Rick Boyages has worked inside the college sports industry as a basketball coach, special assistant, conference administrator, and consultant for 39 years. Most recently, he spent 12 years as vice president for men’s basketball at the Big Ten Conference in Chicago. His role included oversight of event management, game operations, conduct policies, and officiating. During his tenure, Rick served as sport liaison to 31 head coaches, 30 athletic directors, and dozens of network television executives, arena directors, and NCAA stakeholders. As executive director of the Collegiate Officiating Consortium, LLC, he simultaneously directed men’s basketball officiating operations for 65 Division I institutions in 22 states.
Boyages also spent time as associate commissioner for the Mid-American Conference and special assistant to the athletic director at Ohio State University. His 19 years as a college basketball coach included stops at Ohio State, Boston College, William & Mary, and Bates College. He was an integral part of Big East and Big Ten championship seasons with Ohio State and Boston College, and coached in five NCAA Tournaments, two Elite Eight’s, and a Final Four with the Buckeyes in 1999.
As a consultant, Rick has advised clients in areas including sports tech, higher education, and professional/international basketball.
On this episode Mike & Rick his extensive journey through coaching, administration, and officiating. He discusses the evolution of the NCAA landscape, highlighting the complexities introduced by NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) legislation and the transfer portal, which have significantly altered the dynamics of college sports. Boyages reflects on his experiences at the Big Ten Conference, where he oversaw officiating and implemented a successful training program for referees, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and development in the officiating community. He also recounts the influence of his father, a youth basketball coach, on his coaching philosophy, prioritizing empathy and fundamental skills over rigid structures. As he embarks on a new chapter teaching leadership at Denison University, Boyages aims to inspire and connect with the next generation of athletes and coaches, sharing lessons learned from decades in the game.
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Get ready to take some notes as you listen to this episode with Rick Boyages, former college basketball coach and administrator.
Website – https://denison.edu/people/rick-boyages
Email – boyagesr@denison.edu
Twitter/X – @coachboyages
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