Marilyn McNeil | Director of Athletics | Monmouth University (Part 1)

@1QLeadership Question: Can the Faculty Athletics Representative's (FAR) role overlap with their research and professorial responsibilities?

As a Faculty Athletics Representative at Texas Tech, Professor Brian Shannon is responsible for advocating for student-athlete welfare. While his primary teaching responsibility is contract law, he focuses his policy and research work on mental health law, an area he has been researching for a lifetime due to his family experience with mental illness. 

Professor Shannon explains that mental illness patients often get caught in the criminal justice system without receiving treatment. He also emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between having a mental illness and dealing with mental health challenges. As mental health is a top issue faced by NCAA student-athletes, the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices are continuously updated to provide support. - One Question Leadership Podcat - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: Is the path to the athletics director chair always the same?

Sharief Hashim, Director of Athletics at Susquehanna University stopped by 1Q to talk about his journey from recreation director to college athletics director. From assistant basketball coach to interim athletics director, Hashim has navigated his career through passion and purpose.

• working with people
• leading adults
• servant leadership
• understanding business

Hashim's leadership principles include having empathy, understand your leadership style, and get outside of your comfort zone. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: What can college athletics teach us about retention rates?

We asked the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Chancellor, Dr. Jim Schmidt, about the importance of athletics on a college campus. He gave us insight from research done at UW-Eau Claire which says there are key components that exists in college sports that can translate to higher retention if applied to campus in general.

• Meet students where they are academically, socially, mentally
• Sense of belonging
• Upperclass mentors
• Trusted adults
• Community

At UW-Eau Claire, Black men who are student-athletes have a retention rate in the 90% range, while those of the same group who aren't athletes have a retention rate in the 70% range. Chancellor Schmidt talks about the goals and community strategies the school has put in place to focus on each student. He also talks about how a $70 million athletics facility helps to accomplish those goals. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: How does donor feedback and creativity fit in fundraising?

We asked Alvin Hines II, Sr. Associate Athletics Director at FAU, about athletics fundraising. The key topics covered were how his personality fits within the specific niche of athletic development, what is the process of fundraising in an athletics department, and how much input do donors (and potential donors) have in how funds should be used.

• Personality is a big factor in fundraising
• Season ticket holders are a starting point
• Many big ideas come from donors
• Donors will most likely support their own ideas

Hines notes that one of the biggest jobs of a fundraiser is to leverage your current assets, whether that be under utilized space to events that already exist. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

1QLeadership Question: When should a coach or administrator hire an agent?

Garry Rosenfield, Coaches Agent for Coaches Inc., stops by 1Q to discuss his process for valuing coaches contracts and why he believes agents are an asset in terms of representation.

• Football sets the standard for contracts across sports
• Women's Volleyball has the biggest potential
• Process for valuation varies across schools
• Counsel can be necessary beyond negotiating contracts

While many people think agents are only hired for money, jobs, and contracts, Rosenfield believes representation is also necessary for counsel on many of the things required that allow a coach to focus on being a successful coach. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: Would an 'NIT type' event make sense considering the new College Football Playoff structure?

Sean Frazier, VP & Director of Athletics at NIU, stops by 1Q to discuss a few items on his mind as college athletics continues to evolve. 

• Clandestine Transfer Portal activities
• Value of bowl games
• 'NIT type' event tied to the College Football Playoff
• Antitrust thoughts
• Positive outlook in college athletics

Frazier has led NIU athletics for over a decade and continues to provide insight, mentorship, and leadership in the industry. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: Is a Division I athletics director job always the goal?

1Q guest host Dr. Monique Carroll of Chicago State asks Point University VP of Intercollegiate Athletics, Jaunelle White, about leading the athletics department at an NAIA institution after a career of working in NCAA D1. 

• If an opportunity aligns, explore it
• Trust your intuition
• Continue to add to your toolbox
• Have an elite mentality no matter where you are

White discusses building trust with staff, relationships with student-athletes, and hiring as Carroll provides context with questions from a fellow athletics director's perspective. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: Should interns specialize in one area or learn as much as they can about everything?

NCAA Post Graduate Intern (and 1Q guest host) Kendee Hilliard asked Rose-Hulman Athletics Director Ayanna Tweedy about the choice between specialization or getting broad experience during the early developmental years in one's career.

• Be multifaceted
• Say yes to everything
• Learn as much as possible
• Allows you to understand what is needed later

Tweedy brings her insight and experience to the conversation as Hilliard launches her career in intercollegiate athletics. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

1QLeadership Question: How does being a woman in football operations intersect with the servant leader mindset?

1Q guest host Mattie White asked Jashell Mitchell, Chief of Staff for Football Operations at Jackson State, about her roles in football and her progression as a leader in college athletics. With extensive experience in operations and a sharp focus on people and details, Mitchell has been recognized as a Rising Executive in the college athletics industry.

• Embrace the role of a woman on staff
• Thrive in people development
• Thrive in off the field details
• Servant mindset
• Consistency

Jashell has worked for legendary coaches, spent time in the NFL, and is very passionate about her home community of Flint, Michigan. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown - Mattie White

1QLeadership Question: What does it take to be a university's first Director of Athletics?

We asked Darnell Smith, Director of Athletics at Texas A&M-San Antonio, about the process of starting an athletics department. The school did not have varsity sports prior to Smith's arrival. 

• Create a vision
• Hire coaches and staff
• Establish a way to fund the department
• Join a governing body
• Ensure compliance
• Create culture

Darnell smith started as the only person in the department and has hired everyone who is currently a part of the staff. Culture and leadership development are major aspects of his process. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown