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Ever Onward Podcast
The Ever Onward Podcast is your go-to business podcast, offering engaging discussions and diverse guests covering everything from business strategies to community issues. Join us at the executive table as we bring together industry leaders, experts, and visionaries for insightful conversations that go beyond the boardroom. Whether you're an entrepreneur or simply curious about business, our podcast provides a well-rounded experience, exploring a variety of topics that shape the business landscape and impact communities. Brought to you by Ahlquist.
Ever Onward Podcast
Ashton Jeanty, Leadership Lessons, and Boise State’s Growth with Jeramiah Dickey | Ever Onward - Ep. 50
Jeramiah Dickey, the transformative Director of Athletics at Boise State University, shares his extraordinary leadership journey and insights on balancing a demanding career with personal life. Jeramiah’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and hard work, as he discusses raising over $20 million annually for the athletic department and the profound impact of his “What’s Next” initiative. We delve into the unique challenges he faces and his dedication to family, highlighting the importance of being present for his children’s growth while maintaining professional commitments.
In this episode we spotlight the standout athlete Ashton Jeanty, whose incredible performances have been pivotal in recent victories, including back-to-back dominant showings that solidified Boise State’s position in the conference race. As a rising star in the Heisman conversation, Ashton’s leadership, versatility, and explosive plays on the field have inspired optimism for the team’s playoff prospects and energized fans across the nation.
We also discuss the invaluable lessons of perseverance and resilience that have been the backbone of Jeramiah's leadership style, driving 27 team and individual championships under his guidance.
The evolving landscape of college football and the dynamic sports scene in Boise take center stage as we discuss strategic positioning in the face of potential NCAA changes and media rights negotiations. We celebrate the rise in expectations across Boise State’s various teams, especially in basketball, and the efforts to elevate sporting events to comprehensive entertainment experiences. This episode also emphasizes the vital relationship between Boise State University and the local community, reflecting on athletics’ impact on university identity and expressing a deep commitment to Boise’s future.
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Today on the Ever Onward podcast, we have the athletic director from Boise State University, jeremiah Dickey. Jeremiah, flat out, is one of the best leaders I've ever been around in my life. He was named Boise State University's Director of Athletics in 2021. Prior to coming to Boise State, he was the Associate Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at Baylor University. I mean, we're going to get into a whole bunch of stuff this guy's done, but the short list is 27 team and individual championships. He started the entire what's Next initiative, the unbridled program they have for raising money. He's raised $20-plus million a year for the athletic department in his first three years here. Sellouts of all the games. This guy is on fire. He's a family man. He's a huge community leader. We're just blessed to have him here. Can't wait for you to hear today from Jeremiah Dickey. Jeremiah, thanks for coming on. No problem, thanks for having me. I know you're busy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but we're always busy, right?
Speaker 1:I don't know, I don't know how you do it.
Speaker 2:It takes a lot. It's interesting my wife's out of town this week and so I have the three kids and it provides great perspective for me, the things that she takes care of at home that I don't have to worry about. My team at the office that is just phenomenal in how they step up and help and you know it truly takes a team. So pressure is a privilege, right, and so as we continue to build and grow and it's always what's next for us, you know I'm getting more comfortable being uncomfortable.
Speaker 1:Man, I've got my list of things to talk about today, but let's start where you started Tell me about your family. I know above all else with you. It's your kids, it's your family and you started right there. It's God, it's your family, it's your core, it's what makes you go, it's your kids. How are?
Speaker 2:they doing my kids are amazing.
Speaker 1:I think back to the picture when you first got here. I know Of them on the blue, and now it's been three years, right, coming up on four, coming up on four years.
Speaker 2:You're watching them grow up right before your eyes, correct, and it goes by fast. And you're not going to get me emotional on this one, tommy. I can't say enough about my kids, and they're at a cool age now 6, 8, and 10. Easton the youngest, eli the middle one and Emerson the oldest. They are coming into their own that they somewhat understand what I do and, even more importantly for me, they're starting to embrace it.
Speaker 2:You know, uh, they love the Broncos. You know, uh, they listened to, you know, as my name was out there for various jobs. They're listening to the radio and there were many nights that they're grilling. Well, they're growing, they want to stay, they want to be Broncos and and that means more to me than they'll ever know, um, anytime you can include your family and I'm sure you've gone through this as you've risen over the course of time to have them by your side and when you can lock arms with people like that, and it just means the world to me. And so they're doing very well.
Speaker 2:They play every sport imaginable. My daughter's doing dance, you know, they're at Coal Valley and they absolutely love that. And then my wife, you know she somewhat operates in the shadows. You know I'm the energy guy and probably more extroverted, and she's my rock. She's the one who's literally taking care of everything at home. I don't have to worry about much and she's been a part of this journey with me, even when, prior to us dating, we were best friends and she was in marketing. You know, in athletics I was in-.
Speaker 1:Is that how you met?
Speaker 2:That's how we met. She ran marketing. She came over with Hunter Yurchak, who's the AD at Arkansas. We were all at Akron. He came from Virginia, brought her, and the AD at Baylor brought me from UTEP. And you know that friendship turned into something else and she knew what my goals were and there was never a doubt, she had my back and has always been by my side.
Speaker 1:That takes a team. Yeah, you know your kids. I think of those ages like you're at the sweet spot, buddy, that's right. It is like those ages are perfect because they're preteen, You're still their hero, You're still everything to them, right. But it just changes a little bit when friends become so important and that time goes by so quickly. It does. How do?
Speaker 2:you balance it, I struggle with it. You know I don't believe in work-life balance. It's life and how I prioritize it.
