Division I Athletic Director Trends and Perceptions of Requisite Professional Skills

Abstract

Abstract The focus of this study was to understand perceptions of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletic director (ADs) skills and experiences and their relative importance to their current position.  Division I ADs hold the highest position of authority in intercollegiate athletic departments at the highest level of competition in the NCAA (Swift, 2011).  What once was seen as a job for retired coaches, has now transformed into a role that attracts some of the top executives both in and outside the sports industry (Belzer, 2015).  Indeed, universities have begun to resemble a corporate culture, with ADs frequently considered to be CEOs of their department and the universities they serve (Hardin, Cooper & Huffman, 2013).  Since much of the research on AD career paths has employed a content analysis methodology, examining biographies of ADs to establish patterns, (e.g., Fitzgerald, Sagaria, & Nelson, 1994; Hardin et al., 2013; Lumpkin, Achen & Hyland, 2015), the current study sought to understand ADs perceptions of requisite skills and experiences by directly surveying the group.  Results indicate current ADs place a high emphasis on developing skills relative to revenue generation, fundraising and development, while considering internal experiences such as working with academic services and life skills not nearly as important.