DR. Jared Lee
Dr. Lee grew up in Rexburg, Idaho the youngest of 7 kids and was actively involved in football and basketball growing up. At the age of 14 he developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome which over 3 days resulted in complete paralysis. He made a quick recovery from this and by his senior year led his team to the football state championship and was named all-state in football and all region in basketball.
Later, he played football at Ricks Junior College in Rexburg, Idaho, serving as team captain for the 1998 season and earning NJCAA Academic All-American as well as being named NJCAA 2nd team All-American at Defensive Back. He was awarded the ideal male athlete award and for his time there was inducted into the Ricks College Athletic Hall of Fame.
He went on to play for the Brigham Young University Cougars for the ’99 and ‘00, acting as team captain for the 2000 season and earning NCAA First Team Academic All-American, MWC First Team Academic All-Conference, and Sporting News and Las Vegas Review 1stTeam All-MWC defensive back.
He graduated Magna cum laud from BYU in 2001, and was honored as one of six Division I college football players to receive the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame postgraduate scholarship – other awardees that year included all-pro Drew Brees, and Heisman trophy winner Chris Weinke. Dr. Lee ended his football career at the apex of the game, playing in the NFL as a free agent for the Cincinnati Bengals.
After his football career, Dr. Lee further pursued his life-long goal of becoming a doctor. He was accepted to the University of Washington graduated #1 in his class with high honors. During his time he was selected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and also received the John Spaeth memorial scholarship given for leadership.
He was accepted into the Harvard Orthopedic Residency Program and during his time there was Chief Resident at Massachusetts General Hospital and was awarded for having the highest average score on the annual national orthopedic examination and the annual Harvard anatomy course. Dr. Lee’s work with the team physicians for the Bruins, Red Sox, and Patriots inspired him to pursue a career in orthopedic sports medicine and he completed a fellowship at the prestigious Steadman Clinic in Vail Colorado.
While in Vail he worked closely with the US ski and snowboarding team and has continued on as one of the physician providers for events having recently provided team coverage for Aspen X-games, Oslo Norway X-games, and world cup events around the world. He is currently the team physician for Northwest College and the Yellowstone Quake in Cody, WY. Dr. Lee continues to instruct at both national and international courses on diagnosis and treatment of sports related injuries at both national and international conferences.
Outside of the practice of orthopedics, Dr. Lee is active chasing around his 5 kids with his wife Niki. Wyoming was an ideal location for Dr. Lee to practice medicine as he is an avid outdoorsman and continues to pursue many outdoor activities such as white-water rafting, fly fishing, dirt-bike riding, horse riding, mountain biking back country hunting, and flying the open airways of Wyoming.
Later, he played football at Ricks Junior College in Rexburg, Idaho, serving as team captain for the 1998 season and earning NJCAA Academic All-American as well as being named NJCAA 2nd team All-American at Defensive Back. He was awarded the ideal male athlete award and for his time there was inducted into the Ricks College Athletic Hall of Fame.
He went on to play for the Brigham Young University Cougars for the ’99 and ‘00, acting as team captain for the 2000 season and earning NCAA First Team Academic All-American, MWC First Team Academic All-Conference, and Sporting News and Las Vegas Review 1stTeam All-MWC defensive back.
He graduated Magna cum laud from BYU in 2001, and was honored as one of six Division I college football players to receive the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame postgraduate scholarship – other awardees that year included all-pro Drew Brees, and Heisman trophy winner Chris Weinke. Dr. Lee ended his football career at the apex of the game, playing in the NFL as a free agent for the Cincinnati Bengals.
After his football career, Dr. Lee further pursued his life-long goal of becoming a doctor. He was accepted to the University of Washington graduated #1 in his class with high honors. During his time he was selected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and also received the John Spaeth memorial scholarship given for leadership.
He was accepted into the Harvard Orthopedic Residency Program and during his time there was Chief Resident at Massachusetts General Hospital and was awarded for having the highest average score on the annual national orthopedic examination and the annual Harvard anatomy course. Dr. Lee’s work with the team physicians for the Bruins, Red Sox, and Patriots inspired him to pursue a career in orthopedic sports medicine and he completed a fellowship at the prestigious Steadman Clinic in Vail Colorado.
