In this episode, Shay Wyatt discusses his decision to enter athletic administration after coaching and leaving the Division I environment to take the AD job at Westminster, then a small NAIA institution. In September 2006, Shay Wyatt was hired as Director of Athletics at Westminster College. Under his guidance the intercollegiate athletic program has experienced […]
PoA087 | Fran Reidy, Saint Leo University
In this episode Fran Reidy discusses his 28-year career at Saint Leo, which includes starting as a part-time soccer coach. He shares the tremendous growth in the program over his tenure and lessons learned along the way. Reidy became a full time member of the Saint Leo athletics department in 1993. Along the way, he has […]
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 […]
PoA071 | John Phillips, Embry Riddle University
John Phillips was named Embry-Riddle’s Director of Athletics in January 2014 after serving as the Eagles’ Associate Athletics Director for seven years. Born and raised in Kensington, Maryland, Phillips came to Daytona Beach in 1989, enrolling as a student at Embry-Riddle. Phillips played baseball for the Eagles for three seasons, while completing both his undergraduate […]
PoA070 | Bob Dranoff, East Coast Conference
Dr. Robert J. Dranoff, was named the fifth Commissioner of the East Coast Conference (ECC) April 30, 2008 and commenced duties June 15, 2008. In this episode, Dranoff talks about his transition from Athletics Director to Conference Commissioner, the evolution of NCAA Division 2, leadership and career advice for up-and-comers. Dranoff has been involved in college […]
PoA069 | Bridget Niland, Daemen College
Bridget Niland, a native of Williamsville, NY, was appointed Director of Athletics/Special Assistant to the President in July of 2014. A member of the Daemen faculty since 2006, Niland has served the College as an Associate Professor in the Business Administration Department where she oversees the Sport Management specialization and business law curriculum. Prior to […]
PoA055 Brian Summers | Christian Bros. University
Summers is CBU’s seventh Director of Athletics, starting June 30, 2014. Summers comes to CBU after a distinguished 13-year career at Lewis University, a fellow NCAA D-II Lasallian school in Romeoville, Ill. Since December 2010, Summers has been Associate Director of Athletics – Director of External Relations, and he served from 2005-2010 as Assistant Director […]