On the Fly by Playfly Sports

Tim Pernetti, Commissioner of the American Athletic Conference (AAC), joins host Gene DeFilippo for an in-depth discussion around the future of college athletics and the strategic directions for the conference. The conversation dives into Pernetti's experiences, the challenges of modern collegiate athletics, innovative strategies for the AAC, and the importance of alignment and coaching. Pernetti also shares insights into the upcoming bowl games, the evolving landscape of college sports, and the personal stories that have shaped his career. *Disclaimer: This interview was recorded on December 3, 2024

BIG EAST Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Vince Nicastro joins Host Gene DeFilippo for an insightful conversation about his 30-year career in college athletics and the rebuilding of the BIG EAST Conference in 2013. The two also touch on conference and tournament expansion, streaming partnerships, the unique culture of the BIG EAST Tournament Men's Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden, and more.

Host Gene DeFilippo is joined by Jeramiah Dickey, Director of Athletics at Boise State University, for a wide ranging discussion about his career journey, his leadership and vision for Boise State Athletics, and transitioning from the Mountain West to the Pac-12. Dickey also shares insights on navigating the changing landscape of college athletics, including the implications of the House Case, NIL, and conference realignment.

Host Gene DeFilippo sits down with Chad Weiberg, the Director of Athletics at Oklahoma State University, who begins by recounting his rise from unpaid intern to his current leadership role. The discussion goes on to cover the challenges and strategic moves amidst Big 12 conference realignment and the departure of Oklahoma and Texas. Chad reflects on the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of 10 members of the OSU basketball family, including his brother, 23 years ago, and how the OSU community continues to "Remember the Ten." He also delves into the changing landscape of college football, including the future of the Bedlam rivalry, the recent College Football 'Super League' proposals and House Settlement, and the widening gap in media rights revenues. The episode concludes with insights on the broader implications of reforms and the adaptability required to navigate ongoing changes in college athletics.

In this episode of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo is joined by ICF Senior Executive Coach, Author, Keynote Speaker, and CEO & Founder of ON Point Next Level Leadership, Pam Borton. Pam shares her journey from a high school basketball player in Ohio to becoming the Head Basketball Coach at the University of Vermont and the University of Minnesota, where she led teams to notable successes, including an NCAA Final Four, Elite Eight,and three straight Sweet Sixteen appearances. After retiring from coaching, Pam founded ON Point Next Level Leadership, a coaching platform for leaders and high performers. She discusses her experiences, from building winning team cultures to her transition into executive coaching. Pam also elaborates on her two books, 'On Point' and 'The Crooked Rim,' which offer insights into leadership, mindset, and resilience. The conversation also touches on the importance of celebrating wins, self-awareness, and adapting to evolving challenges in both sports and business.

Host Gene DeFilippo is joined again this week by Steve Hatchell, the President and CEO of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The conversation delves into the comprehensive statistics around football, such as the growing number of colleges and high schools sponsoring the sport, and why it's important for post-graduate opportunities. The two discuss key NFF initiatives and events like the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, the Campbell Trophy Summit, their Annual Awards Dinner, the criteria for Hall of Fame induction, and more in this continuation of our insightful discussion about the Good in the Game.

President and CEO of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Steve Hatchell, joins host Gene DeFilippo for an in-depth discussion about his incredible career and early days at the University of Colorado, NFF’s impact on both the amateur and college football landscape, the importance of promoting and protecting the good in the game, and their initiatives aimed at advancing the sport’s future. Stay tuned for the second installment of our discussion, coming out soon.

Tommy McClelland, Vice President & Director of Athletics at Rice, joins host Gene DeFilippo for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, mentorship, and the evolving landscape of college athletics. The two discuss his career ascension from being a walk-on student athlete at Northwestern State to his current position, the significance of NIL, Rice’s competitive positioning within the American Athletic Conference, and more.

Host Gene DeFilippo is joined by Bernadette McGlade, the Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner, who shares her journey from a college basketball player at UNC to a coaching position at Georgia Tech and her eventual rise to commissioner. The conversation delves into challenges facing mid-major leagues like securing competitive basketball matchups, the evolution of college athletics amid the name, image, and likeness (NIL) rulings, thoughts on expanding the NCAA tournament structure, the impact of Title IX on women's sports, and more in this insightful discussion.

Michael Strickland, the ACC Senior Associate Commissioner for Football, joins host Gene DeFilippo for a comprehensive discussion on the complexities of scheduling to accommodate for the expansion of the ACC. The conversation offers an in-depth look at the strategic considerations behind creating a balanced and equitable football schedule that mitigates travel concerns for teams, ensures competitive equity, and caters to the needs of teams, student-athletes, fans, and broadcast partners.

Host Gene DeFilippo and Jeff Bourne, the Director of Athletics at James Madison University, engage in a wide-ranging conversation about JMU's transition to the Sun Belt Conference, the societal pressures on today's student-athletes in light of NIL policies, insights on the future of intercollegiate athletics, and more.

In this episode of On the Fly, Thorr Bjorn, the Director of Athletics at the University of Rhode Island, joins Gene to reflect on his 16+ year tenure at the URI and the key to his longevity. The two discuss the evolving landscape of NIL, the history and traditions of basketball in the Atlantic 10 conference, the significant investment in facilities improvements at URI, and more.

Stan Wilcox, the Executive Vice President for Regulatory Affairs at the NCAA, joins Gene DeFilippo for a comprehensive discussion around the NCAA's structure, legal challenges, the intersection of name, image, and likeness with transfer rules and recruiting regulations, and more.

In this episode of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo is joined by Chief of Staff & Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director at the University of Texas, Chris Plonsky, for a wide-ranging conversation about the growth of women's sports, the impact of moving to the SEC, NIL in college sports, and more.

In this episode of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo is joined by ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips for a wide-ranging conversation about the conference's decision to expand, realignment and so much more.

In the latest episode of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo is joined by North Carolina director of athletics, Bubba Cunningham, for a wide-ranging conversation on college athletics, UNC football and more.

In this episode of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo sits down with Pat Manak, the CEO of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, for a conversation about the upcoming NACDA convention and all the things the association does to help athletics directors across the country.

Dave Clawson has spent the last nine years building Wake Forest into a respectable program in the ACC, including seven straight trips to bowl games. As he enters his 10th season at the helm of the Demon Deacons, he sits down with host Gene DeFilippo for a wide-ranging conversation on all the hot-button issues in college football today: from the transfer portal and NIL to scheduling and more.

What goes into changing conferences? In this episode of On the Fly, hear all the details and work that goes into making it happen. Host Gene DeFilippo is joined by Lisa Campos, director of athletics at the University of Texas at San Antonio, for a wide-ranging conversation, covering everything from multimedia rights to on-field football success.

Women's college sports are having a moment. Buoyed by incredible viewership numbers from the NCAA Tournament, and with the Women's College World Series on the horizon, there's more attention than ever. Patti Phillips is the CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports, and joins host Gene DeFilippo for a wide-ranging conversation about the impact of increased viewership, why athletic departments need to hire more women in leadership roles, and so much more.