Three Decades In Athletics With Arkansas State’s Jeff Purinton

Guest Jeff Purinton, Arkansas State

20:28 min watch

Summary

Arkansas State Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Jeff Purinton joins ADU’s Tai M. Brown at the 2023 NACDA Convention to reflect on his nearly three decades in athletics, including a 15-year tenure working closely with Crimson Tide Football Head Coach Nick Saban while at Alabama. Purinton and Brown discuss the influence of Saban on Purinton’s leadership philosophy and communication style before diving into the importance of defining expectations, building out a staff and establishing relationships as a new AD at an institution that’s had a strong history of successful coaches and programs.

The conversation is indexed below for efficient viewing (click the time stamp to jump to a specific question/topic).

- How did working at Alabama for 15 years, working alongside Coach Saban and his coaching style, impact your first year as AD at Arkansas State?
- How do you like to communicate? How do you like to receive information? How do you teach the people you hire how to work with you, in addition to how you work with them?
- Tell us about the work you have to do during your first year to define staff roles and help your new team feel successful in the organization you're now leading.
- An interesting angle of leadership theory is how, as you build your team, everyone has a say in the culture that you're building.
- Tell us about getting your footing as a new AD at a place that's had a run of successful coaches and programs and the challenges of jumping on a moving train.
- Tell us about the challenges of establishing relationships with stakeholders across campus and within your department, especially when you have to convince people about the value Athletics brings to the institution.
- How was your experience getting to know the new chancellor?

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