AD in Residence: Southwestern AD Matt O’Brien

Southwestern has made several coaching hires recently. What qualities or characteristics do you prioritize when evaluating candidates? How do you weigh a competitive success experience against long-term program-building qualities or potential?

I believe the most important qualities to consider in candidates are character and work ethic. Knowledge of the sport and charisma are factors. However, I will always be focused on character and work ethic.

How have you refined your hiring process to identify candidates who fit your goals and align with Southwestern's values? What's an insight about the hiring process that you wish you had understood earlier in your career?

In refining our hiring process, we have been able to attract candidates aligned with Southwestern's values. We’ve made significant strides by emphasizing a collaborative and diverse interviewing process by involving a diverse group from our institution, including the president, HR directors, the admissions director, the sports information director, coaches, and student-athletes. This approach allows candidates to gain a comprehensive understanding of our culture and mission, which is important to us because we take pride in who we are.

One insight I wish I had grasped earlier in my career is the value of this comprehensive process. Engaging multiple perspectives not only enriches the evaluation but also helps candidates see how they might fit into our community.

After hiring a head coach, what does your onboarding and integration process look like to ensure their success within the department and on campus? How do you check in with new coaches over their first six to twelve months?

After hiring a head coach, we have a structured onboarding and integration process designed to set them up for success within the department and on campus. Our diverse, strong, committed athletic staff plays a crucial role from the day they first arrive to the completion of the first year. For instance, our sports information director excels at helping new coaches navigate essential elements like social media management and roster organization. Additionally, our associate athletic director provides personalized training on the budget process, ensuring that each coach understands the financial aspects of their role. We also have a recruiting coordinator who guides them through the logistics of our recruitment strategies at Southwestern.

To support new coaches during their first 6 to 12 months, we maintain regular check-ins to assess their progress and address any challenges they may face. This ongoing support helps foster a strong foundation for their success in our program.

Recruiting talented coaches is one challenge, but retaining them is another. What strategies have you implemented to ensure that your new hires feel supported and remain committed to Southwestern?

Recruiting talented coaches is certainly a challenge, but retaining them is equally important. To ensure our new hires feel supported and committed to Southwestern, we focus on providing them with the necessary tools for success in recruiting. We actively work to eliminate obstacles related to fundraising and recruitment so that coaches can concentrate on building their programs.

Additionally, we strive to foster an inclusive environment where support is paramount. We prioritize creating a culture where everyone collaborates and uplifts one another. By being mindful of this supportive atmosphere, we help our coaches feel valued and engaged, which is crucial for their long-term commitment to our institution.

How have you built and cultivated the culture you seek to have amidst personnel changes?

Building and cultivating the desired culture is indeed a challenging endeavor. I believe it is a continuous process that involves daily efforts to treat people with respect and to set a clear tone for our priorities. It starts by establishing a strong and collaborative connection with the Human Resources department. We stress the importance of time management, including punctuality, taking excellent care of our student-athletes, and fostering collaboration within the athletic department and across the whole institution to ensure we are all working towards what is best for the college. By consistently reinforcing these values, we create an environment that reflects the culture we aspire to achieve.

How do you approach evaluating success at Southwestern? What metrics or indicators do you track to measure the overall health of your athletic department?

When evaluating success at Southwestern, the primary metric we focus on is recruitment, as it is relatively straightforward to track and is critical for tuition-driven institutions. In addition to recruitment, we also monitor how well our programs are organized, including budget management and retention rates. While we do consider competitive performance as part of our evaluation, we prioritize the care and concern for our student-athletes. This holistic approach ensures that we maintain a healthy and thriving athletic department.