“You’re constantly in a position of uncertainty or it could be maybe uncomfortable… you really have to be pretty grounded in who you are and your values and understand this is our mission.” That’s Army West Point Director of Athletics Tom Theodorakis in conversation with ADU’s Tai M. Brown at the 2025 NACDA Convention.
Theodorakis, just months into his role as AD, reflects on the unique ways the Black Knights align athletic excellence with the overarching mission of the Academy. Theodorakis explains how his initial 90-day plan was impacted by the need to hire three head coaches in his first few months in the Big Chair but how those searches provided his team the opportunity to redefine their values.
As he evaluates the landscape ahead, Theodorakis notes that the challenges facing intercollegiate athletics can either create an identity crisis for athletic departments or allow leaders the chance to identify and pursue opportunities that best align with their institutional mission.
The conversation is indexed below for efficient viewing (click the time stamp to jump to a specific question/topic).