Speaker 1:By the way, that's the right answer. I mean the idea, that idea that's bad question Cause there is no balance. Right, it's prioritized. How do?
Speaker 2:you do it and it's a choice. You know I get reminded by my wife. You know you chose this and in in turn, I can. I can step up and embrace it and you know I try to. You know, especially when I'm home and I have a lot of travel. You know fall and spring semesters, but when I'm home I try not to miss their practices and their games and I try to be present. I don't go 24 hours without seeing them. You know sometimes there's early morning and late nights, but then I'll stay and tell my team I'm going to have to move that meeting because I want to see them off to school. It's important for me to be around. Being a father, as you know, is one of the most important things you can do.
Speaker 1:Well, I don't know, Jeremiah, when I've seen you around them, they love you. I mean it's palpable, right. I mean it's there and you're their hero, and that's as good as it gets.
Speaker 2:It's starting to change.
Speaker 1:Tell me about your dad, because you came from this right, I did.
Speaker 2:You know my dad was my hero growing up. My mom, you know they're still together and still in El Paso, texas, and you know, very grateful for how they raised me. You know I'm the oldest of four and you know, and so at a very young age was put into a leadership role and you know, and then watching my dad and my mom and just how they poured into me and their expectations. It was never a question. You're going to college and whatever your passion is, reach for greatness and that work ethic those seeds were planted at a very young age.
Speaker 2:And watching my dad early on, because my parents got married very early, work, multiple jobs and me being a part of that process, him coming home from one job, picking me up and us going to paint a house as a little kid and being there until midnight and then getting up and doing it all over again the next day. You remember those and I didn't know any better. So it was something that was important to me. And to see how he always showed up. He always went to work, he was always grinding and whatever our family needed always showed up. He always went to work, he was always grinding and whatever our family needed. He provided. Isn't that awesome.
Speaker 1:Yes, and you still have a really close relationship to him. I know that I've seen the two of you together too, and that's very important. How often do you connect?
Speaker 2:Daily, daily, whether texts or calls. My mom actually takes offense to it now because I probably talk to him more than I talk to her, but very close to both of them is he your sounding?
Speaker 2:board. He is, he is and and a lot of it more from. You know, obviously I'm his son, but you know he calls me out for my blinders, he keeps me grounded, but he also provides great perspective. You, you know, and, and sometimes you know I'm hard on myself, and so a lot of times when I call him, it's it's something going on at work or at home, and and just how he he pours into me and you know, that's, that's something that I don't take for granted. You know, I, I appreciate those calls and he's the first one.
Speaker 2:I mean, he's, he's giving me a rundown like I'm not at our games, like every game, you know, like he's doing, like, oh, that run and that pass, and I'm like I'm here, you know, but I love it, it's a way for us to connect. And he's, he's gone to, uh, the basketball tournament, vegas. You know, since I arrived here and, and that's some time for him and I, to you know, connect differently maybe, and so I, I love him to death and he's, you know, even when I got this job, tommy, like I was in my head and could I do it, and you know, and just the words of wisdom that he provided, you know that God has already determined my path. My job is to take the appropriate steps and walk through those doors and whatever happens happens because that's his will and in just hearing something so simple, you know, at that point it just calmed me and it's you know, you can't screw that up.
Speaker 1:You know you're, as you're talking through this, I, my dad, he works here with me and he is the guy's amazing. And just this weekend, I'm just sitting here while you're talking he calls me on Saturday and I had some pipes freezing in one of our barns and I was going to call a plumber. He's like we can figure that out. So he comes out Saturday morning and literally like five hours later I'm beat.
Speaker 1:I've been, I've been cutting, I've been climbing their counters, I've been rerunning pipe with him and he has, you know, it's almost 80, and he goes home that day and I say, hey, you want to come in and get something to eat? And he's like no, but the whole time we're sitting there talking, yeah, like just it's, and it's stuff that I can't tell anybody else. Yeah, you know, it's the worries and burdens you have. That you just, you just. And I'm thinking to myself this is just awesome to be able to spend a day with him. So I'm not done yet. So, like he says, hey, I'll be back tomorrow, we'll put together that horse walker.
Speaker 1:I said, well, that's gonna be like a big job. I said, let's just take tomorrow off. He's like well, you get home from church and then call me. Yeah, so it's snowing sideways. So I texted him on the way to church. I said, hey, we're not doing this today. It's cold and windy. Yeah, we'll do it later this week. So I get home from church, his truck's already there. I think I'm telling a lie. I'm gonna going to show you a picture. So I'm like what the hell are you doing here? It's like freezing, cold and snowing. He's like, oh, we'll be okay and I'm not kidding you, jeremiah. We spent another five hours Sunday putting together this thing, but I've got to show you this picture. I got pretty emotional, like right in the middle of it, because I thought here's two days in a row with my dad, that's almost 80. Yeah, busting my tail, like working harder than I am. And there's this moment. I said, hey, I want to get a picture with you. He's like I want to get a picture with you. So that's him.
Speaker 1:He's climbed in this horse walker wiring it, and I'm like that's my picture and I just thought about I hope the day when I don't have that. There is a long, long time from now, because I don't know what I'm going to do without it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think about that a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think about that, it's so much part of my comfort zone and where I go and who I call when you can't call anyone else and the words he uses, and usually it's not what I want to hear. Yeah, it's usually, hey, you'll be all right, just get up and figure this out, kind of thing, but it's a anyway.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Great thing Is that where your work ethic comes from, Jeremy, I've never like listen. We've known each other for a few years. Yeah, I don't know anyone. I've been around a lot of leaders in my life medicine, politics I've never met anyone quite like you. I never have, and it never stops. Your ability to lead and guide and direct, set vision, clarity of communication here's where we're going. Follow me. I believe people follow people and people follow you.
