Next Steps
94 miles.
Two hours, 10 minutes with no incidents, delays or inclement weather.
That was my commute distance and duration to and from the offices of the Ball State Cardinals for several years.
The most current routine usually looked like this.
Tune-in to Kevin & Query on 107.5 The Fan to get a feel for the Indy sports scene. Then, a podcast or two. Typically, Up First followed by either The Tim Ferriss Show, Ten Percent Happier, The Axe Files, Work Life with Adam Grant or one of many others.
As the “SulliVan” - yes I named the family vehicle - entered Delaware County I’d flip over to the home of the Cardinals, WLBC. Radio buddy Steve Lindell indoctrinated me to Muncie and “all of WLBC land” since I began my appointment at Ball State. Finally, for the last few miles toward the Worthen Arena parking lot, the Spotify app was activated with A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B & Rakim, Drake, Bell Biv Devoe, Dave Matthews Band or Chance the Rapper mentally preparing me for whatever might be in store on that particular day.
On the return trip to Indy’s Meridian-Kessler neighborhood, it was a return to the podcasts for a bit, a check on the news with NPR and then switching between Sirius XM FC’s Counter Attack and The Ride with JMV on 107.5 FM The Fan. Or I might take the time to check-in with a friend, family member or former colleague.
For more than seven years, I embraced that time in the vehicle. However, more recently, that drive has left me with, well, less drive to do the drive.
Primarily for that reason, I resigned from Ball State as of Friday. Additionally, I am ready for a new opportunity and, frankly, with much transition occurring at Ball State, I simply have not had the bandwidth to properly explore new jobs. Lastly, following almost nine total years in Muncie in external affairs roles, the Cardinals will benefit from a new set of eyes and the next AD will have another position to hand-pick.
I am genuinely grateful for my time at Ball State. It is a special place with wonderful people. The University’s enduring values are more than just words. Ball State, and the leadership in athletics and in the admin building across campus, provided me opportunity after opportunity which resulted in progressive growth from director to assistant director to associate director and finally deputy director of athletics. After all, when we moved to Indy in 2013, I didn’t have a job! It gave me a chance in the spring of 2014. My colleagues, many of whom I had the pleasure to play a role in their hiring, made it a fantastic place to work contributing greatly to my growth. The “Onward” mentality that was cultivated lives on. The athletes, spirit squad members and student workers/interns/GAs along the way are the “why” when it comes to working in our industry. We had the absolute best at Ball State.
It wasn’t a perfect game, though. I have regrets and there were dozens of difficult moments, tough talks, hard decisions and mistakes/missed opportunities. I think about those but attempting to view them through a growth and learning lens.
It is true that I am looking forward to a little time to reset, handle child school drop-off and pickup more often and updating the resume, but I don’t want to be done with college athletics forever. Many do want to be done. And I get that. We, as an enterprise, should have been more proactive for a long time. Now, we all have a chance to mold the future for its betterment. College athletics has provided me an education, the ability to compete, countless unique experiences, a career, an introduction to my wife, a family, friends, mentors and a lifestyle.
Although I have entered the proverbial portal, I am pumped to prep my next Northwestern University class as an adjunct and perhaps resurrect my Roosevelt University course this summer. However, I am going to exert intentional additional entrepreneurial effort to The Voice for Good, my company centered around voice work in support of mental health. You will still hear me on PA at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Fever and Pacers games, downtown Indy for Indy Eleven matches and across the Midwest at road races, marathons and triathlons.
Furthermore, there are potential consulting opportunities in the works and I am exploring the creation of a short piece of programming tentatively titled “Optimal Athletics” which would be targeted toward athletic department staffs featuring the meditation, journaling, activities and reading methods that have allowed me to create the best conditions to thrive in our industry.
Free agency begins! I’m grateful for the past, focusing on enjoying the present and optimistic for the future.
And a new routine.
773-844-1355 / sks@thevoiceforgood.com