Hill Holliday’s Post

Continuing the topic of College Sports - this time Women's Volleyball is in the news. Back in August, University of Nebraska-Lincoln women's volleyball hosted Omaha in Memorial Stadium in front of a record crowd of 92K people. Fast forward to this past Sunday Nebraska were again at the center of a women's volleyball moment. The University of Texas at Austin defeated Nebraska in the National Championship game live on ABC with 1.69M viewers. Combine that with the amazing ratings from the 2023 Women's Basketball Final Four and there is more than a trend here. We have an ARRIVAL. So, the assignment for this topic is to research these moments. What are the commonalities? What are the key factors for success? Then - - take a sport like Soccer. The Men's and Women's FINAL 4 in Soccer struggles for attendance, TV ratings, etc. How would you apply your learnings from recent history to advise other sports, like Soccer, to make a dent in this space? Again - - pulling from the news real-life, modern, relatable examples to drive understanding of key business topics - Marketing, Promotion, Media, Sponsorship, Fan/Consumer Engagement, Pricing, etc. #sportsbusinesseducation Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. (FBLA) Sportico Joe Pompliano Scott Soshnick John Notar Fox School of Business at Temple University University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business Portland State University - School of Business #SportsManagement

The issue at hand here goes way beyond someone’s favorite college football team being denied entry into playoff contention; it shows that college athletics in America are only about the bottom line. FSU was denied entry into the playoffs, despite being undefeated, despite not having an allegation of unethical behavior, because the board felt that with a freshman quarterback, despite that freshman QB winning games, would not prove to be contender in the playoffs. If you are a student athlete in America, regardless of school, regardless of sport program, you should be offended because the NCAA has shown they care for you only as a source of revenue, and not for your athletic prowess. If they don’t think your team will bring in the revenue, undefeated or not, you will go only as far as they allow you to. To the NCAA you are no more than a modern day gladiator in the modern arena. More so, whomever will win the championship will go down with a large swath of the populace thinking them undeserving because the contenders were hand picked and not selected by rules and guidelines of competition. That is also unfair. Would this fly if it were March Madness? Softball? Volleyball? Or does it only fly because of jow much money football brings these schools?

Ever heard of a drive-through for sports bets?  Only at the soon-to-close Tropicana Las Vegas! ♠ As the Trop turns off its lights one last time tomorrow, I’m thrown back to my UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality days, where the drive-through sports book often offered lessons richer than my college courses.  Who knew placing bets in your car could teach you about leadership lessons? ♣ Adaptability:  The Trop showed us how to innovate, reminding us that sometimes, the best opportunities come when you least expect it (like winning a bet in your PJs).  ♦ Risk Management: Early lessons in not putting all your eggs in one betting basket taught me the importance of calculated risks, a principle I carry into my professional life. ♥ Embrace Change:  The closing of this iconic venue marks an end but also signals new beginnings. It’s a reminder to welcome change, even when it’s bittersweet. The Trop wasn’t just a casino, it was a classroom teaching us to adapt, manage risks, and always be ready for life’s next roll of the dice. #TropicanaLasVegas #LeadershipLessons #UNLV #Adaptability #Change #Raiders. Tagging some great leaders who've held critical roles at Trop: Michael Downs, Gavin Mealiffe, greg marlier, Donna Marcou, Kenneth Ratigan, Hector Mon, Mary Ross, Kathy Dyke, CPCE, Valerie Moon

Why play Division III sports? 🏆 A valid question that I’ve received more than once Here’s what I can tell you: Last Saturday was the annual NYU Men’s Volleyball alumni game Alumni came in from around the country — including Los Angeles, Charleston, and Chicago A few takeaways that I walked away with: 1️⃣ Community isn’t limited to Division I Athletics Strong alumni networks can exist at the DI, DII, DIII, and even JUCO NAIA levels. The strong NYU Athletics community is living proof of this, along with, for example, the NESCAC alumni networks. 2️⃣ Success ≠ Going Pro Unlike other athletic programs, success isn’t defined by playing at the professional level, and most teammates I played with didn’t go pro (other than Neil J. Ferraro). Instead, success is measured by growth — on both an individual and team level, setting and reaching goals, and building a strong team dynamic. 3️⃣ Being a 4-year student-athlete taught me more than I could imagine Time management. Incorporating feedback from coaches. Collaborating with teammates towards a common goal. Sacrificing on behalf of the team. Work ethic. The list goes on and on… and I’ve taken what I’ve learned from being a college athlete well beyond the 4-year time period and physical space of the volleyball court. 4️⃣ Don’t set the outside on match point This one’s for next year’s players. The scorecard for the first few sets got lost in the mail. The old guys couldn’t allow for a sweep (especially in the brand new Paulson arena) — and we took the last set in dramatic fashion: 30-28. In all seriousness, choosing to pursue athletics at the collegiate level was one of the smartest choices I’ve ever made If you (or someone you know) is on the fence about playing collegiate athletics, I hope this helps make that decision And even if you’re washed up like me, I encourage you to join an intramural or rec league team — you never know the community you may be joining 💪 #linkedinsports #studentathlete #athlete #sports #alumni

What If I Told You My Son Had An Unfair Advantage! What if his unfair advantage was me! My understanding of how to develop an athletes stick skills My understanding of what club team(s) he needed to be prepared to tryout for My understanding of what two showcases he needed to receive invitations to -which ones we could say no thank you to My understanding of human sports performance My ability to pay for flights, food, events, lodging and teams My understanding of who makes the decisions and selects the five star recruits -being intentional about being in front of them to be evaluated #itstime for the awesome leaders at USA Lacrosse to step in and provide everyone with equal access to college coaches for purposes of recruiting It’s Time… To create a clear path to player development and player evaluations regionally It’s Time… To identify reputable showcases that provide opportunities to be recruited It’s Time… To create a Five Star evaluation system that’s measurable, repeatable and accessible for every player nationally The opportunity to showcase and potentially have the opportunity to be recruited and play at the collegiate level is currently based on two things ➡️ Endless Resources ➡️ Endless Access To Knowledge Those options don’t allow people passionate about the game to feel comfortable and proud of the current state of youth and high school lacrosse development We know #itstime for things to change Resources and Knowledge shouldn’t determine your future or desire to play and contribute towards the game Premier Lacrosse League the current state of youth and high school lacrosse development needs you involved

The real power of recognition in sports: It's more than trophies! 👀🏆 Discover how we can fuel our young athletes' dreams... Recognizing the true spirit of high school athletes isn't just about handing over a trophy at the end of the season. It's about understanding their journey, celebrating their dedication, and fueling their future ambitions. Let's take a minute to talk about the importance of a targeted recognition program for your athletes. Recognition isn't just a pat on the back; it's a powerful tool that can significantly impact an athlete's motivation, self-esteem, and even their performance on and off the field. Crafting a recognition strategy that acknowledges not only their achievements but also their work ethic, improvement, teamwork, and leadership can create an environment where athletes feel truly valued. Incorporating personalized accolades, public acknowledgments, and continuous feedback loops into your recognition program can transform how athletes perceive their roles in sports and in life. Remember, it's not just about recognizing the victory but celebrating the journey towards it. As we focus on building these impactful recognition programs, we're not just creating better athletes; we're nurturing future leaders who value hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Let's commit to recognizing our high school athletes in ways that propel them toward their goals and beyond. This isn't just good for sports; it's a winning strategy for life. Shoot me a DM or schedule a quick call here; let's get your recognition game strong. https://lnkd.in/g7UJ6zGf #highschoolsports #athletics #recognitionmatters #teamculture #leadershipdevelopment #sportsmanship #studentathletes #sportsleadership #athleticdirector #mentalhealth #athleterecognition

🏀 Inspired by tonight’s championship game, the close of #MarchMadness, and NC State's incredible Final Four run, I'm here to share a few takeaways from the #Pack I plan to apply to the other 11 months of the year.   1. Be Bold! Coming into the tournament, the NC State's Wolfpack was the ultimate underdog - when we all heard the rally cry “Why Not Us?” we were reminded that improbable does not mean impossible.   2. Know and Play to Your Strengths. Watching both the men’s and women’s teams hit their rhythm highlighted the importance of recognizing and leveraging individual strengths. Whether on the court or in the office, knowing when to pass the ball and when to take the shot yourself is a key to navigating challenging situations.   3. Don’t Let Your Past Dictate Your Future. Adopting Ted Lasso’s “Be a Goldfish” mentality, the Wolfpack didn’t let their season record define their trajectory. Though the men faced a rocky season and several challenging competitors, they clinched the #ACC trophy and proudly cut down the nets after the Elite 8 game last week. Alternately, the women had a great season and approached the tournament with continued grit and determination rather than overconfidence. We won’t get everything right, but if we focus on continuous improvement and being a great teammate, we will set ourselves up for future success.   4. Build a Legacy – Both teams set a precedent for excellence, painting a vision of what is possible for NC State’s basketball program. In the same way, the relationships we build now are the foundation for future interactions and partnerships.   As a lifelong #Wolfpack fan and recent alumni, I focused on my team, but would love to hear some highlights from your team’s season as well! 🏀 🐺   #NCState #FinalFour #GoPack #HowlBack #ThinkandDo North Carolina State University NC State Poole College of Management NC State Alumni Association NC State Athletics