Speaker 2:It's incredible. Oh, I appreciate you saying that. It did start with my dad. I remember this was probably eighth grade and I didn't make the basketball team. I made it but I was in a track suit and it was the start of everyone made the team type thing, but I didn't play, I didn't get a uniform I'm laughing at the track suit. Oh, it was amazing. And he told me and something I'm never going to forget he said you know, you have a choice. You can, you can accept or you can work that much harder and and prove that that you were deserving of. And and I remember going back to my head coach and saying I'm better than everyone in front of me. And he said prove it.
Speaker 2:After every practice that fall and then it went into the winter after every practice I would play the guy in front of me one-on-one and I beat every single one and I got to starting by the end of the season and it taught me a valuable lesson. You know that there's not much in life you can control. You can control your attitude and you can control your work ethic, and that's always been, um, you know the secret sauce. It's a great equalizer. Right, it's a great, it's not, you know, unfortunate. You know, what I do is not rocket science. From a day to day, in a work standpoint, you have to make decisions. It's very similar to probably what you're doing, um, but how I show up and and my level of of energy and work, um ethic, that my hope is that others see that and it pulls them along. And, as a leader, sometimes you have to believe more than others when you're going through transition and some of the things that we've gone through and it's really paid dividends over the course of my career, um, it's, it's taught me that that you know whatever, whatever's in front of me, um, I'm going to earn it and and I'm going to do the work and I'm going to make that decision really hard for someone. And and that was also a lesson from him.
Speaker 2:You know, as I went into high school, um, all the dads would show up to practice and my dad didn't. And then all the dads would would try to get in front of the head coach and my dad didn't. And I remember telling my mom, you know, does dad not? Does he not think I'm good enough? Does he not care enough?
Speaker 2:You know, and at this point I'm at the age that I'm questioning everything in life, and especially my parents, and she said, no, what your dad's showing you is whatever you get out of this, you're going to get it on your own and it's not going to be because of his support, it's not going to be because of his relationship with that coach or how much money he's going to donate. You are going to earn every single thing you get. And it gives me chills to this day and I remember thinking, as opposed to sitting there and watching these other parents and feeling bad for myself. It gave me this confidence that I'm so proud that I have a dad that was willing to, because I know it killed him. I know he wanted to be there. I know he wanted to maybe offer more support than he was, but he was teaching me a life lesson that I think about today Big stuff.
Speaker 1:Hey, let's talk your job. Yeah, 27 team and individual championships so far since you've been here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's the thing that sometimes I follow you closely. It's not just the football, right, which I mean a is, I mean a boy state, that is for our state, for everything, it's that for sure. Well, basketball is a close second now, buddy. Yeah, what's happened the last three years is is I mean I love it, but then you've got all the other sports and it's equal enthusiasm and support and, and, and I look, I think of the volleyball stuff, the softball stuff, I mean it's everything. Yeah, it never stops.
Speaker 2:No, it doesn't, it's, it's 365. And and but that was the plan. Right, yeah, plan the work, work the plan. I knew, being an outsider to Idaho, I knew what I was walking into. You know, in this state in many ways was known for potatoes and that blue turf, and that football brand is powerful and rightfully so.
Speaker 2:But I have 17 other sports and my first conversation was with Leon, when I first got this job, and I called him and he said JD, I'm looking forward to meeting you in person, I need help. And I said, let's, I'm looking forward to meeting you in person, I need help. And I said let's have more conversation about that. And I remember that first off season we went to work. Leon, what else do you need? How can I help you? How can we create the infrastructure around you that you can concentrate on your culture, on coaching and recruiting, and that you don't have to ride horses across campus to sell tickets or walk across the river? Those type of things, and that really aligned with our vision of what's next and how we were gonna create the infrastructure that was gonna support all these sports. It makes me so proud as proud as I am of football, and the brand is the hardest thing to build. It makes me so proud as the leader of our department. When I see an individual women's tennis player in Waco right now competing for an NCAA, when I see beach volleyball getting top 25 and the highest finish in our history, women's basketball beating Colorado the other night and Gordon getting his 600th game in yesterday, that makes me proud because that was where the work was.
Speaker 2:Football it was little tweaks here and there and we had the brand and we had a lot working for us. The other sports that was the number one thing I kept hearing in conference realignment JD, we know about football, but what about everything else? And we went to work but I couldn't do it alone. I had to have the coaches embrace that and that we could not live in sanity. We have to look at things differently and allow me to help and and let's go out and find the resources that we can then invest back into these programs. Awesome, um, women's soccer winning a Mountain West championship this year um, it's. It's really powerful from a from a leadership standpoint, when I can stand up in front of people and actually live it out in action and our team live it out, that all 350 plus student athletes matter to us and all 18 sport programs and we have high expectations and we are here to win championships and compete nationally and we're doing it.
