The Standard is the Standard

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.

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