Lauren Williamson’s Post

What is the purpose of athletics in a Christian school? Hiring for a new high school Athletics Director this year, and an elementary Athletics Director last year, has forced our leadership team to undergo some serious thought about this. "...We love competing at LCS. We love winning banners. We love seeing our students achieve success and excellence in their sport. But that’s not why we do it." Read the blog post below to learn more about how athletics fit into our core values. https://lnkd.in/g3tfJHfX

I’ve said before that the cohesion and preexisting connection that the Knicks have is special. Not many people get to play with their teammates from college, let alone win multiple national championships with them. Historically, the Knicks weren’t kind to my family 😅 Still, that being said, all is forgiven. I’ve had respect for Nova even when I was playing against them in college. Winning is a matter of good fortune and habits, and the Villanova men’s basketball program has had both of those. It’s the teams that can pivot and adapt that find sustained success. The Villanova men’s basketball program has come together remarkably at the New York Knicks, with four players who won multiple national championships together now playing on the same NBA team. The contrast between my time at Georgetown and Villanova men’s basketball is stark. At Georgetown, the mindset was “when we say jump, you say how high.” In my opinion, Villanova was ahead of the curve, respecting athletes as professionals even during their college years. This respect and professional treatment contributed to their success, a principle that programs like Duke men’s basketball also adopted during that era. Nowadays, with NIL, we see the importance of treating athletes like professionals. Our time is accounted for, and we are required to work even though we weren’t paid. I was required to work as a professional athlete at Georgetown University without compensation. In my opinion, anyone who thinks college athletes shouldn’t be paid is misinformed and is doing a disservice to these athletes. They aren’t focusing on the real problem at hand, which is the lack of financial education and understanding of how to manage this money. Proper financial stewardship only happens when athletes are treated like professionals rather than just college students, which most people fail to do. What are your thoughts? #Villanova #Georgetown #NIL #FinancialEducation #RespectAthletes #CollegeBasketball #NBA #Knicks #ProfessionalAthletes

I have no influence in the structure of college athletics. My job is to help brands leverage fan passion to drive enthusiasm for their products and services. However, I think I know a problem when I see it and an idea that is worth sharing. Steven Eigenbrot (AD at Towson University) wrote a brilliant op-ed for Sports Business Journal that I don't think is getting enough attention. The premise... colleges are NOT built to be the minor league system for professional sports. Baseball may have this one right and before we go much farther, I think more people should give this consideration. #collegeathletics #NIL #problemsolver

ALMOST WENT TO K-STATE 😅 Almost went to play college football at Kansas State University with my older brother Tomasi Tuioti Mariner! We did everything together. Until Brigham Young University Football entered the picture. My goal was to receive a Division 1 Full ride Scholarship to play football. BYU ended up offering. As I evaluated the offer I thought to myself which institution will give me the best opportunity to achieve my goals overall? Here was my Criteria… 1. Do I get to play D1 Football at the highest level? ✅ I didn’t realize at first but BYU Football had alot of history of success in College Football. Once I found out I was pumped! 2. Is BYU Top of the line in education? ✅ I found out BYU education is consistently Top 10 in the nation. The standards are extremely high to get in! 3. Can I Personally Develop? ✅ After meeting coach Steve Kaufusi and a few others I knew they were men who I could look up to for guidance and direction. I knew they can develop me. 4. Can I Spiritually Develop? ✅ (MOST IMPORTANT) BYU is a faith based institution and I knew there would be plenty of the right influences around there. Shortly after my offer I Commited and the rest is history! Next time you are about to make a life changing decision make sure you decide the option that gives you every chance at achieving your goals! I’m glad I did. On to the next! #goals #opportunity #alignment

As a big fan of college football and basketball, I live for game days. But it turns out, the off-the-field action is just as intense. 🏈 🏀 With the recent NCAA settlement and ongoing conference realignments, college athletics is undergoing seismic changes. For institutional leaders, here are some trends to keep top of mind as we look ahead to the future of college athletics: - Athlete Compensation: The $2.8 billion settlement opens doors to revenue-sharing. Leaders need to prepare for the financial and structural impact of sharing revenue with athletes, while staying aware of evolving legal requirements around athlete employment rights. - Conference Shifts: Power conferences like the Big 12 are reshaping, leaving non-football schools (hello, Gonzaga University !) to make tough decisions about their future--do they consider new affiliations or risk being left out of lucrative partnerships? - NIL Dynamics: Institutions must rethink athlete support as NIL policies continue to evolve, while protecting institutional integrity and compliance. Is your institution ready for the changes ahead? #CollegeAthletics #HigherEdLeadership #NIL #ConferenceRealignment #Leadership

A great perspective on sports.

As a big fan of college football and basketball, I live for game days. But it turns out, the off-the-field action is just as intense. 🏈 🏀 With the recent NCAA settlement and ongoing conference realignments, college athletics is undergoing seismic changes. For institutional leaders, here are some trends to keep top of mind as we look ahead to the future of college athletics: - Athlete Compensation: The $2.8 billion settlement opens doors to revenue-sharing. Leaders need to prepare for the financial and structural impact of sharing revenue with athletes, while staying aware of evolving legal requirements around athlete employment rights. - Conference Shifts: Power conferences like the Big 12 are reshaping, leaving non-football schools (hello, Gonzaga University !) to make tough decisions about their future--do they consider new affiliations or risk being left out of lucrative partnerships? - NIL Dynamics: Institutions must rethink athlete support as NIL policies continue to evolve, while protecting institutional integrity and compliance. Is your institution ready for the changes ahead? #CollegeAthletics #HigherEdLeadership #NIL #ConferenceRealignment #Leadership

College football is evolving fast—between the complexities of NIL policies and the growing responsibilities placed on head coaches, something has to give. That's why we're seeing a call for General Managers in college programs... But will this change the game for the better? Check out my latest blog post to see my thoughts on how adding GMs could reshape the landscape of college athletics: https://lnkd.in/eYffcrDA Any thoughts after reading?

There’s nothing quite like the arrival of fall - the crisp air, the amazing colors, and, of course, college football. I've always had a love for college football. Mostly due to the grit and determination from the players on the field. Players grind it out, week after week, not just for the glory, but for the love of the game. They push through pain, adversity, and long hours of practice - all in pursuit of a championship, of recognition, and the taste of victory. I think the same can be said about our workplaces. We can see this same passion and drive in our teams who show up every day, ready to give their all. Just like athletes, they push through challenges, overcome obstacles, and keep their eyes on the prize. That may be a successful month, quarter, or year. There may not be a championship title at the end of the season, but they can take home some nice hardware for their efforts. Are you providing awards to your teams today? If not, it's easier than you may think to get started. So why wait? Make them feel and "play like a champion" today. JH Specialty #awards #recognition #collegefootball