#256: Steve Dolan-University of Pennsylvania/Penn Relays

Empowering Success: The Steve Dolan Philosophy 🏃‍♂️💡

In this enlightening episode of our podcast, host Mike Cunningham, National Business Development Manager for Gill Athletics, sits down with the multifaceted Steve Dolan, Director of Track and Field for the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Penn Relays. Dive deep into the world of track and field as Dolan shares his unique journey, the art of balancing dual roles, and his secret to success: empowering others. 🌟

Key Highlights:

Empowering Leadership: Discover how Dolan's philosophy of finding and empowering great people has been the cornerstone of his success. "I'm trying all the time to find people that are as good or better than I am at tasks and empower them to do it," Dolan shares, highlighting the importance of trust and delegation in achieving collective goals. 🤝

Innovating the Penn Relays: Get an insider's look at the evolution of the Penn Relays under Dolan's direction. From enhancing the experience for college women athletes to improving warm-up facilities and seating, learn how continuous improvement and innovation have kept this historic event at the forefront of track and field. 🏟️

Navigating Challenges: Dolan opens up about the challenges of managing two full-time roles and the strategies he employs to maintain excellence in both. His candid reflections offer valuable insights into the complexities of leadership in sports administration. 🚀

Vision for the Future: Excitement builds as Dolan discusses the upcoming indoor facility at Penn, set to transform the landscape of East Coast track and field. This state-of-the-art facility promises to be a game-changer for the program and the broader track and field community. 🏗️

A Legacy of Growth: From his unexpected path into coaching to leading one of the most prestigious track and field programs in the country, Dolan's story is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and purpose. 🌱

Featured Quote:

"I think the reality is, all of us want things to be done in the best way... I've tried really hard... to figure out how do we identify people that can be successful or more creative or have the skill set and set them up for success and let them do it." - Steve Dolan

#PennRelays #TrackAndField #Leadership #Innovation #SportsManagement #Empowerment #Athletics #CoachingPhilosophy

Tune in to this episode for an inspiring journey through the lens of one of track and field's most influential figures, Steve Dolan, and discover the power of leadership that empowers others to achieve greatness. 🎧🏆

Check out past podcast episodes (including Boo Schexnayder-LSU, Diljeet Taylor-BYU, Petros Kyprianou-Illinois and 200+ more) on YouTube and Apple podcasts. Connect with host Mike Cunningham on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), email (mcunningham@gillathletics.com) or by text (217-898-3038).