Shows
Talkin' with the AD20 - Tara Rose, CAA - Coaching Female Athletes, Student Leadership & CultureSend us Fan MailHost Morgan Sullivan, athletic director, coach, and author, sits down with Tara Rose, CAA, Athletic Director at St. Croix Falls in Wisconsin, President-Elect of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association (WADA), and state LTI instructor, to talk about building student leadership and a culture of sportsmanship in education-based athletics. In this episode Coach Sullivan and Tara dig into how her conference built an interactive leadership and sportsmanship summit for student-athletes, how she runs a student athlete leadership team (SALT) at her school, and what every coach needs to know about coaching female athletes. Listeners...
2026-10-131h 30Talkin' with the AD19 - Paris McCarthy, RAA: How to Become an Athletic Director After Years of "No"Send us Fan MailParis McCarthy interviewed for athletic director jobs six or seven summers in a row and heard "no" every single time. Today she leads athletics at Eastpointe Community Schools in Michigan, and in this episode she shares how every one of those losses prepared her for the chair. If you're a coach working toward becoming an athletic director, a woman building a career in athletic administration, or an AD looking for practical game day ideas, this conversation is for you.Paris takes us from two torn ACLs in high school to a...
2026-10-0552 minTalkin' with the AD18 - Jim Harris, CMAA - What Does an Athletic Director Really Do?Send us Fan Mail What does an athletic director actually do when the Friday night lights are off? Jim Harris, CMAA, Director of Student Activities at Freedom High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, joins Morgan to pull back the curtain on athletic administration, the value of NIAAA certification, and the lessons he's written into his own AD playbook. Jim's career has taken him through five Northern Virginia schools, from an admin internship at Briar Woods to rebuilding TC Williams High School during COVID. His CMAA project came out of that work. He talks about coaching the co...
2026-09-241h 03Talkin' with the AD17 - Youth Sports Playing Time: Should Every Kid Play Equal? | Talkin' with the ADSend us Fan MailShould playing time in youth sports be equal, or should the best players play? In this impromptu solo episode, athletic director and longtime youth coach Morgan Sullivan answers a new parent's honest question about youth sports playing time and makes the case for long-term athlete development over winning at 8, 10, or 12 years old.A first-time sports parent asked the question the right way on Instagram. The comments answered it the wrong way: "you play the game to win." Morgan explains why that mindset does real damage at the youth and middle school...
2026-09-1721 minTalkin' with the AD16 - Dr. Kiristen Robinson, CMAA: Athletic Director Burnout Is Real: Mental Health, Boundaries & Student-Athlete WellnessSend us Fan MailAthletic directors spend all day taking care of everyone else: coaches, athletes, parents, facilities. So who takes care of the AD? This week, host Morgan Sullivan sits down with Dr. Kiristen Robinson, CMAA, Student Activities Coordinator at Harrisonburg High School in Virginia, for an honest conversation about mental health and wellness on both sides of the whistle.Dr. K brings a rare résumé to the chair: former college basketball player, longtime teacher and coach, a PhD in Health and Human Performance, and a dissertation that became her CMAA project studying st...
2026-09-1435 minTalkin' with the AD15 - Marc "Hutch" Hunter, CMAA: Certification, the Three-Sport Athlete & Building a Career That LastsSend us Fan MailWhat does four decades in the athletic director's chair actually teach you? In this episode of Talkin' with the AD, Morgan sits down with Marc "Hutch" Hunter, CMAA — 41 years in athletic administration, 30 of them as the building AD at Jordan High School — for a master class in certification, the fading three-sport athlete, and building a career in education-based athletics that lasts. If you're a new AD, a veteran, or a coach thinking about the seat, this one's a keeper.Hutch has watched the job grow from an extra duty handed to an a...
2026-09-071h 09Talkin' with the AD14 - Mike Mossbrucker, CMAA; Pages From a Hall of Fame Playbook: Listening, Legacy & Mentoring the Next ADSend us Fan MailSome guests you interview. This one, you just listen to — and take notes.This week on Talkin' with the AD, I sit down with Mike Mossbrucker, CMAA, a recently retired athletic director who spent most of his career at Mooresville High School in Indiana. A state workshop presenter for the IIAAA and NIAAA, a past NIAAA Board of Directors member, the 2025 IIAAA Athletic Director of the Year, and a recent NIAAA Hall of Fame inductee (to be formally inducted at the NADC in Phoenix this winter), Mike has spent more than fo...
