Small College Conversations - Cleive Adams

Cleive Adams, Director of Athletics at Ferrum College, joins D3.ticker’s Kristen Eargle to dive into the transition of a 20+ year coaching career to becoming an Athletic Director at Ferrum. The two discuss Ferrum moving from Division III to Division II, including the biggest challenge they are anticipating in transitioning. Adams sought advice from his fellow ADs in Division II on what was key in the transition, which was hiring a good compliance officer.

00:00 - Introduction
00:38 - You’re in year one as the Director of Athletics. What were the biggest challenges to overcome transitioning to the chair? How did you approach those challenges?
03:19 - You spent over two decades as a football coach. As you sit in the AD chair, what are some lessons you can impart on other Ferrum coaches? How has your experience informed how you communicate with, meet with, and coach-up your coaches?
04:34 - From your seat, what are the opportunities and threats for Ferrum?
06:57 - You talked about this being an institutional decision. How much does this fall on your to build alignment with your president and institutional leadership to make this happen?
07:53 - How do you see it as a benefit to move from Division III to Division II from a campus perspective?
10:02 - You’ve already been inducted to the Ferrum College Alumni Sports Hall of Fame. When you go meet with donors, obviously there’s name recognition in Ferrum Virginia, what’s been key for you being able to take advantage of that to generate revenue for Ferrum?
11:31 - What’s top of list for facility investments?
13:45 - What are some of the challenges that you anticipate and how are you navigating?
15:43 - Have most of your coaches coached on the Division II level?
16:26 - Are there educational pieces you’re putting together for your coaches?
17:38 - You have a lot of major projects going on, what’s on your plate in the immediate?