Contacts Coaching Podcast

In this episode of the Contacts Coaching podcast, Athletic Director Chris Stevens from Immanuel High School returns to discuss his journey and the key elements of managing a high school sports program. Stevens, a 30-year veteran football coach now in his fourth year as an athletic director, was recently honored with the Rookie of the Year award by the Central Section. He shares his experiences transitioning from public to private education, the importance of budgeting and fundraising, managing family involvement in school sports, and creating memorable experiences for student-athletes. Stevens provides invaluable insights into how to balance the logistical and emotional demands of the job while fostering a supportive environment for athletes and coaches. Tune in for a comprehensive look at the world of high school athletic administration and gain practical advice for navigating this challenging yet rewarding field.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back
00:34 Chris Stevens' Major Award
02:49 Journey to Becoming Athletic Director
04:43 Public vs. Private School Administration
15:05 Balancing Family and Career
20:53 Fundraising and Development in Schools
31:01 Finding the Perfect Tournament
31:28 Prepackaged Deals vs. DIY Trips
32:52 Creating Memorable Experiences
34:35 Innovative Team Bonding Ideas
39:02 Senior Night Celebrations
49:22 Managing Budgets in Private Schools
57:11 Fundraising Strategies and Challenges
01:03:20 Closing Thoughts and Networking

In a special Contacts Coaching podcast episode, Stevenson alumna Danielle Koval—Director of Compliance for Financial Aid and revenue sharing at the University of Oklahoma—shares her path from being a swimmer and water polo player at Stevenson to swimming at Fresno State, working in student-athlete academic services, moving to UNLV, and then joining OU after taking a financial aid role just before COVID. She compares working environments across Fresno State, UNLV, and a Power Four brand like Oklahoma, emphasizing the scale of budgets, the weight of a global brand, and the constant pace of compliance changes driven by lawsuits and reactive policy shifts. The conversation explains how college athletics finances work, why most sports operate at a loss, and how football revenue and attendance underwrite broader departmental resources. Koval details how athletic scholarships and financial aid function across headcount and equivalency sports, why FAFSA and campus/college-level scholarships matter, and how tuition waivers and programs like the Western Undergraduate Exchange reduce costs. She breaks down the shift from NCAA scholarship limits to roster caps under the new landscape, including how schools decide whether to fully fund expanded rosters and how new scholarships can count against the revenue-sharing cap. The episode also covers OU’s revenue-sharing approach (six sports), Title IX defensibility pressures, preferred walk-on dynamics under roster caps, the increased role of agents in everyday issues, and how contracts are renegotiated annually amid early signing day and the transfer portal. Koval discusses the challenges of paying athletes while preparing them for life after sports, including OU’s financial literacy programming, and closes with a personal reflection on changing her mindset from perfectionism to giving herself grace as circumstances shift.

00:00 Welcome & Meet Danielle Koval (OU Compliance + Financial Aid/Rev Share)
00:33 Danielle’s Athlete-to-Administrator Journey: Fresno State → UNLV → Oklahoma
05:31 Leveling Up: What Changes from Mid-Major to Power Program?
08:34 The OU Brand & Culture of Excellence Across Sports
11:23 Money Talks: Football Revenue, Facilities, and Funding Other Sports
12:51 Is College Athletics Sustainable? NIL ‘Funny Money’ to Revenue Share
17:26 Scholarships 101: Headcount vs Equivalency (and Why ‘Full Ride’ Is Rare)
20:46 New Era: Roster Caps, Scholarship Flexibility, and the 20.5M ‘Salary Cap’
24:30 Financial Aid Hacks: FAFSA, Department Scholarships, WUE, and Tuition Waivers
30:10 Reallocating Aid: When Top Students ‘Free Up’ Scholarships for Other Sports
31:41 The Scholarship Funding Crunch: Revenue Sports vs. Everyone Else
32:24 Tuition Waivers & Campus Support: How Schools Make Full Funding Work
34:33 OU’s Self-Sustaining Model and the ‘Front Porch’ Value of Athletics
36:13 Roster Caps vs. Scholarship Limits: Why Walk-Ons Are Disappearing
37:53 Revenue Share at OU: The 6 Sports in the Pool (and Why Gymnastics)
39:36 Preferred Walk-Ons, Practice Bodies, and Stretching the Rev-Share Dollar
41:35 Inside Football Rev-Share Tiers: Contracts, Cutoffs, and Annual Renegotiations
46:03 Culture & Pay Equity: Avoiding Locker-Room Blowups in the NIL Era
47:43 Transfer Portal Reality Check: The Grass Isn’t Greener (and Many Don’t Land)
48:52 Recruiting Goes Pro: Agents, Negotiations, and the New GM Job
50:25 Preparing Athletes for Money & Life After Sport: Literacy, Taxes, Careers
55:15 Closing Reflection: Changing Your Mind, Letting Go of Perfection

