From The Chair with Mike Hamilton

Today’s “From the Chair” features Big Sky Commissioner, Tom Wistrcill. Tom and I talk about the tenure of ADs today, how time on campus guides his decisions as a Commissioner, the increased value of FCS Football, and the state of college Athletics. All that and much more. Listen in to this week’s episode of FTC! 

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Joining this week's "From the Chair" is with Georgia Tech AD J Batt. J and I discuss his leadership transition, two key hires in his early tenure, a landmark naming rights deal, mentors both in college athletics and industry leaders among other topics. J provides some really good feedback on the importance of watching coaches "coach" as monumental in a search. Listen in...

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Today’s “From the Chair” features Mountain West Commissioner, Gloria Nevarez. Gloria talks about the evolution of the responsibility of the Conference offices, her work around the Russell Rule, Conference Realignment, and the student-athlete experience today. All that and much, much more. Listen in to this week’s episode of FTC! 

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Today’s “From the Chair” features UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. Bubba talks about “fit” as it relates to administrators, coaches, student athletes and how to integrate and balance that with their strategic objectives. We also discuss traditions, younger staff turnover in the industry, great coaches, consistent championship performance and resource allocation. All that and much, much more. Listen in as we kick...

This week's "From the Chair" guest is Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart. Mitch and I unpack the Wildcats' Five Guiding Principles, their genesis and how they inform culture and drive decisions in Lexington. We talk about UK success in the LEARFIELD Directors Cup, an intentional focus on student athletes, key staff who have gone on to lead other athletic departments around the country, reflections on 25+ years in the chair and muc...

Today's "From the Chair" guest is University of Colorado AD Rick George. Rick discusses his very interesting and diverse career and common leadership themes learned across college athletics, the PGA Tour and MLB. We also look at tenets of success seen in his work colleagues Coach Bill McCartney and Nolan Ryan. As expected, we dive into the process of hiring Coach Prime and all that has meant to the Colorado Football progra...

Today's featured guest on "From the Chair" is Wyoming Director of Athletics Tom Burman. We talk about Tom's 22-year history at the University, sixteen as AD. We get the story behind Wyoming's unique logo that is also the state's logo and how the campus navigates that dynamic. We discuss fundraising and the current campaign to add over $140M in new facilities, the power of teaching and mentorship, mental health and well-bei...

Today's "From the Chair" guest is Janet Cone, Director of Athletics at UNC-Asheville. Janet discusses her evolution as a leader, the value of strategic planning and results tracking, progress and shortcomings in gender and equity issues and Asheville's robust mentorship program. We close with a shout out to the success of this year's Bulldog Basketball team and highlight a couple of the young men on the squad. That and mor...

Joining this week's "From the Chair" is JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne. Jeff and I cover off on industry legends Dave Braine and Dutch Baughman, discuss JMU's move from FCS to FBS, the planning process entering the Sun Belt and resulting success. We also touch on the national discussion around waivers for participation in championships and bowl games during a transition phase. We visit the very tough topic of a stud...

Joining this week's "From the Chair" is Grambling AD, Dr Trayvean Scott. Trayvean and I discuss Grambling's legendary Coach Eddie Robinson and well known alum Doug Williams. We talk about his hire of Hue Jackson and other "celebrity" hires in HBCU ranks. We discuss the surge of attention around HBCU Athletics, the NBA HBCU Classic, the unique culture of HBCU institutions, the presence and support of HBCU collegiate bands, ...

This week's "From the Chair" features legendary Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione. Joe hits on a quarter of a century in the chair at OU, over 30 former staff members who have gone on to be ADs and the common hiring themes, search process, building a tradition of consistency and winning across all sports, how he stays connected with student-athletes, OU’s move to the SEC and much more…

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This week's "From the Chair" features Delaware AD Chrissi Rawak. We start with a discussion about mascots and helmets. We hit on Chrissi's additional responsibility for all of campus recreation, how she has compiled a university and community-wide support structure for Blue Hen athletes and operating and leading out of strategy and core values. A great conversation about direction, sustainable growth and continuity, cultur...

A special episode this week on "From the Chair" as we feature WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. Danielle reveals all that she learned about leadership and life from legendary coach Pat Summitt, helping to launch and lead the WNBA's Atlanta Dream, serving in leadership roles at the Big East and the American and then agreeing to serve as the ED of the WBCA. We talk about the WBCA's role and purpose in women's basketb...

Wake Forest AD John Currie joins this week's edition of "From the Chair." John highlights Ron Wellman opening the door to college athletics for him and we discuss his stops at Wake, Tennessee and K-State before returning to WFU as AD. We talk institutional alignment, donor impact, touting the "Best Fan Experience In NC," what he learned from stepping away for a short season, his thoughts on the most important characteristi...

Joining this week's episode of "From the Chair" features Florida Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin. Scott discusses learning from each stop along his career path and the people who had impact along the way, such as Mitch Barnhart and David Housel. We talk about Jeremy Foley, Steve Spurrier, Jay Jacobs and other colleagues in Gainesville. We look at hiring the right people, what makes a great communicator, managing a si...

Joining this week's "From the Chair" is Utah AD Mark Harlan. Mark discusses back to back PAC12 Football Championships and visits to the Rose Bowl. We visit about the unique success Utah has achieved in the sports of skiing and gymnastics as well as the continued growth and high level of success in academics. We touch on following Dr Chris Hill’s 31 year AD run at Utah and Mark’s mentors Dick Tomey and Dan Guerrero. As to c...

Joining today’s “From the Chair” episode is Appalachian State AD Doug Gillin. We discuss AppSt’s very successful transition from FCS to FBS over the last several years, scheduling philosophy, a $100M fundraising initiative for facilities, changes within the Sun Belt, Mike Alden’s impact on his and other's careers, and some thoughts on the MMR business, NIL and more.....

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Joining today's "From the Chair" is the President/CEO of LEAD1, Tom McMillen. Tom has an incredibly interesting story including being the top high school basketball recruit in the country, holding Maryland's highest scoring average even today, finishing as the top graduate in his class at Maryland, a Rhodes Scholar and a first round NBA draft pick. Tom takes time to discuss the '72 Olympics in Munich, the terrorist attacks...