Unveiling Wake Forest’s $20M Strategy: AD John Currie UNFILTERED

Next Up with Adam Breneman

Wake Forest Athletic Director John Currie joins Adam Breneman for a candid conversation on the future of college sports, the rapid changes in NIL and revenue sharing, and how Wake Forest is positioning itself for long-term success.

Currie dives into what it’s really like to be a Power 4 AD, how he approaches hiring coaches, and why Wake Forest has become the fastest-growing fan base in the Power 5. He also shares insights on the role of private equity in college athletics, what keeps him up at night, and why he’s bullish on the ACC’s future.

If you want a behind-the-scenes look at the business of college football from one of the most experienced ADs in the game, this episode is a must-watch.

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CHAPTERS

0:00 - intro

2:23 - Biggest change since taking Wake Forest AD job

3:47 - Most impactful moment of John Currie’s career and what makes Wake Forest special

5:40 - Alignment within administration

7:26 - Lessons from previous AD stops

8:09 - Day in the life as an AD at Power 4 program

10:14 - Hiring process of coaches

13:10 - Knowing when Wake Forest was going to hire Coach Jake Dickert

15:17 - Calls Currie makes when he knows there will be a coaching position open

17:10 - Why Wake Forest is set up to win long term

21:03 - Thoughts on Coach Jake Dickert

22:09 - What keeps John Currie up at night

23:43 - Revenue sharing in college athletics

26:27 - Allocating money between programs during revenue sharing era

20:26 - Private equity in college sports

30:45 - Branding at Wake Forest

33:13 - Advice to young people working in sports

35:08 - Overcoming adversity

37:27 - Future of the ACC

39:24 - Future of Wake Forest athletics

On Next Up, college football analyst Adam Breneman sits down with the most influential names in college sports and lets them tell their stories unfiltered, direct to the fans.

Next Up is a Front Office Sports Network show featuring candid, open, and honest conversations with the most impactful figures in college sports including head coaches, athletes, athletic directors, commissioners, entrepreneurs, media personalities, agents, and executives shaping the business of college sports.

Adam is a former All-American, Penn State alum and media personality. Front Office Sports is the leading multi-platform media and news organization covering the intersection of sports, business and culture.