VILLANOVA ATHLETICS LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

Thursday, June 23 &
Friday, June 24, 2022

The journey to becoming a University that brings home national championships is about a lot more than the x's and o's of the game. It's largely due to the exceptional leaders on the sidelines and behind the scenes who have a passion for sports, a genuine desire to develop well rounded student-athletes, and the vision and charisma to inspire greatness in those around them.

At the Villanova Athletics Leadership Summit, you will hear directly from leaders of Villanova Athletics, like vice president and athletic director, Mark Jackson, and Naismith Hall of Fame Coach, Jay Wright, to understand their “WHY” behind pursuing a career in sports. This course will provide a unique opportunity to crystallize your leadership philosophy, apply it to your life experiences, and implement it in your life.

The William B. Finneran Pavilion

You will learn about the five pillars that guide the work of Villanova Athletics:

Developing an authentic leadership philosophy
Supporting student-athlete development
Achieving competitive excellence
Fostering compliance and community, and
Promoting athletic entrepreneurship.

Held at the state of the art Finneran Pavilion on Villanova’s beautiful campus, students will participate in a two-day, truly one-of-a-kind learning experience.

You will learn directly from the creative and innovative leaders of Villanova Athletics. You will connect and network with other sports professionals who share a passion for Villanova Athletics and its values based, holistic approach to leadership. Finally, a Villanova faculty member will guide you during and after the summit in the development of your Leadership Philosophy. By committing to this important “lonely work”, you will craft a living guide that will influence how you communicate and respond authentically to people and events. All work after the two-day in-person experience must be completed by July 31, 2022.

WHO SHOULD ENROLL?

The Villanova Athletics Leadership Summit is designed for:

Early to mid-level professionals working in all dimensions of Sports Management (administration; coaches; academic support staff; facilities professionals, fundraisers, etc.)
Individuals interested in transitioning to a career in Sports Management
Individuals who desire to know more about general leadership lessons from Villanova Athletics (such as Alumni, Parents, etc.)
Current college students (undergraduate and graduate) seeking to learn more about a career in collegiate athletics.*

*A limited number of seats are available for current students.

EARN A CERTIFICATE, DIGITAL BADGE AND CEU'S

Registrants of this non-credit program will be awarded a Course Certificate and CEUs for their participation in the Summit.

They will also earn a Badge signifying their completion of the experience and the successful submission of a leadership philosophy. The digital badge can be posted to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or other social media.

athletic leadership summit digital badge

INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE

$1,250 Includes access to all events during the summit, all meals,
Villanova swag, and digital badge and certificate upon completion.

Villanova Alumni discount: $1,150 Use code NOVAALUM
Group discounts are also available. Call Chris Katsapis at 610-519-4569 for pricing and details.

Current high school, college, or graduate student rate: $995. Use code GOCATS
Limited scholarships for students are available; please indicate your interest when you apply.

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT SCHEDULE

DAY 1: June 23, 2022

8:00-9:00AM: Check-In, Breakfast, and Networking Presented by Playfly

9:00-9:30AM: Introductions and Welcome: Finding Your “Why” for a Career in Sports
Mark Jackson, Vice President and Director of Athletics View Mark Jackson's bio

9:30-10:30AM: Keynote Address
Jay Wright, Naismith Hall of Fame Coach View Jay Wright's bio

10:30-10:45AM: Break

10:45-11:15AM: Meet the Professor & Leadership Development Activity
Karen Graziano, Villanova University Professor View Karen Graziano's bio

11:15AM-12:30PM: Panel Discussion: Leadership Journeys & Career Pathways
Ashwin Puri, VU Chief Athletic Operating Officer/Senior Assoc. AD View Ashwin Puri's bio
Chris Heck, President, Business Operations, Philadelphia 76ers View Chris Heck's bio
Andrew Brandt, VU Exec. Dir. Moorad Center of the Study of Sports Law
Krystle Higgins, VU Assistant AD Strategy and Finance

12:30-1:30PM: Lunch & networking Presented by Legends

1:30-2:30PM: Sports Performance, Technology, Analytics, and Innovation
Kevin Miller, VU Associate AD Sports Performance
Dr. Richard Neff, VU Psychologist/Athletic Specialist
Shawn Keane, VU Associate Athletics Trainer

2:30-3:30PM: The Finneran Pavilion: A Case Study
Mike Behan, Chief Operating Officer, College Partnerships, Legends View Mike Behan's bio
David Wishart, General Manager, Collegiate Partnerships, Legends
Kevin Ahern, VU Associate AD Ticket Operations

3:30-3:45PM: BREAK

3:45-4:45PM Current Landscape of College Athletics – Title IX, Name/Image/Likeness
Lynn Tighe, VU Chief Athletic Admin. Officer, SWA, Senior Assoc. AD View Lynn Tighe's bio
Katie LeGrand, Associate AD Compliance View Katie LeGrand's bio
Andrew Donovan, Vice President, Collegiate Partnerships, Altius Sports Partners View Andrew's bio

4:45-6:30PM: Happy Hour with Advancement Leadership, Presented by Playfly
Brian Beacham, Executive Director, Villanova Athletics Fund

DAY 2: June 24, 2022

8:00-9:00AM: Breakfast and Networking, Presented by Playfly

9:00-9:30AM: Check in with the Professor
Karen Graziano, Villanova University Professor

9:30-10:30AM: Investing in Sports Business
Mike Schreiber, Founder & CEO, Playfly Sports View Mike Schreiber's Bio
Wayne Kimmel, Managing Partner, SeventySix Capital View Wayne's Bio

10:30-10:45AM: Break

10:45-11:45AM: The Complete Student Athlete
Kristin Gobberg, Associate Director of Athletics Development
Leashia Lewis, Assistant AD, UNITAS
Allison Vanella, Associate AD, Student-Athlete Development

11:45AM-12:45PM: Head Coach Panel
Moderator: Mark Jackson, VP & Director of Athletics

12:45-1:45PM: Lunch & Networking Presented by Legends

1:45-3:00pm: Tour of Finneran Pavilion & Facilities Overview
Brian Anderson, Associate AD Facilities and Game Operations

3-3:30PM: Discussion & Wrap-Up with The Professor
Karen Graziano, Villanova University Professor

3:30PM: Closing & Wrap-up
Rev. Peter Donohue, OSA, PhD, University President

SUMMIT TOPICS

To lead others, it is vitally important to understand ourselves first and the type of leader we seek to become, as well as the culture we would like to develop. The “Leadership Summit” will help unlock some of the answers to these questions. Students will learn about the importance of self-discovery and what questions should guide them in the development of their own personal philosophy.

We will feature the many varied careers associated with providing support for student-athletes that is critical for their success and that they will carry with them for a lifetime. These include professional pathways in academic support, mental health counseling, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming, spirituality, and career planning.

Winning championships in the ultra-competitive world of major collegiate athletics is a multi-pronged effort. Students will hear from those on the front lines as we cover the hiring and managing of head coaches, what makes a successful coach and program, the recruiting of prospective student-athletes, the importance of sports medicine, strength, conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, technology and analytics, and other areas that factor into garnering a competitive edge.

Building guardrails and protecting an institution’s brand is a huge responsibility of collegiate athletic programs. We will discuss topics related to compliance and community, how to balance stress, anxiety, and expectations while navigating these demands in the lightning quick world of social media.

Revenue-Generation, Storytelling, and Brand-Building: Athletic Entrepreneurship includes themes such as strategic and innovative fundraising models and the creation of sustainable revenue streams to help support all areas of the athletic department. Additionally, we will discuss brand building and inspired story telling through an athletic department and/or a flagship program within the athletic department in the digital social media vertical, a fast-growing field that offers multiple opportunities for career development.