In this conversation, Scott Kennell shares his journey from being a successful collegiate soccer player to becoming an athletic director. He discusses the pivotal moments in his career, the influence of mentorship, the challenges of balancing coaching and administrative roles, and the emotional journey of building an NCAA program from scratch at Penn College. Scott emphasizes the importance of failure as a learning experience and outlines his aspirations for the future of Penn College athletics, highlighting the achievements of student-athletes both on and off the field.

In this episode of Wildcast, host Eric Hunt interviews Matt Blymier, the Assistant Director of Athletics at Penn College. They discuss the multifaceted role of communications in athletics, the challenges of transitioning to NCAA status, and the impact of COVID-19 on sports. Matt shares his career journey from newspaper reporting to athletic communications, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and branding. He reflects on memorable moments in Penn College athletics and offers advice for aspiring coaches and leaders.

takeaways

• Communications in athletics encompasses various media forms.
• The role has evolved to include social media and video production.
• Transitioning to NCAA status was a significant challenge.
• COVID-19 presented unprecedented challenges for athletic departments.
• Strategic planning is crucial for institutional growth.
• Branding and logo redesign can enhance institutional identity.
• Building relationships with student-athletes is rewarding.
• Mentorship is vital for aspiring coaches and leaders.
• Adaptability is key in the ever-changing landscape of athletics.
• Memorable moments in sports can have a lasting impact.

In this conversation, Geoff Hensley, head men's basketball coach at Penn College, shares his journey from growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, to becoming a Navy officer and eventually transitioning into coaching. He discusses the discipline and commitment he learned in the Navy, his experiences as a student-athlete at Norwich University, and the challenges he faced as a first-time head coach. Hensley emphasizes the importance of building a strong team culture, his coaching philosophy centered around hard work and positivity, and the memorable moments he cherishes both on and off the court.