One word that I heard repeatedly from the 50+ higher ed leaders I interviewed last summer[*] was “impossible.” According to these interviewees, leadership jobs today are impossible, working with faculty who oppose them no matter what they say or do can feel impossible, and imagining succession plans for their roles seems impossible (assuming they even have time to think about it).
Ted Lasso’s Playbook for Higher Education Hiring Practices
The Emmy-winning Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso (2020–) has not only taught us that football is life; it reminds us that leadership can make a significant difference in sport and
Katie Fischer and Deborah Erickson
July 7, 2025