Speaker 1:Talk about momentum because I think, if you know I'm trying to I was trying to think when you were coming on today, cause, having been there for a long time watching some of these sports and you know, then, like the home opener the other night, with Oakland at the back, and like looking around thinking this is a home opener, like on a Tuesday night or Wednesday night or whatever it was, and that place was as full as it would be on the top games three or four years ago, I'm like something's changed but the student sections are different Both. You know the just the involvement of athletics in all of student life. There, I mean, it builds on itself, right, it does, but but you started all that.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It didn't exist. So so talk about how, how I think for people, cause there are people listening to this podcast that are business leaders or whatever, but trying to extrapolate what, what example you are, it's hard at first, but it's vision right and it's it's plan, and then it's busting your tail, but at some point it seems like it's rolling now. Yes, is that true? That is very true. It seems like people get it now, instead of me telling you what, what's going to happen, and pleading with you to follow me. It's like, hey, look around you and feel it. Does it feel that?
Speaker 2:way to you. It does feel that way, I mean, and that was part of the plan. You know, I said it earlier Sometimes you have to believe for others and early on, you know, during COVID and we were, I mean, there were so many things that were working against us. But once again, you have a choice, you know and we embraced it. You have a choice, you know and we embraced it, and you know a lot of what you're seeing now.
Speaker 2:It started three and a half, almost four years ago, you know, defining what's next for us and creating that vision and direction, aligning with others in the department and bringing in new ideas and voices and perspectives and diversity of thought and and empowering them. You know, I told our team early on I can't guarantee success. You know that is not who I am, but we are going to stick to a process and we are going to plan the work, work the plan and we will define our own expectations. We won't wait for others to do it. And you start with that foundation and then you bring people in, like a Cody Gogler and you know, and Chris Kutz now, or Jake Mankin, goggler and you know, and, and uh, chris coots now, or. Or jake mankin and and nate burke in in our facilities.
Speaker 2:Um, you know, team, it matters, everything counts, everything matters, everything. I say publicly it's a lot less for for bronco nation, it's more for my staff and my team. And when I first said it, um, I think some people took offense to it. And but then you get, you develop street cred over time because the success comes and now all of a sudden they're realizing okay, this does work and that momentum is taken off it's taken off it's so it's so fun to watch.
Speaker 1:Okay, we, I. There's so many things to get to you with you, so I want to make sure we jump around here. Let's talk the heisman race and what jenty has done, what an incredible human being he is. He is, I mean, you look at the way he handles himself and all these national interviews and the excitement around him. How do you not root for that kid?
Speaker 2:It's unbelievable who you hear Spencer say it all the time, who he is off the field, um, it's, it's for an athletic director, um, to have a guy like him and you could even say, in basketball, a Tyson Degenhardt. They're just phenomenal kids and they care about this place, they care about their legacy, they care about their team and that's how they lead and what he's done for us. And I think we all knew you know Broncos did, and we knew he was good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, from day one you'd see him take the ball and you'd go, oh, wow, correct, this is different, Correct, no one. I've never heard anyone give this, but it reminds me of back in the day because I'm old of Marshall Falk, when I first saw him at San Diego state, and when he'd take the ball you'd go oh, this guy's different than any other human. He had that, that, but hit the person side of him, who he is and how he represents himself and, by doing so, how he represents the university what a dream.
Speaker 2:Oh, you're absolutely right. You know, uh, and and I was having a conversation with spencer and we were talking about the team and obviously you're always concerned about the what-ifs and these guys are in college and but when you have leaders, you know and spencer said this when you have a leader like Ashton, that the team listens to and looks up to and he's a part of them, he's not with all the success, it's not like he's this outlier now. He very much cares about his team and his brothers and that's why they play so hard for each other and that's a testament to him and ultimately, you're seeing that play out on the field. You know, uh, obviously the Heisman is a big deal, you know, that goes without saying.
Speaker 1:The fact that we're even in it. What are your thoughts? I mean, I mean, it's you, you. You read a lot of things, but it's down to him or Sanders, right? I mean, that's kind of what I've heard.
Speaker 2:Uh yeah.
Speaker 1:Hunter, hunter, hunter, yeah, hunter Travis.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know we're, we're doing everything we can to continue to promote, you know, and tell our story, and a lot of the national media is doing it for us. Because of the season that he's having and and the success that overall, that we're having, I think he has a really good chance and, and you know, I think it would be. You know it's so hard to compare two different positions like that, you know, but I look at who we are as a team and if we were to remove him, you know, and how much value he brings on top of the records and what he's doing on the field.
Speaker 1:And on top of the blowouts where he sat. For I mean, just because you don't want to, you can't get hurt. I mean it's a win, it's a lose-lose deal, right, you can't get hurt. But he would have had, I don't know five, six, seven more touchdowns and I don't know how many more hundred yards already.
Speaker 2:For sure, but he's, I think he's going to win this thing, I believe, and if just for the university and the program, it's hard to, it's priceless One for him and I'm proud of him regardless and we're not necessarily chasing trophies and it's to be the best we possibly can be, but for him and what that would do for him and his legacy, and he's earned it. He's earned every single thing that people are saying about him and it makes me really proud to be his leader, or a leader in our department with him here.
Speaker 1:He runs so hard, jeremiah, he does. It's just unbelievable to watch him just do what he does. Playoffs, yeah, football playoffs. I mean it's. What do you think of the rankings that are coming out? I mean, there's just another one. I mean I's, what do you think of the rankings that are coming out? I mean, there's just another one. I mean, I think there's some bias for sure, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there is, and that's something that we've always had to battle with. That you know. I do think that we're going to get in tonight's projections. I do believe we'll get the buy, you know, and that's important to us. You know we're relevant, people are talking about us and you know I can't even put a number I mean our team's working on it but the number of national mentions overall that we're getting because of this run, and you know. But it's also important and it ties into the want to know what's next mentality. You know we have Wyoming and we're going to control our own destiny and we're going to be our best and that's what's next. But I am looking forward to tonight to see where, where they put us.