While in Vail he worked closely with the US ski and snowboarding team and has continued on as one of the physician providers for events having recently provided team coverage for Aspen X-games, Oslo Norway X-games, and world cup events around the world. He is currently the team physician for Northwest College and the Yellowstone Quake in Cody, WY. Dr. Lee continues to instruct at both national and international courses on diagnosis and treatment of sports related injuries at both national and international conferences.
Outside of the practice of orthopedics, Dr. Lee is active chasing around his 5 kids with his wife Niki. Wyoming was an ideal location for Dr. Lee to practice medicine as he is an avid outdoorsman and continues to pursue many outdoor activities such as white-water rafting, fly fishing, dirt-bike riding, horse riding, mountain biking back country hunting, and flying the open airways of Wyoming.
ron Laird
Wyoming High school activities association, Commissioner
Ron is in his twelfth year as Commissioner of the Wyoming High School Activities Association. He earned his B.S degree from Eastern Montana College, his Masters in Sports Management from the United States Sports Academy and his Administrative Degree from the University of Wyoming. Ron has served on several NFHS Committees throughout his career including being the current chair of the Basketball Rules Committee. He served on the NFHS Board of Directors from 2004-2008 and was elected President for the 2007-08 school year.
Before joining the WHSAA, Ron was a teacher, coach and administrator at Powell High School in Powell, Wyoming for 26 years. He was the head basketball coach for twenty years with his teams winning two State Championships and he was inducted into the Wyoming Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000. Ron received the WCA Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award in 2009 and has received the WIAAA Distinguished Service Award three times. He and his wife Teri have been married 40 years. They have one son and four grandchildren.
Before joining the WHSAA, Ron was a teacher, coach and administrator at Powell High School in Powell, Wyoming for 26 years. He was the head basketball coach for twenty years with his teams winning two State Championships and he was inducted into the Wyoming Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000. Ron received the WCA Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award in 2009 and has received the WIAAA Distinguished Service Award three times. He and his wife Teri have been married 40 years. They have one son and four grandchildren.
previous guests
Laurie Nichols
University of Wyoming, President
President Nichols was born and raised in South Dakota. A first-generation college graduate, she received a bachelor’s degree in education from South Dakota State University in 1978. She then earned a master’s degree in vocational and adult education from Colorado State University in 1984 and a Ph.D. in family and consumer sciences education from Ohio State University in 1988.
President Nichols began her career in higher education as a member of the faculty of the University of Idaho from 1988 to 1994. She then became the Dean of the SDSU College of Education and Human Sciences from 1994 to 2008. From August 2008 through June 2009, she served as interim president of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and then returned to SDSU to become Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs from 2009 to 2016. While in that role, she guided the university through two years of budget reductions and provided leadership in developing new five-year strategic plans, among other accomplishments.
Laurie Nichols began her duties as the University of Wyoming’s 26th president May 16, 2016. She and her husband, Dr. Tim Nichols, have two adult daughters.
President Nichols began her career in higher education as a member of the faculty of the University of Idaho from 1988 to 1994. She then became the Dean of the SDSU College of Education and Human Sciences from 1994 to 2008. From August 2008 through June 2009, she served as interim president of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and then returned to SDSU to become Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs from 2009 to 2016. While in that role, she guided the university through two years of budget reductions and provided leadership in developing new five-year strategic plans, among other accomplishments.
Laurie Nichols began her duties as the University of Wyoming’s 26th president May 16, 2016. She and her husband, Dr. Tim Nichols, have two adult daughters.
