Who Is Brian Wickstrom? A Leadership Journey in Athletics, Higher Education, and Family
Leadership is more than a job title — it is the result of years of learning, sacrifice, mentorship, failure, resilience, and purpose.
My own journey has taken me from student-athlete to NCAA administrator, from CEO to consultant, and from campus life to raising five children alongside my wife, Celina.
A Career Built on Service, Growth, and Accountability
Across my roles in Division I athletics, higher education, fundraising, and executive leadership, one theme has shaped every stop:
Do the work, care about people, and build cultures where others can succeed.
My experience includes:
Managing multi-million–dollar athletic departments
Leading crisis response and stabilization
Overseeing record fundraising years
Mentoring dozens of future leaders
Improving operations, budgeting, and alignment
Building trust with faculty, donors, coaches, student-athletes, and boards
The Influence of Family and Faith
My greatest teachers are at home.
Raising five kids inside a higher-education environment has strengthened my patience, clarity, empathy, and composure.
My wife, Celina — a longtime news anchor and journalist — sharpened my ability to communicate thoughtfully, calmly, and factually under pressure.
A Leadership Philosophy Rooted in People
My approach to leadership centers on:
Transparency
Humility
Data-driven decision-making
Accountability
Mission and values
Treating people with consistency, fairness, and purpose
Titles and positions may change. Core values do not.
Looking Ahead
My next chapter will focus on serving an institution or organization that values culture, excellence, and long-term growth.
My leadership today is the product of the environments and people who shaped me — and the family who continues to inspire me. To learn more about my background or read more of my articles click one of the links:
https://www.dr-brian-wickstrom.com/about https://www.dr-brian-wickstrom.com/articles
To see how these values have shaped my coaching leadership decisions, read Coaching Hires Built on Integrity, Work Ethic & Student-Athlete Welfare click below link:
https://www.dr-brian-wickstrom.com/articles/high-integrity-coaching-leadership-brian-wickstrom
