Ex-Michigan State AD Haller reflects on career, leadership in LinkedIn post.
Alan Haller’s decades-long career as an athlete and administrator at Michigan State came to an end when President Kevin Guskiewicz fired him May 1, but the former Spartans athletic director is thankful for the lessons he learned since stepping foot on campus as a dual-sport athlete in 1988.Haller, 54, graduated from J.W. Sexton High School in Lansing, joining George Perles’ Michigan State football team in 1988 and running track for Spartans coach Jim Bibbs. A defensive back, Haller went on to a brief NFL career as a special teams player before returning to East Lansing and serving 13 years with Michigan State’s Department of Police and Public Safety.”Coach Jim Bibbs, my college track coach, taught me Focus,” Haller wrote. “He used to say, ‘When everything around you is moving fast — focus on what you have to do and pay attention to the details.’ That message grounded me — on the track, in moments of pressure, and throughout my career
In a lengthy LinkedIn post Tuesday, Haller reflected on his time in East Lansing, paying tribute to the advice of two Michigan State coaches that shaped his career.
“For over three decades, I’ve had the privilege of serving in various leadership roles,” Haller wrote. “But I’ve never defined my success by the titles I’ve held — it’s always been about the people, the moments — big or small — and making an impact. As I reflect on my journey — from student-athlete to Vice President — I’m reminded that who we become is often shaped by the voices that speak into us early on. Two coaches, in particular, left lasting imprints on my life. Their words became the pillars of my leadership.”
Coach George Perles, my college football coach, taught me accountability and responsibility,” Haller continued. “He had a rule: no playing basketball during or near the start of football season. I broke that rule, just before the start of my sophomore season, I played a pickup game of basketball, and injured my ankle. While the trainers examined me, Coach Perles burst into the room and said, ‘You’re selfish. You let your team down. When people are counting on you, you have to make decisions differently!’ Those words were tough to hear — but they’ve stayed with me. They shaped how I think, how I lead, and how I live