BRETT "THE DIESEL" KEISEL
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL All-Star: 13 Seasons with The Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL Pro-Bowl Selectee
2-Time Super Bowl Champion (XL, XLIII)
Steelers 2011 Walter Payton Man of the Year
HIGH SCHOOL: Greybull High School
Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
USA Today's Wyoming Football Player of the Year (Football)
Gatorade Player of the Year (Basketball)
McDonalds All-American Nominee (Basketball)
Basketball State Champion (Greybull High School, 1996)
NFL All-Star: 13 Seasons with The Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL Pro-Bowl Selectee
2-Time Super Bowl Champion (XL, XLIII)
Steelers 2011 Walter Payton Man of the Year
HIGH SCHOOL: Greybull High School
Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
USA Today's Wyoming Football Player of the Year (Football)
Gatorade Player of the Year (Basketball)
McDonalds All-American Nominee (Basketball)
Basketball State Champion (Greybull High School, 1996)
colby wollenman
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Recipient of NCAA's Elite 89 award for the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
NABC Honor's Court honoree
Recipient of MSU's Scholar-Athlete and Unsung Player Awards
Academic All-Big Ten
Recipient of MSU's Scholar-Athlete Award and co-recipient of MSU's Tim Bograkos Walk-On Award.
HIGH SCHOOL: Big Horn High School
2-Time All-State Selection (2010, 2011)
Wyoming 2A Basketball State Champion
2011 Sheridan County Player of the Year (Basketball)
Named to 2011 State All-Tournament Team (Basketball)
All-Star Game Selection (Basketball)
2011 Milward Simpson Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year for the State of Wyoming
Powder River Conference Athlete of the Year honors (2010)
Named to the Casper Tribune Super 25 Team (Football)
Powder River Conference Offensive Player of the Year (Football)
Wyoming 2A Soccer State Champion
Recipient of NCAA's Elite 89 award for the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
NABC Honor's Court honoree
Recipient of MSU's Scholar-Athlete and Unsung Player Awards
Academic All-Big Ten
Recipient of MSU's Scholar-Athlete Award and co-recipient of MSU's Tim Bograkos Walk-On Award.
HIGH SCHOOL: Big Horn High School
2-Time All-State Selection (2010, 2011)
Wyoming 2A Basketball State Champion
2011 Sheridan County Player of the Year (Basketball)
Named to 2011 State All-Tournament Team (Basketball)
All-Star Game Selection (Basketball)
2011 Milward Simpson Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year for the State of Wyoming
Powder River Conference Athlete of the Year honors (2010)
Named to the Casper Tribune Super 25 Team (Football)
Powder River Conference Offensive Player of the Year (Football)
Wyoming 2A Soccer State Champion
Tom Burman
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, Athletic director
Competitive Excellence
• Burman changed the course of Wyoming football in December 2013 when he hired Bohl as head coach. Bohl had coached North Dakota State to three consecutive FCS National Championships in 2011, ‘12 and ‘13, was named National Coach of the Year in 2012 and ‘13 and was part of two FBS National Championship teams as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Nebraska, 1995 and ‘97.
• In the spring of 2011, Burman hired Larry Shyatt away from his position as associate head coach at the University of Florida to return to Laramie and take over as head coach of Cowboy Basketball. Shyatt had been part of two National Championships with the Gators in 2006 and ‘07. Burman’s hiring of Shyatt received numerous positive reviews, including an “A” rating from ESPN.com. Of the 19 coaching hires that ESPN.com rated, Wyoming received one of only five “A” ratings.
• The Cowboy Basketball team reached the Top 25 of the USA Today Coaches’ Poll during the 2012-13 season and defeated No. 5 ranked San Diego State in the 2013-14 season before capturing the 2015 Mountain West Basketball Tournament Championship and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
• Cowgirl Basketball has achieved unprecedented success under the direction of head coach Legerski. Wyoming won the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) National Championship in the 2006-07 season, defeating Wisconsin, 72-56, in the championship game before a sold-out crowd in Laramie. In 2007-08, the Cowgirls earned the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. In the 2005-06, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13 and 2016-17 seasons Wyoming also earned bids to the WNIT.
• Wyoming wrestling joined the Big 12 Conference, beginning in the 2015-16 season.
Academic Success and Student Services
• Under Burman’s leadership, the University of Wyoming has increased resources in the areas of academic success and student-athlete well-being by over 100 percent. Increased funding of academic support for student-athletes has resulted in unprecedented success.
