This post provides detailed information on the athletic director job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.
(You will be able to download the athletic director job description template in pdf below.)
It also highlights the major requirements you may be expected to fulfill to be hired for the athletic director role by most employers.
What Does an Athletic Director Do?
An athletic director, or AD, is a professional responsible for the overall administration and management of a sports program, supervising sports teams, athletic departments, and coaches, usually at the collegiate or high school level.
The athletic director job description entails managing the program budget, supervising athletic staff, scheduling practices and games, maintaining facilities and equipment, and promoting relationships with stakeholders, like alumni and boosters for fundraising.
It also involves participating in the hiring and supervision of coaches and other athletic staff and ensuring that all team members adhere to appropriate ethical and safety standards.
Athletic directors can work with various people and departments to manage an entire athletic program, including athletic staff, student-athletes, coaches, university departments (such as marketing, finance, and human resources), parents, sponsors, and community partners.
An athletic director’s responsibilities can be as simple as scheduling games and managing basic budgets or as complex as ensuring ethical conduct and compliance with rules, navigating funding initiatives, setting strategic visions, and cultivating stakeholder relationships.
They are also expected to build relationships with boosters, alumni, and other key stakeholders, and are also responsible for securing funding for the program through donations and other means.
Athletic directors engage in a wide range of activities using tools and technologies, ranging from Zoom and Microsoft Teams for team management; diverse athlete performance technologies, such as GPS trackers, wearables; and video analysis software, like Hudl, to improve athlete performance and prevent injuries; as well as data analysis software for program evaluation.
They also use sports management platforms and digital tools for scheduling, community engagement, and record keeping.
Athletic directors may also be asked to engage in the development and implementation of training and conditioning programs for student-athletes, and the scheduling of games and competitions.
The specific reporting structure for athletic directors depends on the institution’s size and the political sensitivity of the athletics program, and typically falls under the school’s Principal or President, or a higher-level administrator, like a Vice President for Student Administration.
In larger operations, the specific reporting structure depends on the institution, but the athletic director functions as a senior administrator within the higher education system, overseeing athletics and fulfilling responsibilities to the leadership of the organization.
Therefore, athletic directors (ADs) typically report to the university president, chancellor, or a senior vice president for administration or finance.
Where Athletic Directors Work
Athletic directors work mostly in colleges and universities, high schools, and community sports organizations, with potential for growth in major cities like New York and San Diego.
Some athletic directors may work for recreational facilities and other private organizations to create and administer a sports program and physical education.
In the United States, the demand and valuation for athletic directors is typically high, with the role being a common and prominent position within its educational and sports systems.
Athletic Director Training
Formal education for athletic directors usually starts with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Administration or Management. For advancement, they pursue a Master’s degree in a related field.
This training can be offered by universities and colleges and certifications can be obtained from professional institutions like the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).
Athletic Director Job Description Example/Sample/Template
The athletic director job description may consist of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities depending on where they work:
- Develop and execute strategic plans for all athletic programs, ensuring their alignment with the institution’s mission
- Plan, manage, and distribute the athletic department’s budget, finances for equipment, salaries, and facility upkeep
- Ensure compliance with all related regulatory bodies like the NCAA, state high school athletic associations, or NAIA
- Direct all athletic games, including game management, emergency personnel and apparatus, security, and ticket sales
- Stand for the school, as required, at conferences and state meetings for administering the interscholastic athletic program
- Maintain records and proper documentation of athletic program activities, events, participation, and related information for the purpose of complying with school policies and applicable laws and regulations
- Ensure professional relationship with media sources for the purpose of providing information about schedules, postponements or cancellations, records, sporting event statistics, and other relevant information
- Work together with others for the purpose of scheduling additional activities that happen before, during, and after sporting events, such as musical programs, scorers tables, half-time programs, police coverage, ticket sales, availability of on-site medical care, recognitions, and other related activities
- Manage all injuries and accidents according to the school policies and applicable laws and regulations, such as reporting and documentation requirements
- Team up with other departments within the institution to promote an organized and unified vision for the school or university
- Engage in fundraising activities and build relationships with boosters, alumni, and the broader community to assist the athletic program
- Promote student-athletes’ academic, positive ethical standards, and athletic development, and ensure eligibility
- Set a strategic vision and plan for the athletics program, in the context of the Academy or institution’s larger vision, mission, and strategic goals
- Manage the High School and Middle School athletic programs in coordination with the Principal
- Create materials to advertise athletic and sporting events, both in electronic and printed formats, for the purpose of distributing information and promoting enhanced awareness among students, staff, and the community in recognizing and assisting the school’s athletic programs, and attending events
- Manage data documentation, proposal development, report preparation, and different other fundamental internal support activities
- Perform extra tasks as assigned by the assistant athletic director/marketing or associate athletic director/marketing
- Oversee scheduling community events and appearances by athletes and staff with the aim of building visibility in the community
- Team up with the assistant athletic director/marketing in creating a marketing strategy for group, season, and individual ticket sales for men and women baseball and basketball
- Research all avenues to drive ticket sales and create new ideas for interest and sales in all sports.