Speaker 1:Yeah Well, if, if you get a buy in the rankings now and don't have a misstep, I mean, can you imagine getting a buy in the inaugural tournament and don't have a misstep? I mean, can you imagine getting a bye in the inaugural tournament? I mean, I just can't even imagine that.
Speaker 2:I balance it out. I mean, what's of more value of getting a bye and going to one of those bowl games, or what have traditionally been bowl games, or hosting at home on the blue, which would be amazing? But you know, everything happens for a reason. Control what we can. I'm interested to see where they put us, but you know everything happens for a reason. Control what we can, and you know, I'm interested to see where they put us. Oh, I got a little nervous Saturday.
Speaker 1:So did I. I never lost faith. But I mean, who's their coach now? From Navy? He's a good coach, very good coach, and when they were up two touchdowns and then when he went for it instead of kicking that field goal, I thought I don't know about that, kenny.
Speaker 2:Well, that was one of those things that they had momentum.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And we knew that it was going to be a war. He's a very good coach and they are a very good team, got a couple great receivers they do that we'll see playing on Sunday and so it's a testament to them. But that was a big play in that game and our defense stepped up and it's bend don't break and the turnovers that we got throughout that game and just how we flipped it I think it was 42-7 in terms of the run that we went on and it was both sides of the ball and it was multiple, you know, positions making place and and that's that's the our mentality and that's our team.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're so good. Well, what? What a year? Yeah, I mean what a year? And I think it's. I don't know, I don't want to get ahead of myself because you got Oregon state, which is going to be a big, big, big game it will. Anyway, that's cool. Let's talk about conference realignment. I can't wait to hear. Can you talk about it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I can talk about it a little bit. What I know? What a ride. Yes, when I first got here and I think you and I had some of these conversations my job was to best position us for what was next in the future.
Speaker 2:And I do think football is going to break away from the NCAA at some point and I'm projecting at the end of this decade, and some may agree, some may not, but you know, if you're reading tea leaves and as a leader, it's somewhat challenging right now. There really are no guardrails and it's somewhat day-to-day, but I'm trying to get ahead of that. And that ties into a lot of our decision-making. And when you look at the Pac-12 and what that is to us and we talked about momentum that is still a brand that has a lot of power and it's recognizable, especially in the regions that we recruit, and we've seen an uptick across the board in all 18 sport programs. And you know, and that's important to us, you know it just was announced today that the pack, uh, hired octagon to help with the media rights negotiations and and I think that shows you how serious this is, you know can you speak?
Speaker 1:it was interesting watching it go down. Yeah, watching Washington State and Oregon State just kind of hold tight. Yeah, that wasn't very intuitive. Yeah, you know what I mean? Yeah, I mean everything's collapsing and I think they knew legally where they stood and dollars and why it made sense to stay, but they played that pretty well they did.
Speaker 2:I think they have similar competitive excellence expectations, Whether they agree with me or not. If we can all position ourselves and be that much better than we were yesterday, that gives us that much more of a chance and hope, and hope is a powerful thing. We talked about CFP and the fact that we even have a shot. In the past, those great teams that the Broncos have had, they didn't even have a shot for the most part. We have a shot now, and when you look at the Pac-12 and them holding the line like they did and I can't speak specifically about how they got to those decisions, but I think, knowing those ADs, they want what's best and they have fan bases that are very supportive and they want to better their situation and I think we all did in this process.
Speaker 1:You probably can't talk about like the recruitment of you guys or anything like that, but I'll bet it was crazy.
Speaker 2:It was one day I'm going to write a book. You know it was a crazy few weeks and you know, but that's somehow how our industry is. You know it was a crazy few weeks, but that's somehow how our industry is. It's not like one they give me a template to follow and two, that this had been going on for years and we always knew conference realignment was a thing. It's still going to be a thing, even after this. And I look at TCU and how they bounced from one conference to the next and they just kept elevating. And I'm not saying we're following a similar strategy or formula, but you know it was a crazy time because you know my job as the leader of our department and Bronco Nation in general is to continue to do the work that puts us in a position that these opportunities come up. And I think that was a testament to the work that had already been done and the value of our brand and how we've elevated it, that that it was a no brainer for them to to come to us.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no brainer. I remember back in the day, uh and I'm sure he was okay with me saying this, but Kostra when, when he went into the big East and then back out, I remember going to lunch with him it was right in the middle of that and he told me the story of how they met in a like an undescribed hotel, like they all checked in and like secretly and kind of met in a room. And it was this crazy story behind it and I'll never forget me just sitting there thinking this is like so cool you have a great job.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it is. I sometimes have to remind myself of that to have some fun and enjoy it. But yeah, it's the things that we get to do and I'm very grateful.
Speaker 1:I mean you're like college football playoffs, Heisman Trophy winner, hopefully, conference realignment, high stakes.
Speaker 2:I mean you don't ever need to go to Vegas. No, because every day is a gamble. Preseason, naismith, with Tyson, you know, picked to win our conference. You know, I mean it. Definitely that dopamine hit, you know, I'm not sure what I would do if I ever get out. Oh, it was amazing, it was right. During my church I was going to say I stopped by to come see you.
Speaker 1:Well, I actually said to my wife I'm going to the game Sunday. I'm going to the game Sunday and she looked at me and says, no, you're not coming to church with me. And that was it. Yeah, I gave my tickets away, but it was hard. It was a great game, I heard it was great.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean to see what Leon's building and it's not just one person. You know, we had multiple guys step up Our bench, outscored theirs, and it was a battle like Clemson's a good team, um, they had that guard hunter, I think his name was, um, you know, just we couldn't stop him. He was a tough player and they guarded Cardenas well and you know, but that was. Those are the type of wins that that in the past maybe there wasn't an expectation, but now Leon goes in and and our fans expect it.
