Welcome to Trustees and Presidents: A Podcast for University Leaders On College Athletics
A Podcast for University Leaders On College Athletics

Audio Podcasts

Feb. 13, 2023

New Research Shows Sports Betting Mobile Apps Are Cannibalizing Casin…

For the 2023 Super Bowl alone, an estimated $16 billion was spent on legalized gambling, including mobile apps, live casinos and other technologies. With 21 states now allowing gambling on sports, the activity is in its infan...

Listen to the Episode
Feb. 10, 2023

Just what are a college athlete's rights when it comes to the First A…

"In 2014, Noriana Radwan, then a women’s soccer player at the University of Connecticut (“UConn”) and recipient of a one-year athletic scholarship, raised her middle finger to a television camera during her team’s post-game c...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 28, 2023

Michigan State Swimmers Lost The Battle But May Have Won The War-A Co…

When the news broke that both the women’s and men’s swimming programs at Michigan State would be cut in October 2020, there was shock and sadness. Citing declining department revenue resources available in the early days of t...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 22, 2023

Former Boise State President Bob Kustra Discusses A President's "Lear…

Boise State burst on the to the national stage in football over 20 years ago and made a mark few non-Power 5 schools have done. From the famous "Blue Turf" in the stadium, to 3 Fiesta Bowl victories, football put a regional s...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 16, 2023

"For a President, Athletics Should Be a Hand's On Endeavor"-A Convers…

When a college leader assumes his/her presidency for the first time, I've often wondered how they begin to understand the complexities of college athletics. Nearly 90% of sitting presidents rise to the position from the acade...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 1, 2022

Financial Data And Conference Realignment: How Can A College Presiden…

Today's podcast is particularly timely as Presidents are often approached by boosters, conference commissioners and others with ideas of "elevating the schools profile" by changing Conferences. The whole concept of "Conferenc...

Listen to the Episode
Oct. 24, 2022

In Today's Economy, Careers in College Athletics and Higher Ed Should…

The trend of higher education employees leaving their jobs before they have been offered another is an under-mentioned aspect of the “Great Resignation”. Whether the reason could be due to caregiving for a family member or fr...

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 29, 2022

Athletic Departments Need To Ensure Their Athletes Are Safe-What Pres…

A nightmare occurred at the University of Maryland in 2018 when freshman football player Jordan McNair died of heatstroke after an offseason practice. The confluence of events caused this nightmare scenario—a warm, humid day ...

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 5, 2022

What College Presidents Need To Know About The Billion Dollar Media L…

With the Big Ten Conference signed a brand-new media rights contract worth $1.23 billion annually, all of college sports took notice. Exceeding the NCAA’s March Madness contract, the Big Ten will soon deliver between $70 and ...

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 2, 2022

Who's Responsible for Making Sure An Academic Scandal Never Happens A…

When the news broke in 2010 of an academic scandal on the campus of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, at first involving members of the football team, few knew that the issue would eventually expand to include ...

Listen to the Episode
July 31, 2022

Division III Transformation and Change Ahead-A Conversation With Empi…

With all the talk about Division I undergoing massive transformation, what is going in NCAA Divisions II and III? According to my guest, Chuck Mitrano , long-time commissioner of the Empire 8 Conference in New York, quite a b...

Listen to the Episode
July 4, 2022

A New President Leads The Smallest DI Campus In The Nation

“Higher education institutions across the country are contending with significant headwinds. However, with a shared sense of purpose, a creative spirit, and sustained focus, PC can emerge stronger than ever and build a tremen...

Listen to the Episode
June 19, 2022

For West Coast Conference, ‘Russell Rule’ Shows Early Promise In Dive…

Two years ago, America was embroiled in racial and social justice protests, kicked off by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis by a police officer. Higher education, like so many other industries, took the opportunity to...

Listen to the Episode
June 8, 2022

The Incentives in College Athletics Are Backwards-Mental Health of At…

Over the past few months, there have been at least five high-profile student athlete suicides on campuses across the nation. It’s a frightening and sobering trend that requires colleges and universities to take a serious look...

Listen to the Episode
May 8, 2022

Disruptive Thinking in the New Era of Higher Education: A Conversatio…

Since the Great Recession of 2008-2010, enrollment in Pennsylvania's 14-campus state university system has notably changed, with some campuses growing in enrollment, and others losing students precipitously. The Commonwealth'...

Listen to the Episode
April 30, 2022

What's the Deal with NIL Collectives? Mit Winter, Attorney and Nation…

NIL Collectives have exploded in the last few months. Defined as a group of donors/boosters/fans and others who pool their money to reward a college athlete for enrolling/succeeding or transferring to your favorite school, th...

Listen to the Episode
April 9, 2022

The Cinderella Effect on March Madness-What a Magical Run Through The…

We’re coming off a spectacular 2022 season called March Madness, where all of America stops and pays attention to college basketball, whether its men’s or women’s. If we’re lucky, fans can be treated to magical moments, even ...

Listen to the Episode
March 21, 2022

Two Former Presidents Discuss Leadership, the Presidency, and Definin…

Jonathan Holloway, the President at Rutgers University, recently gave a speech to the Faculty Senate at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, a member of the Big Ten Conference. The speech caught national attention when he told t...

Listen to the Episode
March 17, 2022

Holden Thorp Looks Back on UNC and The Myth of "The Carolina Way"

There are a few moments in the life of a university where an event overtakes the local and national narrative about who and what your campus represents. When the news broke in 2010 of an academic scandal on the campus of the ...

Listen to the Episode
March 11, 2022

Now Is The Time For HBCUs To Elevate Their Brands-A Conversation With…

Colleges and Universities are always seeking partnerships to extend their brand via brand marks, brand identity, logos, colors, etc. All form the tool kit for Chief Marketing Officers and Athletic Departments to raise awarene...

Listen to the Episode
March 7, 2022

When It Comes To Big-Time College Sports, Penn State’s New President …

Today, more than ever, it is crucial for colleges and universities to hire the right leaders for the right moment in time. Higher Education is facing many complex challenges, and finding the person to lead your campus through...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 31, 2022

Would a Version of a "Luxury Tax" Work for College Sports? What About…

As far as Division I sports are concerned, the next few months are where the sausage gets made. Division I’s Transformation Group , led by the SEC's Greg Sankey and Ohio U's Julie Cromer, will have to get into the nitty-gritt...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 24, 2022

An Inside Look At The Partnership Between a DI Commissioner And The P…

As the NCAA concluded an historic convention this month, much uncertainty surrounds its future. There are those naysayers who believe the NCAA should be disbanded and college athletics should start over again; some believe th...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 22, 2022

Is Your Athletics Director Proposing To Drop Sports To Save Money? Te…

In 2020, Clemson University attempted to drop a bunch of sports, including men’s track and field. Minnesota did the same thing with four sports (including both indoor and outdoor track and field), and ended up dropping indoor...

Listen to the Episode