Texas HS Athletic Directors Association: Director's Cut

The 2026 THSADA State Conference was a showcase of leadership, collaboration, and innovation, bringing together athletic administrators from across our state for the largest conference in THSADA history. In this special Director’s Cut episode, we take a look back at the conversations, insights, and ideas that made this year’s event such a valuable experience for attendees. This conference recap brings together some of the most impactful moments captured throughout the event. You’ll hear from ...

In this THSADA Director’s Cut Hall of Honor Series episode, Stephen Mackey of 2Words shares the mindset, discipline, and mission behind his work impacting coaches and student-athletes across Texas and the nation. Grounded in the belief that athletics is a powerful vehicle for life transformation, Mackey has built his philosophy around developing championship character, equipping coaches with purpose-driven tools, and helping programs create lasting cultural impact. Whether through The Texas W...

In this episode of the THSADA Director’s Cut, we sit down with Mike Buddie, Director of Athletics at TCU and former Major League Baseball pitcher. From his playing days in the Yankees organization to leadership roles at Furman and Army West Point, Buddie brings a seasoned, real-world perspective to the challenges facing athletic administrators today. He shares how his leadership philosophy was shaped by working under a four-star general, why understanding the difference between what’s critica...

In this episode of the THSADA Director’s Cut, we sit down with Richard Kilgore, Superintendent of Bruceville-Eddy ISD and the 2025 THSADA Superintendent of the Year. With 38 years in education — 19 of those as superintendent — Kilgore shares what superintendents are really looking for when they hire an athletic director. From balancing flexibility and firmness, to understanding why integrity is evaluated long before the interview, to using active listening as a leadership superpower, Kilgore ...

In this episode of the THSADA Director’s Cut, we sit down with Dr. Charles Breithaupt, former Executive Director of the UIL and one of the most influential voices in Texas high school athletics. From humble beginnings in Buna, Texas, to leading a team that managed over a million UIL contests a year, Dr. Breithaupt shares lessons from a lifetime of servant leadership and conflict resolution in one of the largest school systems in the country. He opens up about the unseen responsibilities of at...

In this episode of the THSADA Director’s Cut – Hall of Honor Series presented by GigaTera Lighting, we sit down with Brenda Marshall, a 2025 Hall of Honor inductee and lifelong leader at Corpus Christi ISD. With nearly four decades of service, Brenda’s story is a powerful reflection on breaking barriers, mentoring the next generation, and earning respect in a space where women were once sidelined. She shares her early experiences in a male-dominated field, the creative ways she built programs...

In this special Hall of Honor Series episode of the THSADA Director’s Cut, we sit down with Ray Zepeda, UIL’s Director of Athletics and a 2025 inductee into the THSADA Hall of Honor. From humble beginnings as a Houston-area coach to leading statewide initiatives that impact thousands, Ray shares powerful reflections on the role of mentorship, the strength of community, and the passion that’s fueled his journey for more than three decades. We talk about: His path from the sideline to UIL leade...