Off Duty ADs
181 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 62 ratingsThe Off Duty ADs are one active and two former high school athletic directors discussing the state of high school athletics today while they're off the clock. This podcast is intended for anyone within the world of high school athletics.
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Episodes
Changing Jobs, Kids These Days, and Easter Candy: Episode 178
April 08, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 82.5 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about the factors that go into changing jobs. They also discuss kids these days with standardized testing, going into education, and the Mt. Rushmore of Easter candy.
Solar Eclipses and Breakfast Cereals: Episode 177
March 25, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 61.2 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about the impact that the upcoming solar eclipse is having on school schedules. They also discuss their Mt. Rushmore of breakfast cereal. That's it. The solar eclipse and breakfast cereal.
Youth Sports Parenting (Again): Episode 176
March 11, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 72.6 MBThe Off Duty ADs again talk about one of their favorite topics: youth sports parenting. They also discuss growing the fandom of women's professional sports, a little bit of NIL affect, Mark brags about his kid for a while, and the Mt. Rushmore of Julia Roberts.
Vetoing Coaches' Cuts: Episode 175
February 26, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about when - or if - they would step in a veto a coach's decision about cuts. They also discuss managing team rules, give medical advice, poke at our brothers, and cover lots of Tom Hanks.
Managing Cuts and the Cutting Process: Episode 174
February 12, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 65.7 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about the high stress days associated with making program cuts, some of the cutting processes and procedures that have worked for our coaches in the past, our Mount Rushmore of Kevin Costner, and a home improvement project that quickly went sideways.
Winter Weather Decision-Making: Episode 173
January 29, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 54.6 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about how winter weather impacts game day decisions. They also discuss winter travel, managing gray-area weather decisions, Detroit, and a future Kevin Costner debate.
Seeking Professional Development Opportunities: Episode 172
January 15, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 65.7 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about seeking professional development opportunities. They also discuss a little bit of college athletes, middle school bus routes, their desert island album selection, and - of course - some fandom.
THROWBACK: Rewarding Job Aspects, Major League, and Tempter IPA: Episode 3
January 01, 2024 09:00 - 54 minutes - 54 MBThis episode was originally published on May 14, 2018. The Off Duty ADs talk about some of the more rewarding aspects of their jobs; Ryan likes beer and wings, hates fish water, and strives for apathy; Mike intros his favorite daily beverages including one from the Telluride Brewing Company, looks for officials on someone else's field, and never gets told "good game"; Mark rants about technology usage, talks about rapport with coaches and kids, and offers listeners a Sports Dork Would You ...
NCAA New Division Proposal: Episode 171
December 18, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 60.9 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about the proposal for a new, opt-in division to the NCAA. They also talk about youth sports halftimes, NIL and more trickle down to the high school level, and, of course, some fandom.
Ending the Fall Season: Episode 170
December 04, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about closing out the fall season. They also discuss a little bit of NIL and the transfer portal, revisit their soccer corner, and a lot of fandom.
Responding to Social Media Posts: Episode 169
November 20, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about responding to social media posts. They also discuss government interference in ticket sales, taking the bus to Abilene, and the return of alcohol to the pod.
Youth Sports Parents and the Prisoner's Dilemma: Episode 168
November 06, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about how parents are more-or-less stuck in today's youth sports climate. They also welcome in a guest and discuss ancient radios and TVs, wonder about Mike's Halloween costume, and introduce a new soccer segment.
Managing Coaches' Systems: Episode 167
October 23, 2023 05:01 - 1 hour - 61 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about managing coaches' systems, particulary when you don't agree with the coaches' systems. They also discuss plenty of fandom and our #1 fan, Mike's mom.
Homecoming and Big Events: Episode 166
October 10, 2023 04:54 - 1 hour - 51.2 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about hosting homecoming, rivalries, and other big events. They also discuss fireworks at games, supervising dances, and being old dads with young kids.
Program Messaging: Episode 165
September 25, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 53 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about the messaging from ADs and coaches following the Colorado vs. Colorado State football game, how impressive Mike's teams have been (if we ignore the White Sox), Ryan's Browns in live action, and whether Mike's mom prefers episodes with or without him.
