FOR ATHLETIC DIRECTORS & HEADS OF SCHOOL
A Note from Mike
A lighter news cycle this month, but two developments worth watching. Plus, a look at coach development, some spaces for conversations, and news for The Full Roster.
ON MY RADAR
Alabama: What Happens When the League Goes Away?
On September 23, the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) voted to end athletics after the 2026–27 school year, closing a program that has operated for more than 50 years. Of its 108 member schools, 66 rely on AISA for athletics.
As leagues, affiliations, and competitive structures change, questions that weren’t even on the radar five years ago are beginning to emerge.
Who will we play? Who are our peer schools? Which schools do we want to align ourselves with? What will championships look like? How will schedules and rivalries change?
These are bigger questions than scheduling and competition. Athletic affiliations help shape a school’s identity, the student experience, family confidence, enrollment conversations, and alumni connections. When the competitive landscape changes, schools need to think carefully about where they fit, who they want to compete alongside, and what kind of athletic experience they want to create moving forward.
Big Ten: The College Sports Economy Keeps Shifting
On October 28, Big Ten presidents and chancellors approved a plan that establishes a framework for approximately $49 million in annual athlete compensation per institution, including a $27.5 million limit on third-party NIL agreements arranged by schools. The move mirrors the proposed economic structure of the Protect College Sports Act, which passed the Senate 77-22 and is awaiting action in the House when members return November 9. Whether the legislation ultimately passes is still uncertain, but the direction of college athletics is clear.
For those of us working in high school athletics, our responsibility remains the same: help families make informed decisions, continue developing and educating our student-athletes, and make sure they understand the opportunities available to them. The conversation should extend beyond where an athlete might play in college or what they might earn. It should remain grounded in development, opportunity, and education.
SIDELINE ASCENT WRAPS SEASON 1 AND WAS ON THE ROAD
Season 1 of Sideline Ascent is in the books.
Taryn Sheehan and I had the opportunity to speak with 18 coaches, leaders, and mentors across different sports and levels. While their backgrounds and experiences varied, four themes consistently surfaced: the importance of someone believing in you before you believe in yourself, setting standards through actions rather than rules, communicating with clarity and consistency, and investing in the people responsible for developing others. These conversations offer something for anyone who coaches, leads, mentors, or works with people.
Thank you to our 18 guests and everyone who listened and joined the conversation. Season 2 is ahead, but there are plenty of lessons from Season 1 worth revisiting.
Investing in the Craft of Coaching
Earlier this month, Taryn Sheehan and I spent a day at Pomfret School leading two professional development sessions built on the four cornerstones of coaching: Culture, Communication, Connection, and Craft.
Thank you to Colin Sullivan, Pomfret’s Athletic Director, for giving coaches time to step away from their seasons and work on their own development.
Athletics is one of a school’s greatest cultural assets, and coaches bring that culture to life every day. Most of them rarely get dedicated time to develop as leaders or learn from one another.
If you’re an Athletic Director thinking about how to invest in your coaches this year, we’d welcome the conversation - mike@mindsetcurated.com.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
The Huddle: Athletics as a Schoolwide Opportunity
I’m joining Will Bladt and Catherine Wharton for LeadTeam Partners next Huddle for School Leaders on Tuesday, November 17, at 2 p.m.
We’ll talk about how the shifting independent school athletics landscape opens up more collaboration across the school. Athletics touches enrollment, retention, student well-being, advancement, and school culture. We’ll look at how to connect those pieces on purpose. Click here for more information and to register.
FROM REACTIVE TO RESILIENT: SEE YOU AT AIMS
Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools is hosting me for a session entitled From Reactive to Resilient: The Path to Operational Excellence in Independent School Athletic Departments.
In this session, I’ll share a practical framework for auditing athletic department operations, with a scoring system across five areas: role clarity, workflows, communication, decision-making, and seasonal planning. The aim is to help Athletic Directors spend less time on daily friction and more time building the culture and programs their schools need.
Learn more about the session: AIMS Conference Session Details
BIG NEWS: THE FULL ROSTER ADDS A FOURTH PARTNER
Will Bladt and I are welcoming the SAIS as our fourth association partner for The Full Roster, joining ADVIS , Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) , and North Carolina Association of Independent Schools.
Each partner brings new schools and new perspectives into the program. Imagine a coach in Texas exchanging ideas with a colleague in North Carolina, or an Athletic Director in Tennessee building a relationship with someone in Pennsylvania. Different schools, different challenges, plenty to learn from one another.
The Full Roster is a professional learning community for independent school athletics professionals, built so you leave with new skills and a network of colleagues you can lean on long after the program ends.
We launch in January and run through April, with four cohorts designed for the different roles that make school athletics programs work.
If you work in independent school athletics, physical education, or wellness, we’d love to have you join us.
Learn more about The Full Roster: https://elevatedleadership.us/full-roster/