When a college leader assumes his/her presidency for the first time, I've often wondered how they begin to understand the complexities of college athletics. Nearly 90% of sitting presidents rise to the position from the academic side of the house- where do they learn about athletics?

In 2023, there are so many challenges and choices for presidents to make, that it can seem daunting. How do new presidents go about learning how things work (beyond wins and losses) in the business of college sports? Do they just listen and take directives from their athletics director? Or do they work to insert the values and mission of the institution into their athletics departments? And how do presidents work to understand the Conference and national issues impacting college sports today?

My guests today are two long time professional colleagues and friends. Ana Mari Cauce is the 33rd president of the University of Washington where she has been a member of the faculty since 1986. She is a member of the Pac-12 Conference executive leadership team, and was a part of the group that hired current Commissioner George Kliavkoff. She is deeply aware of the fast changing dynamics in Power 5 and Pac-12 programs.

James Soto Antony is the Dean, Division of Graduate Education, and Professor, Education Studies at the University of California San Diego. Along with Ana Mari, he is a co-editor of  The College President Handbook: A Sustainable and Practical Guide for Emerging Leaders, a dynamic book published in 2022 that includes relevant information for new Presidents across many of their responsibilities. Jim has closely followed the changes in college athletics in the last 20 years as a researcher, and was the founder of the University of Washington's Center for Leadership in Athletics.