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The Transition From AD To Deputy AD With Wake Forest’s Scott Garrett & Washington’s Andy Fee

Guest Scott Garrett, Wake Forest; Andy Fee, Seattle U
23:16 min watch

Summary

Wake Forest Deputy AD Scott Garrett and former Washington Deputy AD/current Seattle University Deputy AD Andy Fee join ADU’s Steph Garcia Cichosz at the 2024 NACDA Convention to share insight on their journey from the Big Chair at the DI-AAA level and the Power 5 Deputy AD role.

Fee and Garrett reflect on the strategic thinking behind their career transitions, including the opportunity to work with a mentor as their Deputy AD, and the resource management perspective they provide their department in the post-House era based on their experience at the DI-AAA level. On a piece he can uniquely provide to an AD, Fee observes: “I can dive into the weeds a little bit more and provide that echo of ‘Hey, this is why we’re doing these things. Hey, great job on this, this goes right to our strategic plan.’” Garrett and Fee also discuss hiring head coaches, conveying stability in times of change and displaying vulnerability in high-pressure moments before offering their advice to first-time ADs.

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

  • - You both sat in the Big Chair at the DI-AAA level and are now Deputy ADs at a Power 5 institution. What was the strategic thinking behind that career transition?
  • - How did you think about what comes after you, in terms of the next AD to take over after you moved on to a new opportunity? Were there structures you put in place to ensure a smooth transition and continued success based on the momentum you had created?
  • - How are you translating your perspective and experience at the DI-AAA level to the issues facing FBS institutions today?
  • - Let’s talk about hiring, specifically basketball hiring. How is the experience different at the Power 5 level and what wisdom do you bring to the table in terms of how to make the right hire?
  • - How is the pressure from the media and the fanbase amplified at the Power 5 level?
  • - With your experience of being nimble with budgets and resources at the DI-AAA level, how are you thinking about and guiding your departments in this post-House landscape?
  • - Andy, the Huskies transitioned through three Athletic Directors over the course of the past academic year - how did you and the rest of the senior leadership team maintain stability for the department and, most importantly, for the student-athletes?
  • - Scott, Wake Forest hasn’t had that level of transition at the departmental level but how are you conveying confidence to the student-athletes regarding all of the change they’re experiencing within their experience?
  • - If you were to sit down with a first-time AD, especially at the DI-AAA or FCS level, what advice would you give them?
  • - How do you, as the AD, remain transparent and vulnerable with your staff in moments that feel high pressure?

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