Parents as Coaches: Episode 164
September 11, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about some of the pros and cons of hiring parents as coaches. They also discuss their own stubborn kids, Mike as the elder statesman of the pod, weather issues, and Nebraska volleyball.
Youth Sports Coaching: Episode 163
August 28, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 58.5 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about volunteer coaches in youth sports, the structure of youth sports, arthritis, little kid fights, and the American Gladiators.
NIL Deals: Episode 162
August 14, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 69.9 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about NIL deals in the collegiate and high school space and their effect on school transfers, various past collegiate athletes, and a selfish driver as a metaphor for Tim Anderson.
Hazing: Episode 161
July 31, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about staying engaged as a youth sports parent, hazing, and Kirk Cousins.
We're Back (Again): Episode 160
July 17, 2023 10:00 - 57 minutes - 59.8 MBThe AL Garbage, NL Garbage, hot dogs, PBR pounders, and the potential for regularly published episodes in our future.
Missing Uncle Bill: Episode 159
May 31, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 96.9 MBHey, look; an episode in 2023! It's a catch-up pod driven by the passing of our beloved #1 fan, Uncle Bill. We cover a lot of ground with our fandom - most of it negative - but the band was back together for a night.
Advanced Degrees and Female Coaches: Episode 158
August 10, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 77.1 MBMike was covided-out, so it's just Mark and Ryan talking about their bourbon collections, AD internships, female coaches and AD, not being ready to discuss Maverick yet, and Ryan's pseudo-ambulance driving skills.
Mark's New Job; Mike's New Baby: Episode 157
July 18, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 92 MBThe long-awaited post-July 1 episode includes additional good news from Mike about his Boy #2. After some initial chatter, Mark describes his last school year, and then Mike (of course) has to chat about the White Sox.
Dads Over 40, Baseball Stadiums, and NIL: Episode 156
June 23, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 48.3 MBIt's just Ryan and Mark today because Mike became a Dad x2! It takes a while, but the guys eventually get to some semi-professional content by chatting about NIL.
The Dog (or Horse?) and Pony Show of Professional Development: Episode 155
May 24, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 50.1 MBWe know it's Tuesday, but there are no rules anymore! Professional development, NIL, Rethinking Fandom, Candlebox, and the marching band.
Can You Be Friends With Sports Parents?: Episode 154
May 09, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 70.2 MBWe're back! It's a new format with the same nonsense: a little of this, a little of that, some things that might be helpful, and a lot that won't be. No guarantees for the time between this one and the next one, but for today, we're back.
We're Back (for today, at least): Episode 153
December 20, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 67.8 MBLike Arnold, Slim Shady, and Michael Scott, we're back. The people have demanded it, so we're delivering. Enjoy.
152 is Apparently our Limit: Episode 152
June 28, 2021 10:00 - 37 minutes - 30.8 MBThe Off Duty ADs say so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodnight. We also discuss our level of professionalism vs amateurism, the growth of HS AD podcasts, getting snubbed by the NIAAA, a handful of our longtime listeners, our t-shirt ideas, and a parting shot at Uncle Bill.
Association Roster Limits: Episode 151
June 14, 2021 10:00 - 57 minutes - 50.1 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about activities association imposed roster limits. They also discuss the impact of oversize rosters during the post-season, possible advantages to unlimited rosters, trying to compare sports rosters to classroom rosters, dollar and beyond dollar impacts, how we'd deal with unlimited rosters, youth baseball parents, and new legislation for Colorado.
Tax Funded Entities: Episode 150
May 31, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 52.8 MBThe Off Duty ADs engage in a thought exercise regarding the coordination of related tax-funded entities. They also discuss the White Sox and the Browns, overcoming the political gaps between schools and parks, the positives of turning over all programming to the schools, the positives of letting the city manage facilities, putting pride back into neighborhood teams, managing a full K-12 program, naming mountain towns in Colorado, two different officiating stories, and watching movies on qua...
