In this episode, Ira Zeff talks about his journey from basketball coach to director of athletics, NWU’s transition from a dual NAIA/NCAA member to a full-time Division III member of the Iowa Conference and his thoughts on leadership in collegiate athletics today. Dr. Ira Zeff is the Director of Athletics at Nebraska Wesleyan University, where […]
PoA080 | Rick Willis, Wartburg College
In this episode, Rick talks about his dual role as head football coach and director of athletics, the importance of athletics recruiting in enrollment management and the impact of Wartburg’s facilities upgrades. Willis is director of athletics and head football coach. He came to Wartburg in 1997 as head football coach and left that position […]
PoA079 | Betsy Mitchell, Cal Tech University
In this episode, Betsy Mitchell talks about her approach to leadership, which began as a student-athlete, and her mentors that helped shape her approach to athletics leadership. She also discusses building a competitive athletics program at one of the world’s top engineering colleges and her approach to selling that vision. —- Mitchell is the director […]
PoA078 | Paul Plinske, University of Nebraska, Kearney
In this episode, Dr. Paul Plinske talks about his experiences a perennial Division III powers University of Wisconsin Whitewater and Wisconsin La Crosse and some of the similarities and differences between NCAA divisions. He also has great thoughts on leadership and career advancement. Appointed by Chancellor Doug Kristensen as the ninth Director of Athletics in […]
PoA077 | Gary Gray, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
In this episode Gary Gray shares his background and experiences in intercollegiate athletics, including candid conversation about the state of Alaska’s severe budget crisis and the impacts on his program. Gray was named Director of Athletics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in September 2012, and assumed his full-time duties on Sept. 24, 2012. He […]
PoA076 | Nan Carney-Debord, Denison University
In this episode Nan Carney-Debord discusses her career in athletics, transitioning from a highly successful basketball coach, teacher and administrator into the Athletics Director role at her alma mater. She talks about creating an environment that is “structurally conducive for optimal motivation” in her department and also her “get into the weeds” career advice for up-and-comers. Carney-DeBord […]
PoA075 | Gary Williams, Wittenberg University
In this episode, Gary Williams discusses his transition into his first athletics director role and also how he has been managing a presidential transition since his arrival at Wittenberg two and a half years ago. Gary Williams, Ph.D., became Wittenberg University’s Director of Athletics and Recreation on June 1, 2014. Williams replaced Garnett Purnell, who […]
PoA074 | Dave King, Eastern Mennonite University
David A. King returned to his alma mater in 2005, and oversees the 17 intercollegiate sports programs at EMU, providing overall leadership, advocacy and strategic planning. “Athletics is the avenue through which many young people develop themselves to their fullest potential,” King said. “My passion has always been to see personal growth and development of […]