• Burman’s commitment to student-athlete well-being is evident in the addition of several key staff devoted to improving the overall athletic and academic experience for student-athletes. These new staff members include: a full-time athletics department team physician, a sports nutritionist and additional sports medicine, sports performance and academic support staff members.
Revenue Generation/Facilities
• Wyoming Athletics shattered its annual fundraising record in the 2015-16 fiscal year as $20.4 million in pledges and gifts were made to UW Athletics. That broke the previous record of $12.8 million in pledges and gifts to UW Athletics that was also set during Burman’s tenure as A.D. in the 2013-14 fiscal year.
• Burman has spearheaded over $100 million in facilities projects during his time as athletics director, including: construction of a new $11 million Indoor Practice Facility (Fall 2007); construction of the $22 million Wildcatter Stadium Club & Suites addition to War Memorial Stadium (Fall 2010); extensive renovations to the east side of War Memorial Stadium; significant upgrades to the UniWyo Sports Complex for volleyball and wrestling; completion of a new $3 million Indoor Tennis Facility (Spring 2011); a new $1.2 million golf practice facility (Summer 2014); and Phase I and II of a $30 million renovation to the Arena-Auditorium that will be completed in the fall of 2017.
• Burman changed the course of Wyoming football in December 2013 when he hired Bohl as head coach. Bohl had coached North Dakota State to three consecutive FCS National Championships in 2011, ‘12 and ‘13, was named National Coach of the Year in 2012 and ‘13 and was part of two FBS National Championship teams as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Nebraska, 1995 and ‘97.
• In the spring of 2011, Burman hired Larry Shyatt away from his position as associate head coach at the University of Florida to return to Laramie and take over as head coach of Cowboy Basketball. Shyatt had been part of two National Championships with the Gators in 2006 and ‘07. Burman’s hiring of Shyatt received numerous positive reviews, including an “A” rating from ESPN.com. Of the 19 coaching hires that ESPN.com rated, Wyoming received one of only five “A” ratings.
• The Cowboy Basketball team reached the Top 25 of the USA Today Coaches’ Poll during the 2012-13 season and defeated No. 5 ranked San Diego State in the 2013-14 season before capturing the 2015 Mountain West Basketball Tournament Championship and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
• Cowgirl Basketball has achieved unprecedented success under the direction of head coach Legerski. Wyoming won the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) National Championship in the 2006-07 season, defeating Wisconsin, 72-56, in the championship game before a sold-out crowd in Laramie. In 2007-08, the Cowgirls earned the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. In the 2005-06, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13 and 2016-17 seasons Wyoming also earned bids to the WNIT.
• Wyoming wrestling joined the Big 12 Conference, beginning in the 2015-16 season.
Academic Success and Student Services
• Under Burman’s leadership, the University of Wyoming has increased resources in the areas of academic success and student-athlete well-being by over 100 percent. Increased funding of academic support for student-athletes has resulted in unprecedented success.
• Burman’s commitment to student-athlete well-being is evident in the addition of several key staff devoted to improving the overall athletic and academic experience for student-athletes. These new staff members include: a full-time athletics department team physician, a sports nutritionist and additional sports medicine, sports performance and academic support staff members.
Revenue Generation/Facilities
• Wyoming Athletics shattered its annual fundraising record in the 2015-16 fiscal year as $20.4 million in pledges and gifts were made to UW Athletics. That broke the previous record of $12.8 million in pledges and gifts to UW Athletics that was also set during Burman’s tenure as A.D. in the 2013-14 fiscal year.
• Burman has spearheaded over $100 million in facilities projects during his time as athletics director, including: construction of a new $11 million Indoor Practice Facility (Fall 2007); construction of the $22 million Wildcatter Stadium Club & Suites addition to War Memorial Stadium (Fall 2010); extensive renovations to the east side of War Memorial Stadium; significant upgrades to the UniWyo Sports Complex for volleyball and wrestling; completion of a new $3 million Indoor Tennis Facility (Spring 2011); a new $1.2 million golf practice facility (Summer 2014); and Phase I and II of a $30 million renovation to the Arena-Auditorium that will be completed in the fall of 2017.