Welcome to the Contacts Coaching podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Mike Luevano, host, and founder of the Between the Shots Show. Mike shares his extensive background in education, development work, and his latest venture that combines golf with deep, meaningful conversations about life, vulnerability, and masculinity. From his upbringing in San Jose to his work with nonprofit organizations and his passion for sports, Mike provides valuable insights into building relationships, personal growth, and the importance of open dialogue. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on how to navigate life's challenges and the transformative power of real, heartfelt conversations.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
01:13 Mike's Early Life and Career
03:09 Nonprofit Work and Development
05:35 Fundraising Strategies and Community Involvement
12:55 The Concept of 'Between the Shots'
24:07 A Lifestyle Show with Purpose
24:26 Fatherhood and Legacy
25:31 The Importance of Vulnerability
28:24 Creating Safe Spaces for Open Conversations
30:55 Personal Growth and Self-Reflection
37:07 Setting and Achieving Goals
40:38 Building and Maintaining Relationships
45:08 Conclusion and Future Plans

Tune in to the Contacts Coaching Podcast as we dive deep with Rick Jackson, the Athletic Director of Madison High School in Greater San Diego. With 26 years at the same school, Rick shares his journey from coaching multiple sports at Scripps Ranch to becoming a pivotal figure at Madison. In this episode, Rick reflects on his transition from being a head coach to stepping into an administrative role, the significance of maintaining relationships with student-athletes, and the importance of fostering a supportive and multi-sport culture. Discover insights into the challenges of modern athletics, insights on countering the temptation of sports specialization, and learn about the impactful Leadership Council initiative. Join us for a captivating conversation filled with valuable lessons for both aspiring and seasoned coaches and athletic directors alike.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:21 Rick Jackson's Coaching Journey
02:09 Balancing Multiple Coaching Roles
03:02 Family and Coaching
04:18 The Importance of Multi-Sport Athletes
05:08 Challenges in Youth Sports Specialization
08:42 Building a Positive Sports Culture
08:52 Managing Small School Athletics
14:00 Transitioning from Coaching to Administration
14:37 Organizational Skills in Coaching
17:34 Reflections on Coaching Football
18:53 The Importance of Relationships in Coaching
26:06 Competing Fall Sports
26:23 Balancing Coaching and AD Responsibilities
28:10 Challenges of Dual Roles
30:59 Parental Influence and Spectator Behavior
33:05 Leadership Council Initiatives
37:33 Encouraging Multi-Sport Participation
43:21 Retention and School Culture
45:57 District Collaboration and AD Networking
47:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Contacts Coaching Podcast, we are joined by Paul Caffery, the Director of Athletics at LaHabra High School. Paul shares his extensive background in coaching and administration, highlighting his journey from growing up in an athletic family to becoming an athletic director. He discusses the vital role of community culture, the importance of multi-sport athletes, and shares invaluable insights on creating cohesive and branded athletic programs. Paul also delves into the challenges of balancing coaching duties, family life, and handling unexpected health issues. Towards the end, he provides advice for new athletic directors on establishing effective systems and fostering strong relationships within the sports community. Don't miss this insightful discussion packed with practical tips and heartfelt experiences on leading successful high school athletic programs.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:26 Paul Caffery's Athletic Background
01:41 Transition to Public School Education
02:21 Coaching Career and Health Challenges
03:54 Return to La Habra as Athletic Director
05:43 Building a Supportive Athletic Culture
12:34 Challenges and Learning as a New AD
19:20 Promoting Multi-Sport Participation
26:29 Transitioning Between Seasons
26:41 Lessons from the Sporting Goods Industry
27:54 The Importance of Branding
30:18 Building Relationships and Trust
33:03 Challenges of Being an Athletic Director
35:23 Networking and Mentorship
39:48 Balancing Approachability and Efficiency
47:39 Changing Perspectives on Student Interaction
52:42 Evaluating Coaches Effectively
55:56 Conclusion and Future Plans