13 - Nate Larsen, CMAA

Nate Larsen has spent thirteen years in the athletic director's chair and three decades in education-based athletics — and he still says he wouldn't trade it for anything.

In this episode of Talkin' with the AD, Morgan sits down with Nate, a Certified Master Athletic Administrator at O'Neill High School in O'Neill, Nebraska, an at-large Region D representative on the NIAAA Board of Directors, and Nebraska's leadership training coordinator. Nate grew up a coach's kid — in the gym before he could walk, firing the starter pistol at track meets in kindergarten — and that early view of the profession shaped how he leads today.

We get into the leap from coaching to administration, and the relationships you have to fight to keep once you leave the gym. Nate makes the case for NIAAA certification — not for the letters after your name, but for the confidence and credibility it gives you when the hard questions land. He walks through his CMAA project — a real emergency action plan for every location, replacing the old "just call the AD" — and how he built community and youth partnerships from scratch as the new name in town.

Then the part every AD should sit with: his lessons for the next generation. Find your network — you're not on an island. Be where your feet are. And make time for a few "NATO" conversations: Not Attached To an Outcome.

A grounded, generous conversation for anyone who cares about doing this job the right way.

In this episode:
- From a Lincoln Southeast coaching family to the AD chair
- The hardest adjustment when you trade the whistle for the office
- Why year two felt "light years" ahead of year one after certification
- His CMAA emergency action plan project, start to finish
- Building booster and youth partnerships as the new AD in town
- Mentorship, presence, and "NATO" conversations

—

Talkin' with the AD is a podcast for athletic directors, school leaders, coaches, parents, and athletes — built around education-based athletics and the people who make it work. Hosted by Morgan Sullivan — athletic director, coach, and author of Coach on Leadership.

LEAD · TEACH · GROW

Website: betteryouthcoaching.com
Subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Got a question for the show? Send it to the mailbag.
If this helped, please rate & review — it helps other ADs find the show.

Books by Morgan J. Sullivan: 

Coach on Leadership

MS Education Based Athletics

Before the First Snap

#TalkinWithTheAD #Sports #Athletics #AthleticDirector #CoachonLeadership #EducationBasedAthletics

Welcome to Talkin' with the AD! 

LET'S GO!!

Better Youth Coaching
Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

Better Youth Coaching
Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes