Andy 0:03
Welcome to the HigherEdJobs Podcast. I'm Andy Hibel, the chief operating officer and one of the co-founders of HigherEdJobs.

Kelly 0:09
And I'm Kelly Cherwin, the director of editorial strategy. Today we have Alan Kellogg as our guest, and we'll be talking about working in an athletic department on campus and how it would be different from other areas in higher ed.

Alan Kellogg is the chief of staff for the University of Louisville Athletic Department, where he supports the athletic director through executive strategy, cross-departmental project management, and organizational development initiatives. A 30-year U.S. Army veteran who retired with the rank of colonel, Alan brings deep expertise in leadership, communication, and strategic planning to collegiate athletics.

Before joining UofL in 2022, Alan served as chief of staff at Army Human Resources Command at Fort Knox, leading large-scale operations and personnel strategy. His military service includes deployments to Somalia and Iraq and leadership roles at every level of Army command.

A former Division I student-athlete, Alan was a three-year football letterman and two-year co-captain at Drake University, where he earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He also holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Alan, thank you so much for joining us today. We're excited to talk.

Alan 1:13
It's great to be here. Thank you for having me.

Kelly 1:15
So let's dive in. Alan, can you tell us a little bit about your first job in college athletics and how that opportunity came about?

Alan 1:24
So kind of an interesting way to get here. As you talked about, I spent a long time in the military, and going back to my days in college, I was a football player as you stated. Upon graduation, I received a graduate assistant position to stay with the university and tie into the athletic department at Drake University. I'd always hoped to get back into college athletics in some way, shape, or form. I didn't realize it would take 30-plus years.

We were fortunate to be a part of what is called the Career Skills Program through the military, which allows transitioning veterans to intern with a company or, in my case, the athletic department here at the University of Louisville. I reached out to a good friend I had served with in the military who was serving as senior director of presidential operations for the president at UofL. She had done a similar program and gave me advice on where I should go.

She asked me, "If you had a dream job or dream location within the university, what would that be?" I said clearly athletics. She reached out, explained the program, and in June 2022, I came in for what was to be about a 90-day internship.

After about 70 to 75 days, the athletic department did not have a chief of staff position. The AD asked me to design what that position would look like, write a job description, and compete for it. In August 2022, I officially came in as chief of staff.

Last year in July, I transitioned from the chief of staff role and was elevated to associate athletic director for internal operations and administration, while maintaining all my previous responsibilities. I also picked up the role of HR and the additional role of basketball sport administrator.

Andy 3:23
That's quite a story, Alan. I think what's neat about a role in academia is how it can evolve. Could you describe the core responsibilities of your current role in administration and internal operations at Louisville athletics? Maybe give a day in the life?

Alan 3:49
That's interesting -- to the tail end of your question, there's probably no typical day. It's unique and different every single day as we deal with challenges, problems, and issues. I'll break it into two parts.

From the internal operations and administration side, I'm working across the department, not just with men's basketball. I touch a lot of tasks each day -- strategic messaging, HR (hiring, contracts, functions), strategic planning, and community engagement.

I'm the primary contact with university and government leadership, such as the governor's or mayor's office. I'm also tied into leadership meetings: executive leadership weekly, senior staff weekly, and all-staff quarterly. I'm involved in designing those meetings, setting metrics, and ensuring communication across the department.

From a men's basketball sport administrator role, I picked this up last July. As Coach Pat Kelsey came in, I came in about 30 to 45 days later. I handle budget, game contracts, personnel contracts, operations, logistics, rev share planning, and fundraising. I also attend community events -- for example, supporting a local basketball tournament called Dirt Bowl.

In a nutshell, that's the range of hats I wear. Each day is unique and different, which I love. I come in with a plan, but often it changes based on priorities for my boss and the department.

Kelly 7:11
Thanks, Alan. It sounds like you definitely wear a lot of hats in your role. When people think of college athletics, they think of coaches and athletic directors, but there are so many other people in between. What are some common entry-level positions in athletics departments?

Alan 7:48
Some key ones that come to mind:

Compliance: They ensure we follow NCAA rules. They're the heartbeat of the organization.

Business office: Critical for revenue management, paying coaches, supporting staff, and upgrading facilities. People with accounting or business backgrounds are marketable.

Facilities: Military or corporate experience can transfer well here.

