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

Dr. Karen Weaver
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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, campus spirit, housing and dining, and marketing Pre-order Karen Weaver's new book NOW: "Understanding College Athletics" https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/33296/understanding-college-athletics

  1. Trustees Can’t Do The Job They Are Told To Do: Michigan State’s Battle Over College Athletics Oversight

    May 10

    Trustees Can’t Do The Job They Are Told To Do: Michigan State’s Battle Over College Athletics Oversight

    Michigan State University trustees Mike Balow and Dennis Denno pull back the curtain on what it really means to be a fiduciary in the high‑stakes world of Big Ten athletics and private equity. They explain why trustees must be “the adults in the room,” how opaque media and NIL ventures can endanger a university’s long‑term future, and why bipartisan oversight and transparency are non‑negotiable. Link to their Op-ed: "To Maintain Trust, Proper Oversight at MSU is required"

    35 min

  2. May 8

    School Spirit: It's Not Just About Athletics Anymore

    A new Art & Science Group poll of 1,481 college-bound seniors shows students define campus spirit far beyond wins and losses, prioritizing unity, traditions, and everyday pride over big-time sports. Karen Weaver talks with principals Craig Goebel and David Strauss about what presidents should actually invest in, how politics and ideology shape demand for athletics, and smarter strategies for enrollment-challenged small privates. FULL Study: https://www.artsci.com/student-poll/studentpoll-volume-19-issue1

    27 min

  3. Apr 22

    Utah State’s Brad Mortensen on PAC-12, Revenue, and Reinvention

    Utah State President Brad Mortensen joins Karen Weaver to discuss his first months leading his alma mater through a pivotal transition. He shares insights on the upcoming PAC-12 move, NIL, gambling risks, revenue strategy, and how Utah State is positioning athletics, campus storytelling, and institutional partnerships for the future.

    26 min

  4. Apr 21

    Prediction Markets, Campus Wide Risks, and the New Gambling Frontier

    Legalized gambling has become woven into nearly every corner of the sports industry, evolving far beyond simple win or lose wagers to bets on almost every moment of every game. Now, a new model called prediction markets is gaining momentum across sports, news, geopolitics, the economy, and yes, even the weather. My guest today is part of the Bloomberg Intelligence team examining these markets. Jody Lurie is a senior credit analyst and a CFA charterholder who specializes in fixed income, credit research and strategy. She covers the fast-growing world of prediction markets and how they’re reshaping sports, news, and campus risk. She also examines regulation, insider-trading concerns, student vulnerability, and what university leaders need to know now.

    30 min

  5. Apr 17

    Who's Managing the Game? Inside the NCAA Division III President's Council

    Many college presidents have never set foot at an NCAA convention — yet they're ultimately responsible for everything that happens in their athletics programs. So who's actually steering Division III? Karen Weaver goes behind the curtain with Dr. Marc Camille, chair of the NCAA Division III President's Council, to expose the governance gap that nobody's talking about. With over 400 institutions in Division III and presidential engagement at a startling low, Marc is on a mission to change how — and whether — campus leaders show up for the decisions that shape student-athlete experiences nationwide. From reforming how at-large bids are awarded to rallying presidents who don't even realize they should be in the room, this is a rare look at the people setting the rules of college sports from the inside.

    30 min

  6. Apr 15

    Michael Sorrell on Leading Paul Quinn College, Purpose and Mission, and the Future of the NCAA

    Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell shares his bold transformation of an HBCU campus that nearly closed; ditching football to build a community farm, pioneering the work college model, unveiling an iconic gym etched with civil rights history, and candid takes on NIL, the recruitment of his hoops prodigy son, and the NCAA's uncertain future.

    31 min

  7. Apr 12

    Could Participation in College Sports Lead to an Academic Major? The Growing Push Tying Athletics Closer to an Academic Discipline

    College athletics is at a crossroads, and Gabe Feldman and Eric Blevins offer a bold new way forward. In this conversation, they explore turning varsity sports into a serious academic field, an "Enhanced Education Model", while unpacking the legal, financial, and governance pressures reshaping college sports. A number of organizations and scholars are advocating this as a way to deal with cost pressures, realigning Olympic sports and non-Power 4 programs and potentially reducing the employment noise around college athletes.   We also discuss the most recent White House executive order and the future of the Sports Broadcasting Act, currently under scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission. FULL academic article referenced: https://journals.law.harvard.edu/jsel/wp-content/uploads/sites/78/2026/03/Preserving-a-Tradition-or-Creating-a-New-One-1-1.pdf

    41 min

  8. Apr 5

    Asleep at the Wheel: How College Sports Undervalues Women’s Sports in an Era of Tremendous Investment

    In this episode, host Karen Weaver talks with higher education scholars Shannon Kerwin, Jacqueline McDowell, Martha McGrath-Brown, Barbara Osborne, and Janelle Wells about a new Collective Think Tank report on how college athletics is “missing the moment, the money, and the mission” in women’s sports. They explain how booming fan interest and sponsorships contrast with outdated NCAA structures, stalled participation, and widening coaching gaps. The conversation offers presidents and trustees data-driven guidance on equity, hiring, fan engagement, and what the WNBA’s landmark CBA can teach college leaders. With much appreciation to trailblazing scholars Vivian Acosta and Linda Carpenter. Link to full report and executive summary: https://www.wearethecollective.com/women-ncaa-revisited

    38 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

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, campus spirit, housing and dining, and marketing Pre-order Karen Weaver's new book NOW: "Understanding College Athletics" https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/33296/understanding-college-athletics

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