2. Job Description Someone who oversees the work of coaches and staff in an athletic department at an institution Interviews/employs staff Maintains/allocates budget Creates schedule Manage facilities Verifies eligibility (grades, etc.), also verifies compliance Liaison for school between other teams Director of operations, athletic director, activities director
3. Where this occupation is needed Universities (Large) high schools Athletic Clubs Recreation Centers Even Corporations
4. Education/Experience Required Athletic Administrators usually get promoted in a line of succession Most administrators need a Masters degree (6-8years) University of Iowa Tippie College of Business -School of Management Tuition: $18,000 (in-state) + room/board & fees
5. Earnings Local Athletic Directors: -University of Iowa: $337,000 -City High: $102,000 -West High: $112,000 National Average: -Secondary: $81,000 ($54,000-140,000) -Highest: @Florida ($965,000)
My name is Mr. Tristan Spears. One day I’d be interested in becoming an athletic administrator, someone who oversees and manages an entire athletic department.
Athletic Administrators make a lot of money, but its equal to the work. They single handedly run an entire athletic department. From creating and adhering to a budget, to creating schedules, hiring staff, managing facilities and establishing press releases/conferences. They are responsible for the upkeep of the entire department. The work day is rather long as besides working regular “5-8” work days, they often stay working into the afternoon and evening for supervising the athletic events. Obviously, a great deal of enthusiasm and interest in athletics and management is needed for such an up taking.
This job is found at all universities which sponsor athletics, large high schools with athletic programs big enough to require an AD, athletic clubs where the AD oversees most of the club’s activities, and Rec Centers where the AD or activities director could be in charge of forming and scheduling rec leagues or scheduling other activities. At smaller high schools, an athletic director may be another member of the administrative staff or another teacher. An “activities” director is also a position frequently utilized by smaller schools, whom is someone who not only oversees and administrates athletic teams/events, but also helps with music groups, theater, drama, school plays, school events/parties, and any other school sponsored event. Some corporations even higher an AD to run the company’s fitness center or company sponsored rec league teams.Further advancement in this profession could include commissioner or representative of a larger entity (such as league, conference, or NCAA). Or another possibility would be a Director of Operations for a professional sports team/club.
Athletic Administrators usually are promoted from teaching or coaching positions into being an AD. Spending time in these positions gives the time needed to develop the experience needed to communicate with the people who an administrator needs to work with.The University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business offers many administrative courses, most notably in Business Administration in the School of Management. Tuition is about $18,000 for in-state students, plus another possible $15,000 in other expenses such as room + board, textbooks, materials, and fees.
Because of the high level of education needed, athletic administrators are generally payed very well. Iowa high schools typically pay around 90K to 100K. Large public universities generally pay 400K+. Private institutions pay even higher, but they are not required to publicly release how much they pay.
