FFP95: Behind the Desk: An Athletic Director on Parents, Coaches, and Conflicts

0 plays · Aug 18, 2026

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Introduction

00:33 – Building Athletic Department HQ from scratch — and why it's already taken off

02:05 – The feedback from ADs and administrators already putting the content to use

04:07 – Getting coaches to buy in — the "old school" mindset and why excellence means continued evolution

06:06 – Why King's Academy leans into mental performance and staying ahead of the curve

07:56 – The marketing side of athletics — enrollment, visibility, and the reality of NIL

10:23 – Staying "on mission" while balancing competition and admissions

13:11 – Why athletics can't be the only reason a family chooses a school

14:58 – Relationship-building with athletes — avoiding pitfalls before the hard conversation arrives

18:12 – The value of assistant coaches — finding people who can fill the gaps you can't

19:24 – "Playing coach" vs. coaches who genuinely care — and the responsibilities that get in the way

21:57 – Having favorites — investment, effort, and earning a coach's attention

26:11 – Staying mission-driven as a team — and what happens when everyone's rowing the same direction

27:45 – Having his daughter under the same roof at King's Academy

29:49 – Derek's vision for the future of Athletic Department HQ

32:56 – Staying on-brand and resisting the urge to chase followers

35:59 – The story behind the viral Netflix parody video

37:44 – What that video reveals about empathy — seeing the other side of the desk

38:43 – Why "not everything needs a response" when handling upset parents

40:25 – "If your kid isn't in danger, it's gonna be okay" — advice for parents

40:42 – Derek's closing advice: be mission-driven, not scoreboard-driven

🤝 CONNECT WITH DEREK CHIRCH

📷 The Athletic Department Instagram

🤝 CONNECT WITH MIKE HUBER