by omajay » Tue Apr 08, 2025 5:01 pm
Interesting Facebook post from Terry Pettit:
I don't know Creighton's athletic director, Marcus Blossom. As I watched a video of the press conference announcing Kirsten Bernthal Booth's departure from Creighton Volleyball, I wondered if Marcus Blossom knew Kirsten.
Blossom continually referred to her as "Booth." He never made eye contact, and everything he said sounded like it had been taken from a media guide.
ADs are required to have multiple talents. They hire and fire coaches, and some mentor their coaches. They need to raise money for facilities and escalating salaries, and provide a vision for the department in difficult times. But the most important quality in leadership today is how a leader relates to their team.
I didn't see evidence that Marcus Blossom knew Kirsten and what she brought to Creighton University. There were no personal anecdotes, stories, or memories. Maybe he was in shock. Maybe this isn't a talent he has. Or maybe he didn't make the effort to develop a relationship with an extraordinary human on his team.
This press conference could have had other Creighton coaches like men's basketball coach Greg McDermott, women's basketball coach Jim Flannery, or associate head volleyball coach Angie Oxley sharing their appreciation for Kirsten's willingness to share her insight and vulnerability with anyone on the Creighton team.
Leadership is not a position. It is developing relationships with team members that create intimacy, vulnerability, and trust, which can lead to extraordinary success. Kirsten Bernthal Booth did that with everyone on the Creighton women's volleyball team. I did not see any evidence that Marcus Blossom shares that vision of leadership in yesterday's press conference.