2026-08-311h 12Talkin' with the AD13 - Nate Larsen, CMAASend us Fan MailNate Larsen has spent thirteen years in the athletic director's chair and three decades in education-based athletics — and he still says he wouldn't trade it for anything.In this episode of Talkin' with the AD, Morgan sits down with Nate, a Certified Master Athletic Administrator at O'Neill High School in O'Neill, Nebraska, an at-large Region D representative on the NIAAA Board of Directors, and Nebraska's leadership training coordinator. Nate grew up a coach's kid — in the gym before he could walk, firing the starter pistol at track meets in kindergarten — and that e...
2026-08-2539 minTalkin' with the AD12 - Claire Rietmann-Grout, The Positive CoachSend us Fan MailBallet at four. Division I softball at 18. And a question that stuck: the day she got to college and wondered — where are all the women?Morgan sits down with Claire Rietmann-Grout — founder of The Positive Coach, speaker, educator, former D1 softball player and coach, and NFHS Level 3 certified. This one's about connection: why it comes before performance, how it keeps girls in the game, and what shifts when a coach builds people first.They dig into the environment girls learn best in, the leadership most coaches walk righ...
2026-08-2537 minTalkin' with the AD11 - Game-Day Experience, AI & Beating AD Burnout — Brandon Davis, CAA (Allen Academy)Send us Fan MailCan AI actually save an athletic director real time and money? In this episode of Talkin' with the AD, host Morgan J. Sullivan sits down with Brandon Davis, CAA — Athletic Director at Allen Academy in Bryan, Texas — for a practical, steal-it-today conversation on using AI in athletic administration, building a can't-miss game-day experience, and rethinking "the way we've always done it." If you're an athletic director, coach, or school leader, this one's a toolbox.Brandon's path is anything but a straight line: a small Connecticut town, college lacrosse at the University of L...
2026-08-1747 minTalkin' with the AD10 - From Cop to Athletic Director — Colby Tillman on Law Enforcement, Leadership & Game-Day OpsSend us Fan MailFrom the Squad Car to the Sidelines — Colby Tillman | Prescott Local School District (AR)What does a patrol officer, a school resource officer, and a police chief have in common with a game-day operation? In this episode of Talkin' with the AD, Morgan talks with Colby Tillman — now heading into year two as athletic director at Prescott Local School District in Prescott, Arkansas — about how a career in law enforcement sharpens you for the AD chair: quick decisions, sound decisions, made in the heat of the moment and scrutinized later...
2026-08-1731 minTalkin' with the AD9 - Stephen Anderson - Rising Athlete ProjectSend us Fan MailYouth sports move fast — and most families step into middle school and high school athletics without anyone telling them what's actually changing. In this episode of Talkin' with the AD, Morgan sits down with Stephen Anderson, Athletic Director at Providence Academy in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and creator of the Rising Athlete Project, for a wide-ranging conversation about helping young athletes navigate every stage of their sports journey — from a first youth season all the way through high school.Stephen brings a rare perspective from overseeing athletics across a 4K–12 program, seeing how sp...
2026-08-1041 min
Educational AD PodcastDawn Williamson, AD for Rockford Schools takes us CAMPING!Dawn Williamson, CAA / RMSAA is the AD for the Rockford Illinois School District and today we're going "Camping" as she shares how they run their Summer Camp programs. THIS is Wednesday Wisdom on The Educational AD Podcast!
2026-08-0535 minTalkin' with the AD8 - Athlete Mental Health: What Coaches & Parents Get Wrong (Expert Roundtable)Send us Fan MailAthlete mental health can't be fixed with a slogan, a one-time awareness day, or "toughen up." In this Talkin' with the AD roundtable, five professionals — mental health counselors, an athletic trainer, coaches, and a mental performance specialist — break down what today's student-athletes are really facing (anxiety, depression, perfectionism, burnout, recruiting pressure, and the loss of identity when a career ends) and the well-intentioned coaching habits that quietly do damage. If you're an athletic director, coach, or sports parent, this is the practical playbook for putting the person before the athlete.The pane...
2026-08-031h 29Talkin' with the AD7 - But My Kid Should Be StartingSend us Fan MailWhen your athlete is not starting—or is playing fewer minutes than expected—what should you do next?In this episode of Talkin’ with the AD, Coach Sullivan tackles one of the most emotional and difficult conversations in youth and school sports: playing time. You’ll learn why the athlete should usually speak with the coach first, how parents can advocate without creating confrontation, who should attend a meeting, and when it is appropriate to involve the athletic director.This episode also offers practical questions athletes and parents can ask, phr...