Speaker 1:I really like Cardenas. I really like Anderson Anderson for a seven-footer, I mean. And then you've got Degenhardt and Stanley. That are just incredible. Meadow Meadow Great game. That guy is like he's going to catch some national attention at some point. Yeah, he's just such a. He's a freakish athlete. Yep, shoot the lights out and he looks like Rambus, except for longer hair. Right, that's right. Yeah, he is so fun to watch. Yeah, he is so fun to watch. Um gosh, expectations are high for them this year. But the Mountain West last year, last year the whole conference was so good. Yeah, I remember. I mean, I I've watched. I've been a huge basketball fan my whole life, but I don't ever remember like going home just looking for a Mountain West game and it didn't matter, I just wanted to go watch Mountain West basketball. They were top to bottom so good last year and I think this year's stacking up would be the same, isn't it?
Speaker 2:It is, it is. I'm trying to remember last year when it got to the place of wow, we could get seven teams. That's how good the conference was, and then we beat each other up during conference and that maybe hurt us a little bit, but I think it's playing out where it will be very similar. I think across the board, our conference is really solid and we'll know a lot more coming out of this non-conference. But you still have the San Diego States and Colorado States and Utah States and Nevada and New Mexico has had a good start to the year. So I'm really excited. I mean, when you can go from football into basketball, you know, and then now softball and other sports, you know it is year-round and there's always something for us to, you know, celebrate, which is nice well, and I think in a town like ours too, where there is Boiseise state like it's, it's just, it's the thing right.
Speaker 2:How many, how many States Tommy have no professional sports and one FBS school? Yeah, Awesome, Probably.
Speaker 1:Wyoming. Yeah Well, the Dakota is probably doing well but they're not FBS.
Speaker 2:They're not FBS Right. So there's only in Nebraska, like there's only a few schools. So when we say we're the front porch, we believe that and if we can turn our games into events and tie into that entertainment piece, and we're starting to fill that pipeline of people from this community who have moved in that just want to go watch a good product and have a good experience with their families.
Speaker 1:Well, you get a lot of credit, but if you go back four years ago to just the fan experience, yeah, you pick it and it's.
Speaker 1:It's just different. Yes, it it feels. I mean you're, you're, you've gone from a game to an experience. I mean you take your grandson and it's just from the moment you get there, it's just an experience. The whole thing is amazing. Talk a little bit about that. We don't probably give enough credit to the. It's not just the game, it's not the finances, it's not the fundraising, it's not the coaching, it's also a production.
Speaker 2:It absolutely is. I mean, when you look at well, going back to the conversation with Leon, you know, and the help and ultimately, the decisions and strategies that we implemented very early on of let's control what we can control from an administration standpoint, I needed our coaches to coach, build culture and recruit. Our job as administration is to control everything else and to provide the necessary infrastructure that would drive the fan base. Everything else and to provide the necessary infrastructure that would drive the fan base. I can't tell you how important it is when we have recruits at the game that we're sold out in Albertsons or the or extra mile or whatever facility, 21 straight soccer matches, averaging over a thousand at volleyball, like it matters and it attracts more talent.
Speaker 2:And and so, going back to the beginning, when I walked the facilities and and as I was trying to, you know, wrap my head around, you know being a first time AD and what were the next steps, noticing the size of our video boards, how old they were, you know the experience we were providing, not just at football but a lot of our other sport programs tied into the strategy of. You know not only what was next but what we were doing with our donors and telling them, giving them this vision and telling them this is the direction that we wanna go and how it was gonna impact us. Those things drive revenue and that revenue is important to us to create this sustainable model, especially as we go into revenue share. So it's not by accident, you know, it's very intentional. We needed lights. We needed a new video board. Two you know we needed a video board at softball. We needed lights at soccer. You know those are controllables and I'm very fortunate that we have great donors and supporters that they bought into that vision and they supported us through it.
Speaker 1:It's been incredible. It's been just incredible. Talk about leadership a little bit, because I know it's not easy all the time, but if you're given advice to your young ADs that come in, people that ask you probably all the time, athletes that come in and probably meet with you, I'm sure you have several that just say, hey, what are some of the things you hit on?
Speaker 2:One I think about, and I just had this conversation with someone yesterday. You know, when you think about the number of leadership books written on an annual basis hundreds, thousands, I mean, and I think I have all of them what that tells me is no one has really perfected it. Leadership is extremely challenging, it's difficult, it's hard, and and so part of that is you have to be kind to yourself, you have to show yourself grace. Uh, and, and that's that's. That was an important part of my process in, in learning how to be a better leader. Um, the second thing is you're never a finished product. You know, I will always learn something every day, every month, every year that will impact how I lead, and that doesn't end until the day I die. And if you approach it, it's absolutely true, I think.
Speaker 1:I think a lot of people think you arrive and you don't know, and you always feel inadequate. If you're not feeling inadequate, you're probably not doing enough self-assessment. That's right. And if you don't think you have any more blind spots, you probably aren't looking for them. And it's kind of like this never ending question of improvement. That's right. Have some people around you telling you hey, and I like the grace part I haven't heard anyone really articulate that like that but giving yourself some grace because it is a process.