Graduate assistantships: Great entry opportunities. We also offer fully funded education through Adidas. We hire about 11 interns per year across departments.

Fundraising: If you have fundraising experience outside athletics, it's valuable.

Marketing and public relations: For example, our senior associate AD for external, Lottie Stockwell, came from the corporate sector and has thrived.

Kelly 11:15
Thank you. It's interesting that you don't have to have been a college athlete to work in athletics. Let's pivot to structure. How is athletics different from academic or student affairs in your perspective?

Alan 11:51
The biggest difference is pace. We're in constant flux and reorganizing to meet NCAA demands. Higher ed is more static. Athletics requires urgency. Decisions move fast, often tied to media, hiring, or records.

It reminds me of the military -- urgency, timely decisions, resource allocation, and responding quickly. For example, we had football staff transitions just 23 days before the season. We had to move fast to be ready.

Andy 14:47
It's interesting, Alan. You've already brought up military comparisons. Given your 30-year military career as a colonel, compare and contrast what’s different and what skills transferred to academia.

Alan 16:00
One positive: I don’t have to get up at 5:30 every morning for PT.

We’ve partnered with Special Operations Command, because there are parallels between student-athletes and special operators. Both are elite, disciplined, and goal-driven.

Our AD Josh Heird respects the military and values integrity, decision-making under pressure, and character. That respect made my transition easier. It feels like a perfect fit -- continuing to give back, mentoring student-athletes, and setting them up for success not only on the court or field but in life.

Kelly 18:03
So you're saying I should not tell your AD that you want to get up at 5:30 every morning?

Alan 18:09
Yeah.

Kelly 18:09
Not on your list?

Alan 18:11
I prefer not. He’s a big-time runner, but he prefers afternoons.

Andy 18:21
That part of the podcast will be left out of the version he hears. If you’re listening, Josh...

Kelly 18:30
Pivoting slightly but staying with job search: if someone were interviewing for a position on your team, what questions would you ask, and what responses impress you?

Alan 19:10
I’ve sat on many hiring panels. Our positions are competitive -- 200+ candidates for one role. We save standout resumes.

What stands out? Candidates who:

Articulate experiences and leadership.

Show how they solved problems.

Demonstrate they did homework on our organization (reviewing our website, goals, NCAA policies, rev share issues, etc.).

Strong communication skills, being personable, and following up after interviews also matter. Most don’t follow up. A thank-you email, letter, or text shows attention to detail.

In both the military and athletics, little things matter. Perception can shift based on one detail. Attention to detail is critical.

Kelly 21:49
That's fantastic advice.

Andy 21:56
And it applies beyond athletics. Candidates show attention to detail not by saying it but by demonstrating it.

Alan 22:20
Couldn't agree more.

Andy 22:21
At HigherEdJobs we advocate for professional associations. Any associations or events specific to athletics you recommend?

Alan 22:47
The biggest one is NACDA -- the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. Many from our department attend. It's the best networking and relationship-building opportunity.

It rotates locations -- last year in Las Vegas, next year in Florida. For job seekers or those looking to progress, it's the one to attend.

Andy 23:49
We’ll include a link in the notes. To close: what do you find most appealing about this role, and how does it differ from your previous career?

Alan 24:20
Access. As a kid who loved sports, being on the sideline at Notre Dame, the ACC Championship, and the NCAA Tournament was surreal.

Also, interaction with leaders like Coach Kelsey, Coach Brohm, and AD Josh Heird. It’s a leadership lab.

But most of all, our student-athletes inspire me daily with their commitment to the university, their teams, and community. Helping them succeed in sports and life is what drives me.

Kelly 26:01
That’s fantastic. I’ll end with our usual fun closer: what’s your favorite college mascot?

Alan 26:22
I’m wearing the Cardinal Heisman pose shirt right now. It’s also displayed on the 50-yard line of our football field.

Andy 26:50
Alan, thank you so much for joining us today. You’re now officially a regular on the podcast. If listeners have questions or stories to share, please email us at podcast@higheredjobs.com
or send a direct message on X @higheredcareers.

Alan 27:30
Thank you. I owe it to others to pay it forward. If anyone wants to reach out, I’m happy to help guide them.

Kelly 27:52
Thank you, Alan.

Andy 27:53
And thank you for listening. We hope you enjoyed this podcast as much as we enjoyed making it. We look forward to talking again soon.