Episode Details

EPISODE # 19 ...Charlie Cobb, Director of Athletics, Georgia State University

Today’s guest is Charlie Cobb. Charlie serves as the Director of Athletics at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. Cobb was hired in August of 2014 to build a winning program “the right way” per President Mark Becker. Since his hire, multiple new facilities have opened, while student-athletes maintained above a 3.0 Grade Point Average for the 12th-straight year, including a record 3.40 GPA in spring 2020. Georgia State has also received the Sun Belt's Institutional Graduation Award twice under his tenure. 

Among Cobb’s biggest projects has been participating in the acquisition, purchase, and re-purposing of Turner Field, transforming the former Major League Baseball home of the Atlanta Braves into the home of Georgia State football. 

Through the implementation of the department's strategic plan, Cobb is focused on building a Culture of Success at Georgia State based on five themes: Academic Achievement, Competitive Greatness, Ethical Behavior, Social Responsibility, and Community Engagement. 

Get ready to take notes and learn from another great leader as we settle in and get to know Mr. Charlie Cobb.  

1:30- Introduction

7:37- Implementing a Strategic Plan into Your Athletic Department

12:52- Fundraising for Capital Projects

17:38- Building the Facilities at Georgia State

20:51- Importance of the Locker Room

24:36- Learning from Coach Bill Curry’s time at Georgia State

28:59- State of the Program Statement: Informative, Detailed, Emotional

34:03- Being an Active Athletic Department on Social Media

39:52- Keys to the Hiring Process

49:34- Finding Courage through Adversity

50:55- “The Dream is Free.  The Hustle is Sold Separately.”

54:05- 2 Minute Drill

  You can follow Charlie Cobb on Twitter @CCobbGaStateAD 

About Hangin With The AD Podcast…. 

Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics.  These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.           

We hope you enjoy the time we spend with these special guests.  Please leave us a review or rating to help us know how you were benefited from this podcast or how we can improve it.  Thank you for listening.  And until next time, thank you for spending your time, Hangin with the AD.      

Don Baker.... Director of Athletics for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. @CCSD_AD (twitter & instagram)

Josh Mathews...Athletics Director at Pope High School in Marietta, GA (East Cobb) @jwmathews14 (twitter & instagram)