Speaker 2:I would agree. And when you think about you know most leaders, you know type A personalities and and you know, my biggest critic is myself. Yeah, you know I am harder on myself than anyone will ever be on me. And and those those conversations with yourself, you know, uh, negative thoughts come quick. You know you're not enough, you're not doing enough. Um, you know you failed at this and that was a you know whatever mistake. And um, and it takes for every four negative comments or um, yeah, for every four negative, you know comments. Uh, that come.
Speaker 2:You have to counteract that with the positive self-talk. And that ties into the grace. We are human. We are not perfect. I'm going to make mistakes. I have made thousands of mistakes and part of that is me owning it.
Speaker 2:But I also think it ties into me being a leader that if I can be my authentic self and I'm truly a servant leader, which is the standard I hold myself to that allows others to have grace with themselves and it relieves pressure from the team. And if I can go to my team and say you're going to get the credit, whatever you do, you will get the credit, and if you fell, that is mine, that is my job as your leader and I will stand in the gap, I will take the bullets and I will have your back, and that I've seen it in the department. Just everyone take a deep breath and it and it just empowers them to continue to go. And and a lot of that starts with my own conversations with myself of you're not perfect, you're going to make mistakes and it's okay. And then how I embrace that and handle it, it does me no good. I give a lot more hugs and high fives than than I have to sit people down.
Speaker 1:That is like high level stuff. You should write a book.
Speaker 1:I don't know One day, one day, one day, talk a little bit about the importance of social media in today's marketing Cause, I think, for your platform and what you do and how you pump up and get awareness and everything else. I think when you first got here, it's like, oh wow, this is effective. So, one, it's been super effective. Two, it comes across very authentic and genuine and motivating. Talk about the importance of that, because I think you've, I think you're taught a master class on it.
Speaker 2:Well, I appreciate that. So when I first arrived once again, we were in COVID. You know 90% of my staff was at home. I wasn't allowed to go there. It was a non-traditional process becoming an AD so I didn't have the happy hours and the receptions and, you know, being able to speak to people. Everything was Zoom. And so social media became a solution for me to connect with Bronco Nation and I knew about being Boo Collar and that's how I was raised and that was important to me and that was a big part of why I was here. It provided me a platform to let people know who I was and to start telling them that vision and direction and what's next in terms of our department.
Speaker 1:Had it always been part of what you did before that, or did it really accelerate once you?
Speaker 2:got here, it really accelerated. It started probably at Baylor, a little bit at Houston. A lot of ADs, I think, struggled with it, because it's harder to control messages and the number of naysayers and what I call energy vampires that come out of the woodwork. That's the devil face that I always put on, that's smiling at the energy vampires because I'm not going to let them take our positive momentum. And you know so I didn't do it as much. But then once I was in that chair and looking at the impact that it could potentially have and understanding that I had a $20,000 advertising budget, how, how else was I going to get out this message and tell our story local, regionally and nationally? That would really impact the social media piece. I've created a monster, because now I have to continue.
Speaker 2:Um, but there was intent behind it and you know, and it really took off. And now you're seeing our coaches and you're seeing student athletes and you're seeing our staff. Um, we're all an extension of each other and the more we can tell our story, I can monetize that and and that was important to us and you know, the rest is history. I mean, now you see us and you see the, the wins we've had across all platforms. Um, a lot of it started with that intentionality and that strategy of we have to tell our story. We can't just depend on the past and the fiestables. We need to get out in front of this and be more national in that approach. And so it's not just doing podcasts, it's talking to national media, it's creating those relationships and I'm probably still somewhat of an outlier in terms of athletic directors that utilize social as much as I do, but I think it really has benefited us in a number of ways in creating some of that momentum. Like Lyle Smith and you know, we just keep telling that story it.
Speaker 1:Uh, matthew and I have talked about this a lot because, in you know, this whole technology revolution caught most organizations flat-footed because it happened quickly, way quicker, if you look back in the history of America, like big changes that came along, most of them were just slower to be implemented and you had time to get your feet underneath you and figure it out, and this one really wasn't that way. And it seems like when you look back now at people and I use you as a prime example of this that have been very successful with it, it all goes back to authenticity, though you know what I mean. It goes back to can you use this new medium to express your authentic selves, your feelings, your vibes, the way you approach life, and if you do, that resonates with people in a way that now you can go past these traditional media sources and go straight to them in a way that they're like, oh, wow, I get this guy, I get this place and I love it. Um, I think it's a case study on, but, but I think I think if anyone tried to do it, that wasn't authentic.
Speaker 1:Uh, I don't think they'd be able to do it Now if they could figure out a way to channel their authenticity into it. But I think you've uniquely done it. I don't think a lot of people could do what you've done. You make it sound easy, but you were really good at it at the right time and I think you'll be an example that everyone looks at and say man, I want to do that. Well, good luck. It's hard Right.
Speaker 2:It is. It is hard, it takes a lot of time and you know and we talked about family early you know there are moments that I know announcements are coming and we're constantly trying to create momentum and I'll tell my kids and my wife like I have to send this out. And it's a lot less about me. It's more about the impact that it potentially could have. If I could sell one more ticket, if I could get one more donor, if I could impact someone's experience, if they can feel heard, so much gets lost. We have 8,000-plus donors now. We're selling out games and we're talking about thousands upon thousands of people.
Speaker 2:I don't have enough hours in the day but I can acknowledge when someone tweets at me that JD, this wasn't up to par. I hear you, I will find a solution. We will find a solution, whatever it is, and what's next? And I think that created this comfortableness of I don't care if you're a million-dollar donor, I don't care if you're a dollar donor, I don't even care if're a million dollar donor, I don't care if you're a dollar donor, I don't even care if you're really a donor the way to connect and, hopefully in an authentic way, to get them bought into what we're doing. It is paying dividends and I'm really grateful.