Coach John W. Scott
CEO of Athletic Quest & National Seminar Speaker
*Former 2X All State Basketball player from Boston, Massachusetts as well as
a former college player and Professional Basketball Player internationally where he
averaged 28 points per game in three countries.
*Coaching: John has also been a High School coach twice, an NCAA College Coach and a Junior College Coach as well as a Professional Basketball Coach Internationally as well as the NBA, doing player development with the MILWAUKEE BUCKS.
*He served as the National Basketball Clinic Director for CONVERSE SHOE COMPANY and
BADEN BASKETBALL for 10 years and conducted basketball clinics on 5 continents worldwide.
*Authored 2 College Textbooks on sports through Prentice Hall Publishing and Simon and Shuster Publishing.
*Sports consultant to DISNEY on sports movies produced including most recently, the movie MCFARLAND about a Cross Country Coach.
*He is currently working with the NFHSCA (National Federation of H.S. Coaches Association) on developing Character Coaching curriculum and College Recruiting Curriculum for High School Coaches and Athletic Directors.
*Founder and CEO of ATHLETIC QUEST® a Group of current and former College Coaches nationwide that offer educationally based programs and motivational seminars to schools and groups on Character Coaching, Sportsmanship and the Realities of College Recruiting.
*ATHLETIC QUEST® has developed a high school and junior college class called CAAP: (College Academic / Athletic Prep Class) that is being taught now in schools in 9 states around the country. These schools are averaging over 1 million dollars annually in student athlete funding for college and 90% of their students are raising their cumulative GPA by half a grade level in just one semester.
*Appeared on numerous radio shows as one of the leading experts on Character Coaching and College Recruiting worldwide including on ESPN, K-TALK, The SPORTSZONE and WFAN in New York, the country’s largest sports radio station. Coach Scott is a leading expert and National Seminar Speaker on College Recruiting and CHARACTER COACHING®.
*Speaks at dozens of Athletic Director Conferences and High Schools annually.
*Former 2X All State Basketball player from Boston, Massachusetts as well as
a former college player and Professional Basketball Player internationally where he
averaged 28 points per game in three countries.
*Coaching: John has also been a High School coach twice, an NCAA College Coach and a Junior College Coach as well as a Professional Basketball Coach Internationally as well as the NBA, doing player development with the MILWAUKEE BUCKS.
*He served as the National Basketball Clinic Director for CONVERSE SHOE COMPANY and
BADEN BASKETBALL for 10 years and conducted basketball clinics on 5 continents worldwide.
*Authored 2 College Textbooks on sports through Prentice Hall Publishing and Simon and Shuster Publishing.
*Sports consultant to DISNEY on sports movies produced including most recently, the movie MCFARLAND about a Cross Country Coach.
*He is currently working with the NFHSCA (National Federation of H.S. Coaches Association) on developing Character Coaching curriculum and College Recruiting Curriculum for High School Coaches and Athletic Directors.
*Founder and CEO of ATHLETIC QUEST® a Group of current and former College Coaches nationwide that offer educationally based programs and motivational seminars to schools and groups on Character Coaching, Sportsmanship and the Realities of College Recruiting.
*ATHLETIC QUEST® has developed a high school and junior college class called CAAP: (College Academic / Athletic Prep Class) that is being taught now in schools in 9 states around the country. These schools are averaging over 1 million dollars annually in student athlete funding for college and 90% of their students are raising their cumulative GPA by half a grade level in just one semester.
*Appeared on numerous radio shows as one of the leading experts on Character Coaching and College Recruiting worldwide including on ESPN, K-TALK, The SPORTSZONE and WFAN in New York, the country’s largest sports radio station. Coach Scott is a leading expert and National Seminar Speaker on College Recruiting and CHARACTER COACHING®.
*Speaks at dozens of Athletic Director Conferences and High Schools annually.