Episode #1
S3 Episode 1: Beyond Wins and Losses: Davis Whitfield on Leadership and the Future of High School Sports
Send us Fan Mail In the Season 3 premiere of Barn to Boardroom , Cory and Camille sit down with Davis Whitfield, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) , to talk about why high school athletics matter far beyond the scoreboard. Davis describes athletics as the “second half of the school day” —where young people learn accountability, teamwork, resilience, communication, servant leadership and how to make the people around them better. The conversation explores the explosive growth of girls flag football and girls wrestling, the future of participation in high school sports, the critical role of athletic directors and state associations, and how businesses and communities can invest in programs that change young lives. Davis also shares a vision for creating more club and intramural opportunities inside high schools so more students—not just varsity athletes—can experience the lessons that come from being part of a team. And in true Barn to Boardroom fashion, the conversation ends back at the barn. Davis reflects on growing up working on farms in North Carolina and how those early mornings taught him discipline, ownership, accountability and the value of simply showing up ready to work. High school sports aren't just preparing athletes for the next game. They're preparing young people for the next level of life.