Athletic Director Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success
The athletic director requires certain skills, industry knowledge, and a number of personal attributes to be successful on the job and career and to qualify for hiring by most recruiters/employers, including:
- Sports Management Software: Athletic directors need the skills in tools used for team communication, performance tracking, athletic recruiting, and scheduling. Some sports management software includes financial tools, data visualization software, and communication tools, among others. Proficiency in these tools allows for efficient operations, data-driven decision-making ability, and strategic planning.
- Budgeting Software: Athletic directors need budgeting software skills that include proficiency with spreadsheet software, such as Google Sheets or Excel for data organization and formula use, financial management, and data analysis.
- Data Analytics Tools: This involves the use of data to analyze track participation and make data-driven decisions and program effectiveness. The tools athletic directors should have proficiency in include data visualization tools, SQL, and Microsoft Excel.
- Compliance Software: Athletic directors need to have some experience with data tracking tools, rules education platforms, compliance management systems, and ensure adherence to sports regulations and governing bodies like the NCAA.
- Event Management: Athletic directors require skills in communication, financial management, problem-solving, and organization to manage events and ensure they run smoothly and effectively. This involves the ability to coordinate and manage the logistical aspects of athletic events.
- Strategic Planning: This involves the ability to use technology and data to develop long-term strategies and objectives for athletic programs. Athletic directors need to combine resource management, data-driven decision-making, long-term vision, and ability to adapt to change to ensure the success and sustainability of athletic programs.
- Financial Management: Athletic directors need the skills in financial forecasting, budgeting, expense tracking, revenue generation, and strategic planning to be effective in their role. They should be able to analyze financial trends within the sport industry, understand different funding sources, and oversee both internal and external financial restrictions.
- Marketing and Social Media: Athletic directors need proficiency in social media management and the ability to develop effective marketing strategies to be effective in using digital tools and platforms to manage social media accounts, publicize events, and promote programs.
- Fundraising Platforms: Athletic directors need to become familiar with tools like fundraising platforms for campaign tracking and credit card processing, CRM systems, donor management software, and strategies for raising money for athletic programs. They also need to have good knowledge of data analysis for reporting and the ability to create compelling stories to drive donations and donor engagement.
- Communication: Athletic directors should have effective communication skills, like writing, listening, and ability to articulate information to interact with athletes, coaches, staff, and the public. Having effective communication skills is also necessary for communicating with the directors from other schools when creating schedules for the season.
- Leadership: Athletic directors need exceptional leadership skills to communicate with other administrators and coaches in school, and to lead meetings and provide direction to others. This will help inspire and motivate people to perform at their best, encourage a positive and inclusive team culture, and simplify expectations.
- Knowledge of Sports: It’s important for athletic directors to develop thorough knowledge of various sports so that they can efficiently manage a range of programs, giving all participants the assistance they need to succeed. They also need to understand the rules, regulations, and technical aspects of different sports to provide valuable guidance and support.
- Strategic Planning: Athletic directors can develop actionable plans and initiatives to drive growth and offer support. They may consider factors like program development opportunities, available resources, and market trends to ensure they are making informed, logical decisions. Strategic planning skills may also be used for equipment needs, overall program development, and scheduling.
- Budgeting: For Athletic directors to effectively allocate resources for various aspects of a school’s athletic program, they need strong budgeting skills. The skill will help them analyze financial data, forecast expenses, and make informed decisions to ensure the program functions within its financial means.
- Decision-Making Ability: Having this skill will enable athletic directors to decide quickly which action is best in different situations. They will be more effective performing their duties with the help of this skill. For example, decision-making skills will assist them when carrying out difficult tasks like disciplining student athletes who fall behind on academic requirements, and dismissing employees.
- Problem-Solving: Athletic directors need the ability to identify problems, understand what’s causing them, and apply the right solution. For example, they may cancel a game due to severe weather condition. To resolve the issue, they may work in partnership with other directors in finding a suitable day to reschedule the game.
Download athletic director job description template (pdf).
Athletic Director Job Description for Resume
If you have worked before as an athletic director or are presently working in that role and are making a resume or CV for a new job, then you can create a compelling Professional Experience for your resume by applying the sample athletic director job description provided above.
You can express the duties and responsibilities you have carried out as an athletic director in your resume’s Professional Experience by utilizing the ones provided in the above athletic director job description example.
This will show to the recruiter/employer that you have been successful working as an athletic director, which can boost your chances of getting the new job, especially if it requires someone with some athletic director work experience.
Conclusion
This post has provided detailed coverage of the athletic director job description, highlighting the major responsibilities and duties that they typically perform.
Individuals interested in the athletic director career will find this post helpful in learning about what they do.
Also, employers needing to hire a competent person for the athletic director role will find this article useful in making a detailed job description for the position.
They can actually apply the athletic director job description template provided on this page in making one for their organization.
