1.question Podcast

Matt Doyle, Senior Associate Athletic Director/Director of Football Operations and Player Programs at Stanford University, visits with 1.Q contributing host Tai Brown to discuss working for multiple head coaches and athletics directors at one institution. Doyle also addresses the progression of the "Director of Football Operations" position and gives his thoughts on why the position could lead to the Athletic Director chair.

With both the University of California and the University of Virginia looking for a new Athletic Director, 1.Q checks back in with former Boston College/Villanova Athletic Director and current Turnkey Search Managing Director Gene DeFilippo. DeFilippo provides insight on how candidates who may have a profile that's attractive for two concurrent openings should proceed transparently. DeFilippo also notes a search firms role in make sure they're putting candidates forward who will take the job.

Contributing host Tai Brown caught up with Ken Kavanagh, Athletic Director at Florida Gulf Coast University, at the 2017 NACDA Convention. Kavanagh discusses the advice he gives his sons who want to work in sports business and also insight given to those who currently work for him as they consider career progression.

In Part II of Monmouth Athletic Director Marilyn McNeil's 1.Q, the Hawks' boss dives into if athletic directors can be too involved off their own campuses with added leadership roles. McNeil reflects on a number of high-profile opportunities she took on (NCAA, NACWAA, FCS) with the ancillary benefit of raising the profile of the university. However, she knew when it was time to pull back & spend more time back on campus. In closing, McNeil compares and contrasts FCS leadership with those from the 'Power 5.'

Monmouth Athletic Director Marilyn McNeil talks head coach communication and if her style changes with coaches who are having significant competitive success versus others who may not be winning as regularly. McNeil also expounds on the organic and supportive nature of all her head coaches with each other, including day-to-day examples of how Hawks coaches interact and how such a culture can be built.

Sean Frazier, Athletic Director at Northern Illinois University, sits down with 1.Q contributing host Tai Brown at the 2017 NACDA Convention. Frazier discusses his early beginnings as a football coach and how/why he made the transition to administration. Frazier also touches on his time working for Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez.

Scott Corley, Director of Athletics at Belmont University, reflects on his first year at Belmont and how his corporate lending background and overall involvement with the institution helped land him the job.

Contributing 1.Q host Tai Brown visited with Dan Satter, Deputy Director of Athletics at Boston University, during the 2017 NACDA Convention. Satter discusses the transition of working for a multimedia rights holder as an Assistant GM, to working with them as an employee of an athletics department. He also compares working at a hockey powerhouse that doesn't have football with his previous role at an FBS institution.

We hear more from the San Jose Mercury News' Jon Wilner in this episode, specifically regarding his personal shift from the College Hotline to the Pac-12 Hotline, and his thoughts on changes in the media marketplace. Wilner notes the depth of coverage he intends to push for the entire league, what mediums he'll leverage, possible storylines,and why/how the Hotline may be the first effort of its kind.

Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News was scheduled to discuss his new effort, the Pac-12 Hotline, with D1.ticker. Then, news broke that Cal AD Michael Williams would not seek a new contract in Berkeley. So, the conversation shifted to the leadership dynamics surrounding the Golden Bears. Wilner noted the institution's history of taking its time on administrative hires, discussed the continued financial challenges for athletics, and speculated on how the search process may wait until new Chancellor Carol Christ decides how to approach the Bears' fiscal hurdles.

Contributing host Tai Brown visits with Michael Alford, Central Michigan's new AD. Alford discusses the similarities of different areas in revenue generation including sponsorship and development. He also touches on how his time working for "sports heavyweights" led to his current role.

Contributing host Tai Brown visits with Samford University AD Martin Newton about improving on the success of his predecessor, shuffling offices to identify team players, and using his marketing background to tell the Bulldogs' story. Says Newton, "Things that get measured get done!" 

Contributing host Tai Brown visits with Arizona State Athletic Director Ray Anderson on his unique professional experiences prior to leading the Sun Devils. The pair also discuss the value of Anderson's NFL background for current football student-athletes in Tempe, hires Anderson made from outside college athletics, why adding sports to his overall portfolio is a priority, and more. 

How many sitting ADs can you name who have served as an Interim AD three different times before sitting in the chair permanently? Jacksonville State University's athletic director Greg Seitz fits the bill and joins 1.Q to discuss how his interim experiences helped him realize he could head an entire department. Seitz also notes the numerous senior staffers who have helped lead the Gamecocks for the past 20+ years, and how they cumulatively provide a deep knowledge base of "internal memory" to help navigate the current state of the industry.

In this 1.Q, University of Pittsburgh Athletic Director Heather Lyke covers the importance of young administrators being intentional about who they work for, what can be learned in the process, and how the decision can impact career trajectory. Lyke reflects back to her time at Michigan when current Denver Athletic Director Peg Bradley-Doppes was a senior leader for the Wolverines and a champion of Lyke's push to get into college athletics. 

TCU AD Chris Del Conte chats with 1.Q contributing host Tai Brown on fitting the mold of an executive, dressing for the job you want, but at the same time being true to yourself. Del Conte admits there was a point in his career he tried to operate according to a stereotype & as a byproduct negatively impacted his performance. Further, Del Conte notes a number of peers he's learned from - like Northwestern's Phillips to Alabama's Byrne & others - and how he translates their strengths to his style. Bottom line: Del Conte says ADs have so many responsibilities, feeling comfortable in their own skin is paramount.

In Part II of his 1.Q interview, Learfield Licensing Partners Vice President of Omnichannel Commerce Chad Phillips shares the trends he will be looking for during the upcoming NCAA football season, and reveals the key to online/digital merchandise and apparel sales. He also touches on the growing presence of Fanatics and Amazon, traditional retailers' efforts to keep pace, and macro trends to watch (see: athleisure).

Chad Phillips, Vice President of Omnichannel Commerce at Learfield Licensing Partners, talks with D1.ticker about Nike and the NBA's decision to create four uniform "editions" per team, and considers whether or not the trend will filter down to college hoops. Phillips also offers perspective on NBA jersey sales versus metrics for the collegiate space, how throwback jerseys are currently a big buy for male college students, and potential upcoming plans of Under Armour and Adidas.

Continuing the conversation with @SportsTVRatings creator Robert Seidman, today's topics include predictions of which pro sports properties ESPN will ante up for next rights cycle, the increased year-round presence of the NBA, the potential of ESPNU transitioning to the ACC Network linear play, and more. 

Enjoy a good long listen today with @SportsTVRatings creator Robert Seidman, who has a long history of tracking trends in the sports and greater TV marketplace. Seidman shares his thoughts on the specific metric college athletics administrators should be focused on as it relates to the ever-evolving story of ESPN, key TV advertising insights, and the current value of live sports.