Speaker 2:And plus, you know, ancillary to this, we've created. I mean, we've come up with a number of ideas just based off our fan base. You know, have you? I mean we've come up with a number of ideas just based off our fan base. Have you guys thought about this? And so I use it as somewhat research. What do our fans want? My job is to deliver. I don't yes, I'm the AD and I understand the hat I wear, but my job is to serve. So if we're not providing an experience someone wants, how do we do that?
Speaker 1:And that's the authenticity. That's what I'm talking about. I mean, what a way to reach out to the people that are most passionate about you, bronco Nation, and feel like they have a connection to the AD. It's magical. Probably a pain in the butt a lot of times Because some of like you come with the energy suck and some I mean you just got to be a little bit careful, but you balance that masterfully because I you know I'll look through and see and I'm like gosh dang and I got in trouble one time for talking about the pajamas and the whole thing in the basement with Prater, and I'm never doing that again. You call a guy in the basement vaping in pajamas out and you're in trouble. And so, even though it's true, talk about some of the things that are next. What's next? I know you got a big. You got big initiatives going on North End Zone. You've got Unbridled. What are some of the big things out there that listeners may want to understand? Or how to become part of the family?
Speaker 2:Yeah, unbridled is a big one for us. We're well ahead of what we were projecting I mentioned. We have over 8,000 donors. We're on track to get to our 10,000 donors by December 1st of 2025. We should reach it much sooner.
Speaker 2:North End Zone Facility will go in front of the state board this December and we'll get approval or the goal is to get approval on on our financing package, and so we're off and running in that space. We're still looking at a new turf for for the blue, new outfield for softball, new pitch for soccer. These are all really what I would call deferred maintenance projects but that impact the play and our competitiveness. That's that we're going to continue to pour into these other sport programs. And then we're continuing to work on the Ox Gym and what that project is going to look like for men's and women's basketball.
Speaker 2:And then you know, as we envisioned or what our vision is at this point, that north end zone should domino into the east side of the stadium and into Extra Mile. We are well ahead of our fundraising initiative and that's going to create opportunities. We sold out all season tickets in men's basketball. We have to create more premium space so we can monetize and create the sustainability of the department because we are going to be sharing revenue through Bronco Pro, which was also just announced. And then, I'm sure you saw, today we announced, uh, post Malone, you know, on the blue and um and those. Those events are great for the community but they are so important to us because we don't budget for those events and so, uh, that is huge when we look at our revenue generation.
Speaker 1:Do you have a team that goes out and tries to attract those, or how does that, how does that work?
Speaker 2:So we're in a partnership with extra mile, and so they have a seat at that table. And then Nate Burke and our facility ops team. You know we want to utilize our facilities as much as we possibly can, especially with the upgrades that we've made video boards, lights, et cetera and so they're they're on, uh um, working with promoters and trying to drive as many events as possible. So we have a handful of events that we're working on and we'll continue to work on. You know the goal is to have two to four every year on the Blue.
Speaker 1:They're so fun. Yeah, I mean, it just provides a great experience. It's a win-win, right, correct?
Speaker 2:And it fills usually those events because of the weather. They're in May and June when we're traditionally down in the number of events we're running through Albertson, so it's the perfect timing for it and it allows us to continue to pour back into the department. It's awesome.
Speaker 1:It's great. Well as usual, we went really really fast through time. I just want to say how much I appreciate you, your example, your leadership. It's been, it's been really fun to watch how you've affected this place and what it means to the community. I mean you think of the financial impact of the university and I know you know you live in a pretty challenging environment too with the legislature and kind of the way it funds higher ed and you get get, uh, inadvertently mixed up into some stuff that is just completely, you talk about, out of your control. It's out of everyone's control. And to navigate that and to do what you've done from fundraising and then just the jewel it is for the community to have the university. It's really.
Speaker 1:I remember back when I did right after we did 8th and Main, we went across the street and did City Center Plaza and I remember the very first time going and meeting with the computer science department to pull them off campus and I remember that first meeting did not go well. They're like, well, how's this going to work? But I think of how the university is, kind of it is Boise, it's a downtown university with a river and it's a location. No wonder kids want to come here right, I know that's a big part of the program too without a state or coming in and tuition, and just the ever-changing landscape of higher ed yeah. And how much athletics plays into that, yeah. And then how much grief you sometimes get at the state board.
Speaker 2:Man. Well, what I will say is you know, look, we are the front porch of this community.
Speaker 2:I do believe that we are the front porch of this community.
Speaker 2:I do believe that and I do believe in we're doing an economic impact study as we speak that we provide tremendous value to this community and state.
Speaker 2:But I also know that there's ownership on my part in terms of telling our story and getting in front of the right people and a lot of our state board members now and their willingness to talk and to understand what we're not necessarily challenged with, but the opportunities that we have when you look at revenue share and what college athletics is becoming. And the onus is on me to be able to get in front of them and tell that story appropriately to where they hear it, and we're going to continue to do that. It takes a team and I believe so much in this community, tommy, like I love it here, I absolutely love it. My family loves it here and you know I've told you that before and anything that I can do that will positively impact that and continue to to pour into the 350 student athletes that I care very much about. I'm willing to do the work and I know our team is too.
Speaker 1:Amen, brother, we're blessed to have you here and thank you so much for coming on and sharing with us today. I appreciate the opportunity. Thank you, go Broncos, go Broncos, thanks, everybody.