Occupation: This is not an easy answer. Intercollegiate athletics administration is probably the most accurate description — athletic director and conference commissioner. But I have practiced law, ran a congressional campaign for a candidate, served as a fundraising director, taught a college course, and chaired a nonprofit homeless shelter network.

Family: I’m a devoted husband and father. Donna Coonan is my wife, and my children are Claire (23), Tommy (21) and Kevin (19).

Pets: Darby (9) is a German shepherd we brought to Connecticut with us from California. That was a monumental climate shock.

How long have you lived in Newtown? Six years ago we moved here after living most of my life in California.

What do you like to do in your free time? I work out religiously, and I write novels.

What is your favorite book? Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. It was such an ambitious literary undertaking.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? John McCain. He wasn’t perfect, but I love what he stood for and how he would unapologetically go against his party for the good of the country.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He is the most courageous and inspirational leader of my lifetime. No one else even comes close.

Who is your favorite musical artist? I’ve been a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen since the mid-seventies as a kid. I’ve seen him live more times than I care to admit.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? “It’s never too late to become who you might have been.” That’s a quote attributed to George Eliot, the pen name for Mary Ann Evans, the 19th Century British novelist. That quote helped inspire me to write my first novel at age 56.

What is something you cannot live without? Exercise. And people. I need a ton of both to stay happy.

What is your proudest accomplishment? Professionally, I would say the role I played in turning around the fortunes of the Cal football program. The team we inherited our first year was 1-10, and just a few years later after hiring Jeff Tedford as head coach we were in the top twenty. Personally, it would have to be writing the two novels, Presidential Spirits and its sequel, Another Round of Presidential Spirits.

What is a meal/recipe your family has passed down to you? I love everything about the way my mom went about Thanksgiving dinner. The stuffing in particular and the gravy simply cannot be improved upon.

What is a tradition your family does that is important to you? The week my extended family spends at Lake Almanor each summer is always the best week of the year. We sit around on the dock listening to music, mixing drinks, and enjoying each other’s company.

What would you like The Newtown Bee to cover in the future? All the things that unite us as a country. So much of the national media narrative has become so divisive and polarizing. We are losing touch with all that we have in common, and it’s killing us.