Episode 54: Chris Tinius (St. Xavier High School Athletic Director) 🎙 In this episode: I talk with Chris Tinius, Athletic Director at St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky. A longtime coach turned administrator, Tinius opens up about the unique pressures, pride, and purpose behind running one of the top athletic departments in the nation. From historic rivalries to modern-day transfer chaos, we cover the shifting landscape of high school sports—and what it means to truly invest in student-athletes. 🔹 Coach vs. AD Tinius reflects on moving from the sidelines to the office and why winning as an AD feels different, but just as meaningful. 🔹 Serving Everyone, Somehow Athletic directors wear a lot of hats. Coaches, parents, players, alumni, administrators... And guess what? All of them need something. 🔹 Pride Runs Deep In Louisville’s Catholic community, school pride isn’t casual. It’s generational, emotional, and central to family identity. 🔹 St. X vs. Trinity The rivalry that defines Kentucky high school sports. Two powerhouse programs that push each other and everyone around them—to be better. 🔹 Success = Pressure When expectations are sky-high, even a regional championship can feel like falling short. That’s the weight of legacy. 🔹 Swimming in History St. X swimming has won 35 straight state titles. Tinius talks about what it’s like to carry the weight of a streak like that. 🔹 Ghosts on the Field Opponents aren’t just facing today’s team...they’re playing against decades of tradition, success, and expectation. 🔹 Chasing Each Other With so many strong programs under one roof, every team pushes the next. It creates a culture where everyone believes they can—and should—win it all. 🔹 Community Chemistry Whether it’s small towns or Catholic school pipelines, there’s power in growing up and playing together. That continuity matters. 🔹 Transfers Changing the Game High school sports are feeling the ripple effects of the transfer portal era—and not always for the better. 🔹 Public vs. Private Is it a level playing field? Should they compete for the same championship? Tinius weighs in with nuance. 🔹 The Truth About “Recruiting” The myth that coaches are recruiting kids? Tinius says the success of the program often recruits itself—and that’s hard to police. 🔹 Always Accessible Texts. Emails. DMs. Today’s coaches are more reachable than ever—and the pressure to respond (and appease) never stops.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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