Welcome to the Director Download, powered by Campus Rec Magazine.
It’s time to go behind the curtain of the director role and have honest discussions with leaders in the campus recreation industry.
In this episode, host Grady Sheffield, the director of Campus Recreation at Towson University and senior advisor to Campus Rec Magazine, sits down with two longtime friends and colleagues: Eric Hawkes, executive director of Wellness and Recreation at North Carolina State University, and Dax Kuykendall, director of Campus Recreation at the University of Texas at Arlington.
From tropical depressions and busted convertible roofs to rebuilding departments from the ground up, Hawkes and Kuykendall share an honest and entertaining conversation about leadership, growth and their two-decade-long professional relationship.
Through stories that span building rec programs from scratch, navigating familial legacies, and developing resilient teams, the episode offers a thoughtful lens into how directors evolve over time — and the importance of trust, adaptability, and shared vision along the way.
In this episode, Eric Hawkes and Dax Kuykendall discuss:
- How a chance job interview in a stormy South Florida set the stage for a 20-year friendship and mentorship.
- What it was like for Dax to step into the director role previously held by his father at UT Arlington.
- Why adaptability, trust, and clear frameworks are essential to leading high-performing teams.
- How Eric’s leadership style has evolved from high-intensity micromanager to empowering visionary.
- Why Dax believes in empowering staff to take risks, try new ideas, and embrace failure as part of the process.
- Their honest take on the current state of campus recreation and higher ed — from budget pressures to shifting political climates.
- The importance of staying mission-driven and focusing on people, no matter what’s happening around you.
So, whether you’re just starting your journey or already in the director’s chair, this episode is packed with real talk, humor, and hard-earned insights you won’t want to miss.
