NIAAA Pulse: The Beat of Interscholastic Athletics

We cover all things related to the NIAAA, athletic administrators, and education-based athletics.

56th NADC Preview with Becky Moran 12/04/2025

56th NADC Preview with Becky Moran It's that time of year! Of course, the holidays are near, but the 56th National Athletic Directors Conference (NADC) is right around the corner. Whether you're joining us in Tampa, Florida or not, get up to date on this year's NADC and what you can expect from our annual gathering. || || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/39279260

Surviving the First Year as a High School Athletics Director 11/10/2025

Surviving the First Year as a High School Athletics Director On this episode of the NIAAA Pulse, Justin is joined by Kat Williams, CAA to discuss her article in the Fall 2025 IAA, "Surviving the First Year as a High School Athletics Director." Together, they cover the importance of communication, setting clear goals, prioritzing tasks, and more! Follow us on: || || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/38984190

A First-Hand Look at the QPA with Andrea Bell and Josh Mathews 09/04/2025

A First-Hand Look at the QPA with Andrea Bell and Josh Mathews The NIAAA's Quality Program Assessment (QPA) is growing and we have Andrea Bell and Josh Mathews on the pod this week to discuss their recent experiences of completing the QPA! Andrea is the District Assistant Athletic Director at Greenville School District and Josh is the Athletic Administrator at Pope High School. The District QPA Cohort opens this Sunday, September 7 – if you qualify and are interested, make sure to apply! Follow us on: || || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/38084695

NIAAA Updates and News with Phil Rison 08/20/2025

NIAAA Updates and News with Phil Rison Justin is joined by NIAAA Executive Director Phil Rison, CMAA for the first time on the pod! Together, they go over the NIAAA 6th Strategic Plan finalization, 2024-2025 membership numbers, and NIAAA U Cohort updates! Plus, a new legal services form was approved by the Board of Directors for members to use as a resource. Follow us on: || || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/37892300

The Key to Success: Onboarding of New Coaches with Dena Scott and Lyndsay Watts 07/15/2025

The Key to Success: Onboarding of New Coaches with Dena Scott and Lyndsay Watts Let's talk about onboarding coaches! Justin is joined by Dena Scott and Lyndsay Watts to go over their article from the Summer 2025 IAA. Together, they talk about how crucial expectation setting is, ongoing support for coaches, and making sure they feel welcomed to your program. Follow us on: || || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/37413965

The Parent-Coach-Athlete Triangle with Don Baker 06/11/2025

The Parent-Coach-Athlete Triangle with Don Baker We're diving into the triangle offense of education-based relationships! Our guest Don Baker, CMAA wrote an article in our Summer 2025 IAA titled "The Parent-Coach-Athlete Triangle," detailing how each individual relationship in this triangle is extremely important in their own way. We'll break it all down with Don and he'll give us some examples along the way! Follow us on: || || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/36943375

Leveling the Playing Field 05/20/2025

Leveling the Playing Field When it comes to girls' sports in interscholastic athletics, on the surface it appears they have equal opportunties compared to boys. In reality, there may be small things beneath the surface that communicate something different to the girls in an athletic department. Authors Dr. Tim Green and Dr. Allison Kelley talk in-depth about this topic in an article in the Summer 2025 IAA. Join us as we discuss the article and more together! Follow us on: || || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/36644890

Advocating for Additional Resources with Jeff Sullivan 04/03/2025

Advocating for Additional Resources with Jeff Sullivan We're talking with Jeff Sullivan on how you as an athletic administrator can advocate for more resources! What does that practically look like? How long can advocating for resources take? How can you explain to leadership why athletics should be funded? We discuss these questions and more. Make sure to read Jeff's article in the Spring 2025 IAA! Follow us on: || || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/35993150

NIAAA President Steve Throne Joins the Pod! 03/03/2025

NIAAA President Steve Throne Joins the Pod! Justin is joined by the 2025 NIAAA Board President, Steve Throne, CMAA. They discuss the future of the NIAAA and athletic administration as a whole, as well as getting to know Steve a little better. Follow us on: || || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/35517340

