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What does an athletic director actually do when the Friday night lights are off? Jim Harris, CMAA, Director of Student Activities at Freedom High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, joins Morgan to pull back the curtain on athletic administration, the value of NIAAA certification, and the lessons he's written into his own AD playbook.

Jim's career has taken him through five Northern Virginia schools, from an admin internship at Briar Woods to rebuilding TC Williams High School during COVID. His CMAA project came out of that work. He talks about coaching the coaches, why he stepped away from the job for his family, what brought him back to Freedom, and the three pillars behind every decision he makes: communication, education, and maximum participation.

His best advice for new and aspiring ADs is simple. Know your pillars, get involved with your state association, and hire good people so you don't have to carry the whole load yourself.

Mentioned in this episode: NIAAA Leadership Training Institute (LTI) courses and CMAA certification, the NIAAA Executive Leadership cohort, the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (VIAAA), and Jim's podcast, On the Road with the VIAAA.

Talkin' with the AD is a podcast for athletic directors, school leaders, coaches, parents, and athletes - built around education-based athletics and the people who make it work. Hosted by Morgan J. Sullivan - athletic director, coach, and author of Coach on Leadership.

LEAD · TEACH · GROW

Website: betteryouthcoaching.com

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Books: Coach on Leadership · MS Education Based Athletics · Before the First Snap

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Better Youth Coaching
Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

Better Youth Coaching
Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

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