Athletic Directors oversee all aspects of the sports program in various educational institutions like Schools, Colleges and Universities. They provide guidance and direction to promote sports activities.
The key responsibilities of an Athletic Director are as follows:
- Create and administer athletic programs for the institution
- Prepare a budget and allocate spending on items like salaries of coach and other supporting staffs, team travel and equipment purchases etc.
- Evaluate and hire the coach and other supporting staff
- Monitor the team and players
- Conduct an investigation or appoint investigators to review incidents of rules violations
- Determine the schedule of games, practices and other facilities management
- Communicate with school officials regarding athletic events and student athletes
- Participate in revenue development planning and fundraising to promote sports and games
Educational Requirements
To become an Athletic Director, the aspiring candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree with a major of sport management, physical education, athletic training or in a related field.
However, students should obtain a master’s degree in a field like physical education, education administration or sports management or a PhD to get better job opportunities in this field.
Besides, a work experience in a sports related occupation is an advantage for Athletic Director aspirants.
Certification
In order to obtain a nationally recognized certification, the candidates need to fulfill the registration criteria and successfully complete five-year-course after serving for two years as an Athletic Administrator. The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association offers certification programs as a Registered Athletic Administrator, Certified Athletic Administrator or Certified Master Athletic Administrator.
Skills Set
Apart from academic knowledge, an Athletic Director possesses a wide range of skills including abilities to mange multitask activities, work under pressure, solve problems, make tough decisions, understand rules and regulations regarding fundraising, recruiting and athlete eligibility, effective communication and interpersonal skills, organization abilities, leadership quality so on and so forth.
Job Outlook and Salary
The job outlook for an Athletic Director remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 15% during 2010-2020. In 2012, the average annual salary of an Athletic Director was $86,490 and $100,000 at School and College level respectively.