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 Larry Mellinger, the director of University Recreation at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Known for building strong, collaborative teams, Mellinger brings a practical and empowering lens to campus rec leadership. In this conversation, he shares how coaching college basketball shaped his approach to hiring and development, why he values slow onboarding, and how leaning into staff strengths creates a culture that lasts. Whether he’s launching a new facility or navigating team turnover, Mellinger stays grounded in people, priorities and purpose.
Campus Rec Magazine · Episode 43: Campus Recreation Hiring and Onboarding with Larry Mellinger
Show Notes from the Conversation on Campus Rec Hiring and Onboarding
- How his college basketball coaching background informs his leadership in campus rec.
- Why hiring the right person — and being patient about it — matters more than filling a seat.
- His strategic, tiered onboarding process and how it creates buy-in from day one.
- The impact of leading a facility transition and how his team prioritized people over timelines.
- Why defining core values with his staff helped them weather turnover.
- How he empowers assistant directors to own their roles and grow professionally.
- Why building a staff culture of care and collaboration doesn’t happen by accident.
- What he wishes more new directors knew about managing the transition into leadership.
So if you’re a campus rec pro thinking about hiring, onboarding, or elevating your team culture, this episode is a must-listen.
