What do athletic directors really need from booster clubs—and where do things most often go wrong? With more than 40 years in education and athletics, Jake von Scherrer pulls back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes realities athletic directors face and explains why strong, well-aligned booster clubs are essential to successful school programs.

Jake von Scherrer is a veteran educator, coach, and athletic director with over four decades of experience and is the author of the Athletic Director’s Toolbox series, former President of the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, and host of a podcast featuring 700+ interviews with athletic leaders worldwide. In this conversation, Jake shares the athletic director’s perspective on funding challenges, communication, boundaries, and how booster clubs can be powerful partners—not accidental obstacles.

From fundraising and staffing pressures to sponsorship overload and volunteer burnout, this episode is packed with real-world examples and practical guidance for booster leaders, athletic directors, and coaches alike.

Key Takeaways

• 01:55 The Modern AD’s Burden: Jake highlights the top three challenges facing athletic directors today: funding, resources, and staffing, and why an organized booster club is the primary solution to these gaps.
• 04:40 The Illusion of "Magic" Game Days: Why the seamless experience of a Friday night game is actually the result of weeks of AD-booster collaboration.
• 06:30 Symbiotic Leadership: How to manage two legally separate organizations (the school and the booster club) so they point toward the same goals.
• 13:25 Staying in Your Lane: A masterclass on boundaries—defining the roles of the coach, the director, and the "booster" to avoid conflict.
• 19:50 Avoiding the "Debbie-Do-Everything" Trap: Why centering a club around one person is a recipe for disaster and how to build a team that survives after your kids graduate.
• 25:30 The Power of Connection: Using school programs like the choir or band to enhance the athletic experience and broaden your support base.
• 33:15 Navigating the Funding Spectrum: Insights into how different school structures—from public to high-tuition private—handle the delicate balance of fees and fundraising.

Connect with Jake:

• Website: https://www.victoryeducationalathletics.com/
• Email Address: jakestouchdown@gmail.com

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-von-scherrer-cmaa-165b1292/

• Podcast: The Educational AD Podcast

• Books: Available on Amazon (Note: Jake offers a free copy to first-year ADs who email him!)

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