The Right Way to Play Podcast is your front-row seat to the heart of college athletics the way it was meant to be. Hosted by the NAIA, this series features authentic conversations with the voices shaping the future of sports—leaders, coaches, athletic directors, student-athletes, and industry experts. Each episode showcases stories about NAIA’s unique, education-based model, where academic excellence, character development, and competitive spirit go hand in hand.
EPISODE 006
Impact Beyond the Game
In this episode of The Right Way to Play Podcast, we sit down with Morningside University student-athlete Lennx Brown to talk about impact beyond the scoreboard. From his recognition on the Allstate Good Works Team at the Sugar Bowl to the people and purpose that shape his journey, Lennx shares what it means to compete with character, serve others, and lead the right way, on and off the field.
PAST EPISODES
What happens when leadership, culture, and competition all point in the same direction? You get The Right Way to Play, and conferences play a bigger role than most people realize. In this episode, hosts Alan and Austin sit down with Nik Rule, Commissioner of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, to explore how conference leadership helps set the tone for sportsmanship, student-athlete experience, and community impact across member campuses. Go to episode.
What happens when thousands of students sit in absolute silence… and then explode into full-blown, holiday-themed pandemonium the moment the home team scores its 10th point? Welcome to Taylor University’s Silent Night, one of the most delightfully chaotic, joy-soaked traditions in college athletics. Go to episode.
Bushnell (Ore.) Athletic Director Corey Anderson and Associate Athletic Director Sarah Freeman celebrate a major honor: Bushnell being named the 2025 NAIA School of Character. Go to episode.
Go inside LSU Shreveport Baseball’s historic, undefeated season. Head Coach Brad Neffendorf, standout pitcher Issac Rohde, and Athletics Director Lucas Morgan talk about the mindset, culture, and character that fueled a perfect run. Go to Episode
NAIA President & CEO Jim Carr shares how putting student-athletes first, fueling true competition, and keeping integrity at the heart of the game make athletics an engine for growth and long-term sustainability. Go to episode.
AUSTIN BENNETT
As a former coach, collegiate student-athlete and a current collegiate athletics guru, Austin knows how to create championship moments, and he brings the energy + 14 years experience to the show.
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ALAN GROSBACH
Alan Grosbach – Vice President of Technology, Data, and Analytics – is the NAIA's resident expert on the business of smaller-college athletics. A former SID with 13+ years of experience at the NAIA national office, he knows the NAIA playbook front to back.
What Makes the NAIA the Right Way to Play?
The NAIA champions college athletics that builds better people—not just better players.
Here’s how:
Growth of the whole person
Academic success. Athletic excellence. Character and leadership. We’re developing student-athletes who are ready for life, not just the next game.
Smaller College Strong
Smaller doesn’t mean limited — it means limitless possibilities. By providing tailored resources and opportunities, we empower our members to compete at the highest level with the strongest institutions in the nation.
Community Through Competition
We believe in rivalries with respect, and championships that create connection. Our athletes and institutions don’t just compete—they rise together.
High-Performing Athletics
We equip members with innovative tools and common-sense regulations to fuel success on and off the field. Excellence isn’t accidental—it’s empowered.
