On the Fly by Playfly Sports

Michael Strickland, the ACC Senior Associate Commissioner for Football, joins host Gene DeFilippo for a comprehensive discussion on the complexities of scheduling to accommodate for the expansion of the ACC. The conversation offers an in-depth look at the strategic considerations behind creating a balanced and equitable football schedule that mitigates travel concerns for teams, ensures competitive equity, and caters to the needs of teams, student-athletes, fans, and broadcast partners.

Host Gene DeFilippo and Jeff Bourne, the Director of Athletics at James Madison University, engage in a wide-ranging conversation about JMU's transition to the Sun Belt Conference, the societal pressures on today's student-athletes in light of NIL policies, insights on the future of intercollegiate athletics, and more.

In this episode of On the Fly, Thorr Bjorn, the Director of Athletics at the University of Rhode Island, joins Gene to reflect on his 16+ year tenure at the URI and the key to his longevity. The two discuss the evolving landscape of NIL, the history and traditions of basketball in the Atlantic 10 conference, the significant investment in facilities improvements at URI, and more.

Stan Wilcox, the Executive Vice President for Regulatory Affairs at the NCAA, joins Gene DeFilippo for a comprehensive discussion around the NCAA's structure, legal challenges, the intersection of name, image, and likeness with transfer rules and recruiting regulations, and more.

In this episode of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo is joined by Chief of Staff & Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director at the University of Texas, Chris Plonsky, for a wide-ranging conversation about the growth of women's sports, the impact of moving to the SEC, NIL in college sports, and more.

In this episode of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo is joined by ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips for a wide-ranging conversation about the conference's decision to expand, realignment and so much more.

In the latest episode of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo is joined by North Carolina director of athletics, Bubba Cunningham, for a wide-ranging conversation on college athletics, UNC football and more.

In this episode of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo sits down with Pat Manak, the CEO of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, for a conversation about the upcoming NACDA convention and all the things the association does to help athletics directors across the country.

Dave Clawson has spent the last nine years building Wake Forest into a respectable program in the ACC, including seven straight trips to bowl games. As he enters his 10th season at the helm of the Demon Deacons, he sits down with host Gene DeFilippo for a wide-ranging conversation on all the hot-button issues in college football today: from the transfer portal and NIL to scheduling and more.

What goes into changing conferences? In this episode of On the Fly, hear all the details and work that goes into making it happen. Host Gene DeFilippo is joined by Lisa Campos, director of athletics at the University of Texas at San Antonio, for a wide-ranging conversation, covering everything from multimedia rights to on-field football success.

Women's college sports are having a moment. Buoyed by incredible viewership numbers from the NCAA Tournament, and with the Women's College World Series on the horizon, there's more attention than ever. Patti Phillips is the CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports, and joins host Gene DeFilippo for a wide-ranging conversation about the impact of increased viewership, why athletic departments need to hire more women in leadership roles, and so much more.

In the latest edition of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo is joined by Boston College Director of Athletics Blake James for a wide-ranging conversation, covering everything from building new facilities to contract extensions. What makes James a great fit at BC? And how did the apparel deal with New Balance come about? All that and more in this week's episode.

What goes into switching conferences? Chris Pezman knows that as well as anyone. The Houston Director of Athletics is going through the transition process now, moving from the AAC to the Big 12. In this episode, Pezman joins host Gene DeFilippo for a wide-ranging conversation about that process and more.

In the latest episode of On the Fly, FAU athletics director Brian White joins host Gene DeFilippo for a fun and insightful conversation about balancing life as an AD and a dad, why FAU is an up and coming hotspot, and what it was like growing up in a sports family.

In this episode of On the Fly, we take you inside the NCAA Tournament with senior vice president for basketball Dan Gavitt. How is the tournament field selected? How are host sites determined? All that and much more in this conversation with host Gene DeFilippo.

Have you ever wondered why the NFL Draft Combine exists, and what it's true purpose is? Or what about the Wonderlic Test? In this episode of On the Fly, NFL Hall of Famer and longtime GM for the Bills, Panthers and Colts Bill Polian joins host Gene DeFilippo to answer those questions and more.

"It's really important to have good people around you in your organization. There's no two ways about it. The people do make all the difference." For Butler director of athletics Barry Collier, his journey is all about the people. In the latest episode of On the Fly, Collier joins host Gene DeFilippo to go through his rise through the coaching ranks to administration, advice for younger administrators and more.

In this edition of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo is joined by Dave Heeke, director of athletics at Arizona, for a wide-ranging conversation about hiring coaches, building programs and how his career journey has led him to where he is now.

"We recruit student athletes that fit. And it's hard to define, but there is a fit up here in the mountains of North Carolina. It's not for everybody, but if you want to come get a world-class education and play for championships, this is a place people come and they come in with a chip on their shoulder and they play hard." That's what Doug Gillin, Director of Athletics at Appalachian State, says about fit and culture at the school in Boone, N.C. In this episode of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo takes Gillin through his career journey and how App State has found success at the highest levels of athletics—and pulled off some memorable upsets in the process.

In this episode of On the Fly, host Gene DeFilippo visits with Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock for a fun and wide-ranging conversation about leadership, his career journey, and more. What does Babcock look for when hiring coaches? Why do college athletics matter now more than ever? And what does he do to unwind? All that and more is on this newest episode of On the Fly.