Becoming a leader: Tricia Turley Brandenburg

It’s no surprise that Tricia Turley-Brandenburg has spent more than 20 years working in athletics. Growing up in a small town where her dad was both a football and a wrestling coach, sports were a lifestyle.

“I learned to crawl on a wrestling mat,” she said through a laugh. “At daycare I used to climb a six-foot fence to go to football practices in the fall with my dad. Sports were just always part of my life.” 

They continue to be a huge part of Turley-Brandenburg’s life—she is Towson University’s deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator. She oversees anything that involves TU’s student-athletes, including compliance, academics, life skills, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and equipment. 

Since graduating from Cornell, her path has taken many twists and turns. She worked for the Washington Redskins, the University at Buffalo, the University of Massachusetts and Ohio University. She even interned with the NCAA’s enforcement unit.

She was also invited to participate in the NCAA Fellows Program—now called the NCAA Pathway Program. The yearlong cohort is designed to elevate those in senior-level positions within athletics administration to the next step:  director of athletics. 

“I look at every relationship I’ve had professionally as an opportunity to learn something,” she said. “I have been really fortunate to have had the people I worked with, and people in my life who have been great mentors. [That network] has helped me grow professionally and into this position.”

Since coming to TU in 2012, Turley-Brandenburg has continued that networking and collaboration, making connections with other female leaders around campus. She has worked with female presidents, deans and associate deans, and vice presidents.

“It’s been exciting to be in that environment and learn from people across campus, not just in athletics,” she said. “It’s been awesome being here at TU because I’ve worked for two female presidents who have been great about giving advice, and who are great leaders by example.”

While professional relationships are important, Turley-Brandenburg’s most important relationship is with TU’s student-athletes. She serves as administrator for eight sports and as an adviser for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). 

She also hopes to serve as a role model for female student-athletes—especially those who want a career in college athletics.

“I want to be a resource for those student-athletes who are interested in doing this,” she said. “I think there have been challenges over the years with being a woman, but all of those things are a process, a learning experience and a chance to educate people. 

“I’m trying to reinforce that there are a lot of women who are into sports and who are knowledgeable about sports,” she added.

As a way to help TU students prepare for leadership roles, especially in SAAC, Turley-Brandenburg helped create the LEaD (Leadership Enhancement and Development) Tiger Program. 

The LEaD Tiger Program identifies rising sophomores who have succeeded both athletically and academically for a cohort-based leadership program. These student-athletes receive mentoring and participation in specific programs that help build their leadership capacity.

Asked what advice she gives to the LEaD Tiger student-athletes, her answer was simple: “Just kind of go for it.”

“The dream job you may end up with might not exist today,” she added. “Just go with the things you are passionate about, and see where that leads you. Connect with people and make the possibility a reality.”