Replacing OK Coaches: Episode 149
May 17, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 53.2 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about replacing perfectly OK coaches. They also discuss getting that first AD job, navigating internal personnel interest, balancing AD loyalty against recruiting high-level talent, combining teaching and coaching jobs, running into coaches at the grocery store, PE teachers, an almost really exciting volleyball match, a new cable cutting option, Quad Cities River Bandits, and jungle juice.
Student-Athlete Free Speech: Episode 148
May 03, 2021 10:00 - 56 minutes - 46.4 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about managing student free speech using a well-known current case as a starting point. They also recap a great story from Joe from Washington, how student free speech laws apply to athletes, kids these days and their snapchats and tiktoks, Ryan's MySpace, Coach Mike dealing with angry Mark, Mike's legal counsel, the new classic rock, and massive cans of good beverages from a Minnesota brewery.
Officials Shortage: Episode 147
April 19, 2021 10:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about the continued officials' shortage in many sports. They also discuss their month-long hiatus, Uncle Bill's critique of our eating habits, Mike and Siri, reaching the tipping point of lost officials compared to new officials, the difficulty with young officials getting started, competing with other leagues, Mark's wad of reffing cash, and a long trip to Florida that included many beers and a lost pair of shoes.
FLASHBACK - Exploratory sports: Episode 23
March 22, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 62.5 MBThe Off Duty ADs first talk about whose baseball team is worse then eventually get to exploratory sports at the youth level. Ryan empathizes with the parents of young athletes and kicks the tires on intramural programs; Mike wants people to understand there is no correlation between travel program success and the ability to play varsity sports and effectively summarizes exploratory sports today; Mark recognizes the difficulty in choosing public vs. private youth leagues and hates the word i...
Spring Break!: Episode 146
March 15, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 57.3 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about managing contests during spring break. They also discuss the Imogene Pass Run, Trevor Bauer, our historical sports game time machines, concerns about teams making long trips, crossing fingers to avoid bad decisions, when family causes a you gotta minute, stubborn dads, managing emergency absences, a podcast episode to check out, highballs and eight balls, and Mike's favorite tagline.
Evaluating Coaches During Covid: Episode 145
March 08, 2021 16:50 - 1 hour - 60.9 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about how they're evaluating coaches during covid-changed seasons. They also talk about Mark's episode patching skills, tater tot hotdish, air fryers, Arrested Development, FCS football, Big Ten Minute, changing evaluation topics, cattle on the train tracks, Mike's four components of coaching, learning what coaches value, potential loss of participation this spring, Star Wars stuff, "I know you're busy" messages, a walkout in Ohio, and a potential Montana vs. Kentucky ...
Listener Email with Various Topics: Episode 144
March 01, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 74.7 MBThe Off Duty ADs respond to a listener's questions. They also discuss recording without Mike last week, Big Ten Minute, FCS football, reporting ineligibilities in Covid (and normal) times, working with a part-time or no-time administrative assistant, parent feedback leading to growth, Mark's unfortunate interaction in a store, Ryan's fortunate interaction in a watering hole, Mike's movie moment at home, and a delicious Rogue Ales stout.
An AD as a Sane Youth Sports Parent: Episode 143
February 22, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 54.1 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about being a sane youth sports parent while also being an athletic director. They also discuss the cold weather across the Midwest, craft beverages, comparable college football and basketball teams, coaching your own kid's team, gauging your words and tone after contests, choosing your sports parent friends wisely, assessing the quality of your kid's volunteer coaches, switching jerseys while at home, little kid fandom, a creamsicle inspired ale, and bourbon tastebuds...
Accommodating Officials During Covid: Episode 142
February 15, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 65.7 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about accommodating officials during Covid restrictions. They also discuss small-town wrestling, Mike's family, a unique replay decision, Super Bowl incorrectness, Big 10 minute, various regulations for officials in our states, getting through the winter to make it to the spring, rescheduling games, an unfortunate injury to a colleague, Mark's variety pack review, and small colleges in Iowa.
Character and Student Awards: Episode 141
February 08, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about whether character should matter when selecting student awards. They also discuss Ryan's eye, the MLB Hall of Fame, coaches operating as the moral police, missing great athletes because they're "bad" people, trusting coaches with their nominations, new volunteers for game worker positions, Mark's Boy #4, karate fights in high school, Alone, new beers that are basically the same as old beers, and our sure to be wrong Super Bowl predictions.
