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Artwork for Trustees and Presidents: A Podcast for University Leaders On College Athletics

Trustees and Presidents: A Podcast for University Leaders On College Athletics

Dr. Karen Weaver
College Athletics
NCAA
NIL
Title IX
NIL Contracts
Higher Education
NCAA Division II
Big Ten Conference
Private Equity
Athletics
Sports Betting
Women's Sports
UNC Chapel Hill
Sports Broadcasting Act
Division I Athletics
NCAA External Gender Equity Review Report
Transfer Portal
Revenue Generation
Fiduciary Duty
University Of Kentucky

Hosted by Karen Weaver, EdD, she interviews key leaders, stakeholders and those impacting the business of college sports and higher education. From Division I to Divisions II and III, senior campus leaders now have a chance to learn about the challenges nearly every institution is facing post-pandemic. Today, athletics plays an even more crucial role in enrollment, retention, alumni donations, cam... more

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Artwork for Trustees and Presidents: A Podcast for University Leaders On College Athletics

Latest Episodes

Brittany Wagner, the academic advisor whose work at East Mississippi Community College became the soul of Netflix's Last Chance U, joins Karen Weaver to go beyond the cameras. Wagner reflects on unexpected fame, the life-skills coaching that shaped h... more

For more info about the certificate program: www.gse.upenn.edu/events/information-session-new-athletics-enterprise-certificate-program

"General manager" used to mean one thing. On a college campus in 2026, it means at least two, and the diff... more

Universities created the conferences. Conferences exist to serve universities, not to control them.

That's the argument Chris Bevilacqua made in a June Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed, and where this conversation begins. As Congress weighs the Protect C... more

Most university presidents are reacting to the upheaval in college athletics. Dr. Elizabeth "Betsy" Cantwell is running scenarios on it — a habit she picked up long before higher ed.

Before she became Washington State University's 12th president (an... more

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Recent Guests

Kristi Dosh
Forbes Sports Business contributor and founder of the Business of College Sports
Business of College Sports
Episode: What Does a General Manager Actually Do in College Sports?
Scott Woodruff
General Manager for Playfly, Villanova University relationship
Playfly
Episode: What Does a General Manager Actually Do in College Sports?
Chris Bevilacqua
Entrepreneur and media/tech veteran in college sports, founder of CSTV and related ventures
Former CSTV founder / media executive
Episode: Chris Bevilacqua Says Colleges Have Gone Silent on Congress — and Are Sitting on Untapped Media Value
Elizabeth Betsy Cantwell
President of Washington State University, focused on athletics as a central priority
Washington State University
Episode: WSU's Betsy Cantwell: Stop Reacting to College Athletics. Start Designing It
Jim Borchers
President and CEO of the US Council for Athletes' Health; Chief Medical Officer of the Big Ten Conference
US Council for Athletes' Health; Big Ten Conference
Episode: Surprise! There's A Campus-Wide Gambling Crisis You May Not Know About
Lindsey Mortenson
Executive Director and Chief Mental Health Officer at the University Health and Counseling Center, University of Michigan; college psychiatrist
University of Michigan Health and Counseling Center
Episode: Surprise! There's A Campus-Wide Gambling Crisis You May Not Know About
Sara Custer
Editor-in-Chief of Inside Higher Ed, columnist covering higher education and athletics
Inside Higher Ed
Episode: Surprise! There's A Campus-Wide Gambling Crisis You May Not Know About
Dr. Blake Flanders
Former CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents
Kansas Board of Regents
Episode: Boards Stayed Out of Athletics. Blake Flanders Says That's Over.
Roger Thompson
President, Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California
Episode: Cinderella Doesn't Make the Bracket: Inside the Fight Over the House Cap

Host

Karen Weaver
Host of the podcast and interviewer

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 16 ratings
  • Essential!

    This is absolutely essential for anyone in higher education & college sports. Quick episodes but they are rich in the most essential and up-to-date Information.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jlhoffmanphd
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Essential listening for higher education and college sports governance; concise but information-rich.
Listeners note practical insights into budgeting, governance, and accountability.
Strong praise for high-quality, actionable discussions that inform leadership decisions.
Audiences appreciate guest diversity and real-world governance perspectives.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Boards Stayed Out of Athletics. Blake Flanders Says That's Over.
Q: How should boards approach changes in athletics, such as conference realignment or private equity deals?
Boards should own major decisions, require board approval for high-earning contracts, delegate authority carefully, and ensure policies are in place to prevent off-cycle decisions; governance must reflect the state's long-term interests.
Boards Stayed Out of Athletics. Blake Flanders Says That's Over.
Q: What is the current pressure on Division I athletics and how does that affect governance?
Division I athletics is under pressure from revenue demands, athlete compensation, and external investment, which increases risk and necessitates stronger board involvement in decisions that affect budgets, governance, and mission.
Cinderella Doesn't Make the Bracket: Inside the Fight Over the House Cap
Q: Is there another way to think about this?
Eric suggests that without thoughtful governance and a balanced approach to bids and representation, the landscape will tilt toward a few mega-programs, undermining the broader health of college basketball.
Cinderella Doesn't Make the Bracket: Inside the Fight Over the House Cap
Q: From St. Mary's perspective, what were your coaches telling you about all of this?
Roger describes coaching staff concerns about roster moves, the reality of players leaving for larger sums, and the belief that the cap needed to be real but the economics became untenable for mid-majors.
Cinderella Doesn't Make the Bracket: Inside the Fight Over the House Cap
Q: Talk to me a little bit, and Eric, I'll start with you about the Genesis. How did you two come together to write this?
Eric explains that their collaboration grew from shared concerns within Catholic institutions about the cap and its implications, and they used the op-ed as a starting point to push for stability and a constructive dialogue.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features conversations with senior university leaders—presidents, trustees, and executives—about governance, budgeting, and the evolving role of athletics in higher education. Episodes frequently explore how athletics intersects with enrollment, fundraising, transparency, and policy, including topics like NIL, conference realignment, and data-driven campus strategy. Guests span university presidents, trustees, law professors, and academics who dissect governance challenges, financial sustainability, and the broader impact of athletics on campus culture. A notable strength is the cross-division perspective, spanning Division I to II and III, with a clear emphasis on practical governance insights and real-world reform ideas that may... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Higher Ed Athletics
2. Phantom Island
3. Pablo Torre Finds Out
4. College Matters from The Chronicle
5. Interesting Times

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this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 213 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Kristi Dosh
2. Scott Woodruff
3. Chris Bevilacqua
4. Elizabeth Betsy Cantwell
5. Jim Borchers
6. Lindsey Mortenson
7. Sara Custer
8. Dr. Blake Flanders

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