Athletic Director

pretty much anything, but i'd think ad sci or management might work for you. PE with a focus on administration as well. but you'll need a grad degree regardless, so just get good grades and apply to a school with a strong program (UW-Lacrosse, Springfield) jump to mind.

grad school in athletic directing?

boy, you're stupid.

Are you trying to be a high school athletic director? In my experience, most high school ADs are promoted from coaching possitions. I believe that the same is often true in college. So, I'd say that anything that sets you up for a head coaching job could get you into that possition after a few years.

googs wrote:

grad school in athletic directing?

boy, you're stupid.

haven't done any research, eh? how do you suggest it? there's always the football coach route, but since he's a runner, that's not likely to work.

UHhhH wrote:

Anyone know a good undergrad degree that could set me up for grad school in athletic directing.. I've been trying to research but can't find out much about this profession. Also is it possible to coach high school with this job? THanks

These days I suggest business and then get a MBA. Sports management is good but I'd says go MBA. PE won't work at the major college level for administration. Look at Oregon's latest AD hire as proof of what schools are looking for. Big business!

I'd say the days of the old ball coach also acting as AD are over. You need to be a CEO type. It's all about fund raising, managment, hiring and firing the right people, and compliance.

I think I'd like to coach at the NCAA D-III level, and then (after a few years of coaching) decide whether I want to remain on the coaching path or attempt to pursue a career as an AD.

It seems to me that the path that makes sense to go about this seems something like this:

1) Attend grad school and work as either a volunteer assistant or GA with the XC and track team; at grad school, rather than get a degree in Ex Phys or something like that, get a degree in sports administration;

2) Get a job as an assistant track/XC coach at any college (any NCAA level, NAIA, JuCo, CC), and be willing to work in administration as well (it seems like being able to work in game management, the AD's, or SID's office as an assistant would be a big selling point for an assistant coach, as many people in my school's athletics department seem to be asked to fill multiple roles);

3) Eventually get a full-time head coaching job somewhere (either with or without other responsibilities in the athletics department);

4) Stay and coach for a while and then decide whether I want to be a coach or an AD;

5) If I want to be a coach, find a program/school/town I like and stay there;

6) If I want to be an AD, either wait for an opening in my college's athletics department or apply for other AD jobs (pretty much anywhere, as beggars can't be choosers).

Does this plan sound reasonable? And what grad schools would you recommend? Has anyone heard anything about the (relatively new, I believe) University of Washington sports administration grad school? I think it's supposed to be NCAA-specific, and I've heard good things.

I think that could work but I think a better road to being a administrator is to start as a GA within administration such as in the compliance or fundraising offices. Then try to get a lower level position like business manager, or full time assistant in the compliance or fundraising offices. Coaches respect AD's who were coaches but presidents want someone with money making and marketing power. I guess it all depends on what level AD you want to be. If you want to be the top dog go the business route. If you want to be a associate AD who oversees specific sports maybe a coaching background would be best.

Even as a DIII AD you would see business as the way to go? I thought that was more the exception rather than the rule at that level? At least I was hoping so--hence my interest in being involved in DIII rather than DI or II.