In this THSADA Director’s Cut Hall of Honor Series episode, Stan Lang reflects on a remarkable 40-year career in education-based athletics, culminating as the District Athletic Director for Northside ISD in San Antonio.

Rooted in servant leadership, Stan built his legacy by developing coaches, shaping culture, and using athletics as a platform to impact lives far beyond the game. From his early life in inner-city Las Vegas to being mentored by coaches who changed his trajectory, Stan shares how those foundational experiences shaped his leadership philosophy and his commitment to paying it forward.

In this episode, he discusses what it takes to build a culture that lasts, why leaders must focus on coaching adults before athletes, and how consistency, accountability, and care can transform entire programs over time.

Stan also shares leadership insights on:

• The importance of showing up every day and leading through adversity
• Building culture by investing in coaches first
• Coaching up your team and empowering others to lead
• Balancing accountability with encouragement and support
• Understanding that culture is built over years, not moments

These reflections offer valuable perspective for both aspiring and current athletic administrators looking to lead with purpose and create lasting impact.

Special thanks to LED Partners for helping make this setup possible. Their mobile display solution was assembled in less than 90 minutes and helped bring this Director’s Cut conversation to life.

In this THSADA Director’s Cut Hall of Honor Series, Leslie Slovak reflects on a remarkable 30-year career in Richardson ISD and the leadership lessons that shaped her journey from coach to Athletic Director.

Known for putting people first, Leslie built her career around developing coaches, empowering student-athletes, and creating programs that made a lasting impact on her community. In this episode, she shares what it meant to spend an entire career in one district, why relationships and trust mattered so much to her leadership, and how strong support from district leadership helped make that commitment possible.

Leslie also speaks candidly about leadership and the growth that comes with experience, including the importance of surrounding yourself with strong people, listening before responding, and recognizing that great leaders don’t always have to provide immediate answers. Her reflections on patience, self-awareness, and learning to slow down offer valuable insight for both aspiring and current athletic administrators.

Special thanks to LED Partners for helping make this setup possible. Their mobile display solution was assembled in less than 90 minutes and helped bring this Director’s Cut conversation to life.

In this THSADA Director’s Cut, presented by LED Partners, we recap the 2026 Spring Sponsor Showcase and highlight seven key takeaways that are shaping the future of education-based athletics in Texas.

This episode captures the energy, insight, and collaboration that defined the event, bringing together Athletic Directors and corporate partners committed to strengthening programs across the state.

Throughout the episode, featured clips explore:

• Building meaningful partnerships that extend beyond transactions
• Why service and responsiveness still matter most to Athletic Directors
• How innovation is helping schools operate more efficiently
• The continued emphasis on student-athlete safety
• New tools for storytelling and community engagement
• The importance of alignment with the Texas Way
• How strong sponsor relationships ultimately serve kids and communities

The 2026 Spring Sponsor Showcase reinforced that when sponsors and schools work together with shared purpose, the impact goes far beyond products — it strengthens campuses, communities, and public education.