohio, Wake Forest, and Baylor, visits @TaMBrown on the 1.Q. Coach Grobe talks about the differences in his initial assessment of the programs at his head coaching stops. He goes in depth about taking over at Baylor for one year as his primary focus was to do whatever was necessary to help the Student-Athletes and staff get through the season. Grobe also gives his insight for those who look to be leaders in the future.

Ken Mannie, Strength & Conditioning Coach at Michigan State, talks about his thoughts on similarities and differences in working with coaches, administrators, and Student-Athletes over 45 years in the profession. With standards and expectations on the forefront of his leadership philosophy, Mannie discusses how his approach to leading Student-Athletes has changed. He also talks about the three important questions he asks all young people interested in playing college football.

Shawn Jones, Director of Athletics at Henderson State joins @TaiMBrown to discuss the school's transition to the Arkansas State system. Jones talks about learning to communicate with a new interim president while simultaneously working with the Arkansas State system to help manage the transition from an athletics perspective. He expresses excitement about new resources to the program, which include monetary but more specifically the impact seen from an expertise level in strategic planning.

Kirby Hocutt, Director of Athletics at Texas Tech, visits the 1.Question Leadership Podcast on the topic of inclusive leadership from entry-level roles all the way through executive positions. Hocutt mentions the culture at Tech, which encourages input and collaboration from staff through subcommittees that are open to everyone in the department. He also talks about the in-house Talkington Leadership Academy which offers programs for Student-Athletes and staff alike.

On the eve of the NCAA Volleyball Semifinals and AVCA National Convention, @TaiMBrown caught up with University of North Dakota Head Volleyball Coach, Jeremiah Tiffin. Fresh off of his first season as a Division I head coach, Tiffin talks about the commonalities from his stints as a two-year and NAIA head coach. Thrust into the head coaching position after only four months as an assistant, Tiffin talks about the importance of communication as he had only 20 days to prepare for the first game of the season.

Dr. Monique Marsh-Bell, Clinical Psychologist and Asst. AD for Mental Health Services at Baylor University, visits @TaiMBrown on the 1.Question Leadership Podcast to discuss the services she provides to Baylor's Student-Athletes. Dr. Marsh-Bell was as a counselor on campus prior to joining the athletics department. She begins by explaining the difference between sport vs. clinical psychologist and gives insight on the different experiences between the general student body and that of Student-Athletes.

Tommy McClelland, AD at Louisiana Tech, talks about his Louisiana Tech Athletics Leadership Institute. Open to everyone in the department other than senior level staff or head coaches, the program begins with an aptitude test designed by the school's Industrial Psychology department. It also includes a $10k (provided by a donor) challenge for designing a program that helps to address mental health issues in the student-athlete population. The school's president has created similar model for staff on campus.

Lonn Reisman, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at Tarleton State University, talks with @TaiMBrown about the school's transition from NCAA Division II to Division I. Reisman has been at Tarleton State for 26 years, spending the first 24 as the Head Men's Basketball Coach. He touches on the move from NAIA, to Division II, and the almost 20 year exploration into moving to NCAA Division I.

Jamie Pollard, AD at Iowa State, visits with @TaiMBrown on the 1.Question Podcast on the topic of creating an environment where people feel valued. Pollard talks about his process of helping new hires embrace the culture at Iowa State athletics. He goes into detail about his very intentional efforts to get to know everyone who is in his department. Pollard also give insight into his 'Athletic Director Unplugged' meetings.