2026-07-1430 minTalkin' with the AD6 - Winning Beyond the Scoreboard: How Great Sports Cultures Keep Kids in the GameSend us Fan MailWhat really makes a winning athletic program?In this episode of Talkin’ with the AD, Coach Sullivan explores why culture is not the opposite of winning—it is the foundation that makes winning sustainable. From youth sports and high school athletics to travel ball and club sports, adults often chase trophies, scholarships, playing time, and early specialization. But what happens when athletes stop having fun before they ever reach their potential?This episode takes an honest, research-informed look at why young athletes leave sports, how playing time and coaching beha...
2026-07-0622 min
Educational AD PodcastMonday Huddle #23 - Levels of CertificationOur series continues by reviewing the different levels of certification available through the NIAAA. Certification is such an important part of an Athletic Director's Professional growth and here we cover the the requirements for RAA, RMSAA, CAA, and CMAA on The Educational AD Podcast!
2026-01-2615 min
Educational AD PodcastOrlandus Thomas in BACK with a Toolbox EXTRA!MERRY CHRISTMAS Everyone! Orlandus Thomas, CAA / RMSAA is the AD at Chicago's Intrinsic School - Downtown Campus and he's back on the podcast with a great segment on Mental Health! Take a listen to some cool Best Practices for your program - THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!
2025-12-2531 minTalkin' with the AD5 - The Role of the Athletic DirectorSend us Fan MailWhat does an Athletic Director actually do? If your first thought is “schedule games and unlock the gym,” this episode is going to open your eyes.In this deep-dive solo episode, Coach Sullivan pulls back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood roles in education and athletics: the high school Athletic Director. From balancing budgets to managing facilities, handling parent concerns, supporting coaches, enforcing compliance, and dealing with last-minute emergencies—this isn’t a job for the faint of heart.Coach Sullivan walks listeners through the real responsibilities of the A...
2025-07-2220 minTalkin' with the AD4 - Social Media and Recruiting: What Athletes and Parents Need to KnowSend us Fan MailIn this 15-minute solo episode, Coach Morgan Sullivan breaks down one of the most overlooked but critical factors in the college recruiting process: your athlete’s social media presence. With insights drawn from real conversations with college coaches, national surveys, and personal experience, this episode explores how Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube can either open doors—or close them.You'll learn:Why 90% of college coaches monitor social mediaRed flags that immediately turn recruiters awayWhat athletes should be posting to stand outPlatform-specific tips for building a professional onli...
2025-07-2215 minTalkin' with the AD3 - The Truth About Travel Sports: What Every Parent Needs to KnowSend us Fan MailThinking about travel sports for your kid? Before you commit to that club soccer, AAU basketball, or travel baseball team, hit play on this episode of Talkin’ with the A.D.Coach Sullivan breaks down the rise of travel teams in youth sports, what they offer, what they really cost, and whether they’re worth the time, energy, and financial investment. From recruiting exposure and elite coaching to burnout, overuse injuries, and family strain, we unpack it all.If you...
2025-06-1525 minTalkin' with the AD2 - Love Blinders: Why Parents and Coaches See Games DifferentlySend us Fan MailYou love your kid—that’s not the issue. But sometimes, that deep love can cloud how we see their role on the team. In this episode, we dive into a phenomenon I call “Love Blinders”—the emotional lens parents often wear when watching their child compete. We’ll talk honestly about why playing time decisions are more complex than they appear, how parents and coaches see games differently, and how to support your athlete in a way that builds confidence, not entitlement.We’ll break down: ✅ What “Love Blinders” are and why they’re n...
2025-06-1516 minTalkin' with the AD1 - Welcome to Talkin’ with the A.D. – Your Backstage Pass to Amateur SportsSend us Fan MailStrap in for the very first episode of Talkin’ with the A.D., where host Coach Sullivan—20-year Army veteran, multi-sport coach, and current athletic director lays out the why, what, and how of this brand-new show. In just a few minutes you’ll learn:Who’s behind the mic: From combat zones to crowded bleachers, Coach Sullivan's journey and mission to make amateur sports the best classroom in America.Why this podcast exists: Pull back the curtain on athletic-director decisions, amplify coaches’ voices, and build healthier sideline cultures.
2025-06-0709 min
Educational AD PodcastEp #604 - Orlandus Thomas, AD at Intrinsic Schools in Chicago, ILWe sit down for a HIGH ENERGY visit with Orlandus Thomas - a CAA / RMSAA / RIAA - who is the AD at the Downtown Campus of Intrinsic High School in Chicago. Orlandus shares his journey plus some best practices on this episode of The Educational AD Podcast!
2024-10-251h 08