Looking Back: The Best Of College AD In 2016

To say 2016 was a big year for us at College AD would be an understatement. We made new friends, learned some new tricks, and most importantly, we tried to listen to what our readers wanted. Because of that, we have some big plans for 2017, but it just wouldn’t be right if we didn’t take one last look back at the year that was.

Below are five of the most popular articles and series we published this year. If you missed them when they originally went live, take a look. You might like what you read.

We hope you had a great 2016, and from all of us at College AD, we hope you have an even better New Year.

 

Six Interview Questions Every Athletic Director Candidate Should Be Asked

Karen Gross has written some great articles for us, but this one seemed to get the best response from our readers. Not only does she offer insight into how a University President thinks, (or at least should think) but Karen raises some thoughtful points about ethics and processes that every current and aspiring athletic director should read.

 

Can Snapchat Ruin a College Sports Career?

Social media seems to be the issue du jour, but this year a new leader emerged in the pearl clutching clubhouse. Snapchat is new, it’s unfiltered, and it’s coming for our children. Honestly, it’s not quite that dramatic, but it is something administrators should be wary of. Like Twitter and Facebook and MySpace before it, Snapchat is another tool in the media-sphere surrounding your athletes and program. Learn to use it yourself, but more importantly, teach your players about its pitfalls.

 

NEXT UP Presented By Teamworks

This was the first year for our NEXT UP series, and needless to say, it was a huge hit. As much as we would like to take credit for it, the real accolades need to go the recipients themselves, and the current and former athletic directors across the country who nominated senior administrators and provided quotes for the series. It’s only been a few short months, but we’re already seeing a number of NEXT UP recipients show up in AD searches. Keep and eye on this bunch. They’re going places.

 

Is There A Cultural Problem In Women’s Basketball?

If there was one article that touched a nerve this year, it was Javier Morales’ look at the cultural issues in women’s basketball. The word that kept popping up in conversations and social media mentions about the article? Entitlement. All across the country, people are seeing the same thing, and it’s not just a women’s basketball issue. Football, baseball, even hockey were brought up when discussing the changing culture of college athletics. As much as it is on the coaches and administrators to adapt and create paths for this new generation to succeed, the consensus seems to be that some players just don’t want to be a part of the solution.

 

Torchbearers Presented By SM2

If there was one article or series I enjoyed producing this year, it would be Torchbearers. The conversations we had with the women we recognized were both insightful and entertaining. We were lucky enough to hear from 30-year SWAs, conference commissioners, newly minted leaders, and everyone in between. Each story has its own message, and if they are any indication, the future is bright.