The Relationship Between Coaches and Athletes: Episode 140
February 01, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 50.3 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about positive relationships between coaches and their athletes. They also discuss Ryan's Brownies, Uncle Bill, whether coaches need to be liked, being judged by character and competence, finding resources to improve relationship building, Mike's library, coaches as teachers, rebuilding coaches who have "lost it," referee motivation, running trails that fight back, and another Kentucky bourbon.
Coaches' Improvement Plans: Episode 139
January 25, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about putting coaches on improvement plans. They also discuss responding to emails, marshmallow beer, music for babies, Drew Brees and Tom Brady, Urban and the Jags, using or not using formal improvement plans, improving comparing to terminating, leopards or zebras, parent complaints leading to improvement plans, being a parent AD, the benefits of covid changes, Alone, a great bourbon from Iowa, and some really bad Super Bowl predicitions.
Facility Thoughts Amid the Covid Pandemic: Episode 138
January 18, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 49.5 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about some of the changes and concerns that surround their current facility policies. They also talk about the Brownies, college football coaches, a D3 football legend, volunteer coaches, co-op obstacles for athletes, concern around youth wrestling programs without a facility, getting stuck in comparisons to neighbors, managing rental requests, out of season usage, asking our callers for advice, and beers from Mike's trip to Tucson.
What is Failure?: Episode 137
January 11, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 42.9 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about defining failure and how to manage those definitions. They also discuss running shoes, 2020 vocabulary, Cincinnati, how (or if) any amount of winning and losing correlates to failure, the difference between individuals or teams failing, the difference between failure at the college/pro and high school levels, locker room music favorites, Ryan's continued venture into bourbon, and Harry Potter.
Budget Cuts: Episode 136
January 04, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 54.5 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about potential upcoming budget cuts. They also discuss Ryan's fundraiser and 1,000 mile run, recent fandom sadness, comparing reduced expenditure differences within self-sufficient or general fund based departments, philosophically managing cuts, using intramurals to take pressure off of participation opportunities, reducing levels of competition, avoiding program cuts, REM and Silverchair, Wheat Penny whiskey, and the quickest ending ever.
NADC Recap and Office Parties: Episode 135
December 28, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 53.4 MBThe Off Duty ADs recap the National AD Conference then sidetrack into holiday office parties. They also discuss Iowa missing the Outback Bowl, Mike's mom, missing chit-chat at the NADC, keeping some virtual aspects to future conferences, gifts at season end banquets, skipping office parties, winter sports still moving around, being Smartless, and Ryan's whiskey collection.
Just Three Fans Talking About Football: Episode 134
December 21, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 78.1 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about college football. That's pretty much it. There are maybe a couple other things in the episode somewhere, but we're pretty much just three fans sitting around chatting about football. Seriously...it's pretty much all fandom in this episode.
Balancing Development and Winning: Episode 133
December 14, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 66.8 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about how to balance the concepts of developing individual players alongside winning as a team. They also discuss the magic of the McRib, Uncle Bill's promotion, wrestlers shaking hands, the Columbus Crew, Davey O'Brien award winners, playing kids out of position, finding the best result for each kid, the Dunning-Kruger effect in youth sports, Mark's portrayal of a pirate, and relating the Browns to a tornado warning.
What's in a Pause?: Episode 132
December 07, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 53 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about the current pauses, delays, and suspensions of their winter sports. They also discuss the absence of Mike from CO, Big Ten Minute, listener emails, making up games, fitting competition into the safety discussion, in-person learning, how Everclear relates to winter sports, color coding, casual profanity, traveling with kids, Squatter's Brewery, and Mark's family getting ready to move to the other end of the block.
Enjoying Our Jobs a Little Bit: Episode 131
November 23, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 57 MBThe Off Duty ADs talk about some of the things they've been thankful for in their profession this year. They also discuss the return of Uncle Bill, MACtion, a little bit of covid update, appreciating our colleagues within and outside our districts, enjoying problem-solving, learning what's significant, our favorite (and Mike's least favorite) fictional Presidents, and a pepperminty porter for the holidays.