Myths of Work-Life Balance with Lauren McDaniel and Cole Kanyer 02/07/2025

Myths of Work-Life Balance with Lauren McDaniel and Cole Kanyer Most athletic directors probably have had a tough time, at point or another, balancing their personal life with their work life. Lauren and Cole, authors of the Winter 2023 IAA article "Myths of Work and Personal Life Balance for Athletic Administrators," break down five myths ADs should know about when it comes to this topic. Follow us on: || || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/35180355

Previewing the NIAAA's 6th Strategic Plan with Lanness Robinson 12/15/2024

Previewing the NIAAA's 6th Strategic Plan with Lanness Robinson Lanness Robinson, CMAA and general chair of the NIAAA's 6th Strategic Plan, hops on with us today in person from Austin, Texas at the 55th National Athletic Directors Conference! We reflect on the 5th Strategic Plan, look towards the future of the NIAAA, and invite members to stay involved with the 6th Strategic Plan as it gets finalized this upcoming year. /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/34459530

Why attend the 55th NADC? 11/13/2024

Why attend the 55th NADC? We're joined by Becky Moran, CMAA today – associate executive director at the NIAAA – and discuss several key aspects of the National Athletic Directors Conference and why it's so important to attend. It takes place December 13-17, 2024 and all athletic directors or aspiring athletic directors are welcome! Register: Follow us on: | | | Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/33919482

Recruiting and Retaining Coaches 10/01/2024

Recruiting and Retaining Coaches In the world of athletic administration, you can argue that your coaches are the most important part of your program. How do you create a culture where you can attract coaches and keep them on staff? Justin talks with Trish Betthauser, CMAA from Illinois to talk through her article titled "" from the Spring 2024 IAA. Follow us on: || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/33284842

The Importance of a Positive PA Announcer 09/05/2024

The Importance of a Positive PA Announcer Justin is joined by Rob Seymour, CMAA, one of the athletic directors at Fishers High School in Indianapolis, IN. Rob's article, titled details why PA announcers can be so crucial to the experience of at an athletic event. It's also written in memory of former Fishers PA announcer, Wes Shealey, who passed in 2023. Follow us on: || || || Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/32899852

A New NIAAA Committee 08/01/2024

A New NIAAA Committee During the July NIAAA Board meetings, a new Health and Wellness Committee was approved. Justin is joined by the chair Mark White, CMAA and Jeremy Schlitz, CAA to discuss the purpose of the comittee, why it was created, and how members can get involved. Music Track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/32386472

Establishing a Coaches Academy 07/01/2024

Establishing a Coaches Academy How do you get new coaches prepared to coach in your school/district? Justin is joined by Kechia Rowles, CMAA, director of athletics for Rockdale County Public Schools in Georgia. She shares with us what all is entailed in a coaches academy and how you can get started with one if you're interested. Read the article: Music track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/31933552

Do Sports Build Character? 06/03/2024

Do Sports Build Character? In this episode we're joined by Jon Winer, CMAA – athletic administrator at CREC School District in Connecticut and a member of the NIAAA Publications Committee. We discuss his article published in the Spring 2024 IAA magazine titled "" including the eight examples he gives on how to build character, why he wrote this article, and how his school has been impacted. Music track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/31552162

Intro to NIAAA Pulse 05/02/2024

Intro to NIAAA Pulse In this intro episode, we dive into what type of content to expect with the NIAAA Pulse podcast and talk through what the NIAAA is if you're new. NIAAA website: National Athletic Directors Conference website: Intro and outro song: Stadium Rock - Pufino Music track: Stadium Rock by Pufino Source: https://freetouse.com/music Free Background Music for Videos /episode/index/show/7f23b0d4-c7ee-49bc-b88f-b67c93f168c4/id/31092238

NIAAA Pulse: The Beat of Interscholastic Athletics

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