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Athlete Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

i9 Sports

Sport Instructor Athlete Development

Cary, NC · On-site

$25 - $40/hr

Impact the lives of young athletes * Online training opportunities Company Overview Founded in ... Lead practice sessions focusing on fundamentals, skill development, and fun * Teach & demonstrate ...

i9 Sports

Sport Coordinator Athlete Development

Katy, TX · On-site

$18/hr

Empower volunteer coaches to lead practice sessions focusing on fundamentals, skill development, and fun * Teach & demonstrate core concepts including Sportsmanship values * Supervise the overall ...

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Athlete Development information

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$29K

$53.4K

$81K

How much do athlete development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for athlete development in the United States is $53,418.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42,500.00 and $60,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in athlete development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Athlete Development, you need a strong background in sports science, coaching, and performance analysis, often supported by relevant degrees and certifications such as CSCS or NASM. Familiarity with athlete management systems, video analysis tools, and training technology is typically required. Exceptional communication, leadership, and motivational skills help build trust and foster growth in athletes. These abilities ensure the effective development of athletic talent and holistic support for athletes’ performance and well-being.

How does an athlete development professional typically collaborate with coaches and support staff to enhance athlete performance?

Athlete Development professionals work closely with coaches, sports psychologists, nutritionists, and medical teams to create comprehensive plans tailored to each athlete's needs. They coordinate regular check-ins, assessments, and feedback sessions to monitor progress and address challenges. Collaboration ensures that all aspects of an athlete's physical, mental, and emotional development are supported, leading to well-rounded performance improvements. This multidisciplinary teamwork is essential for fostering a positive environment and helping athletes reach their full potential.

What is athlete development?

Athlete development refers to the process of nurturing and enhancing the skills, abilities, and overall well-being of athletes throughout different stages of their careers. This involves physical training, mental conditioning, skill acquisition, and personal growth, often guided by coaches, trainers, and support staff. The goal is to help athletes reach their full potential while maintaining long-term health and success in their chosen sport.

What is the difference between Athlete Development vs Sports Coach?

AspectAthlete DevelopmentSports Coach
CredentialsCertifications in sports science, strength & conditioning, or athletic trainingCoaching certifications, such as NSCAA, USCC, or sport-specific licenses
Work EnvironmentTraining facilities, gyms, sports academies, or schoolsSports fields, gyms, or indoor arenas
Employer & IndustrySports academies, universities, youth programsSchool teams, professional teams, community sports programs
Search & Comparison IntentFocus on athlete performance enhancement and training programsFocus on team strategy, game tactics, and direct coaching

While both roles aim to improve athletic performance, Athlete Development focuses on training programs, physical conditioning, and long-term athlete growth. Sports Coaches primarily direct team strategies, game tactics, and on-field instruction. The two roles often collaborate but serve different aspects of athletic success.

What is an athlete development specialist?

An athlete development specialist is a professional who designs training programs to improve athletes' physical performance, focusing on areas such as strength, speed, and agility. They often work with coaches and use tools like performance assessments and sport-specific drills to optimize athlete potential and reduce injury risk.
More about Athlete Development jobs
What cities are hiring for Athlete Development jobs? Cities with the most Athlete Development job openings:
What states have the most Athlete Development jobs? States with the most job openings for Athlete Development jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Athlete Development jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Athlete Development jobs are:
Athlete Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Athlete Development job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,418 per year, or $25.7 per hour.

Assistant Athletic Director Student Athlete Development

William and Mary

Remote

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Job Requisition:
JR101956 Assistant Athletic Director Student Athlete Development (Open)
Job Posting Title:
Assistant Athletic Director Student Athlete Development
Department:
CC00321 WM001 | ATHL | Central Administration
Job Family:
Staff - Academic Advising
Worker Sub-Type:
Regular (benefited)
Job Requisition Primary Location:
Kaplan Arena
Primary Job Posting Location:
Posting Location - William & Mary
Job Description Summary:
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at William & Mary is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in all its endeavors. We are committed to an outstanding intercollegiate athletics program by:
• Forging an environment that demands success with integrity;
• Winning championships;
• Empowering leaders;
• Building a championship culture;
• Elevating the prestige of the University;
• Instilling pride and respect;
• Remaining true to our Core Values of Accountability, Belonging, Creativity, Integrity, and Service.
The Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development will be responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services related to enhancing the student-athlete experience by engaging with campus partners/department leaders to create a curriculum for holistic personal growth, leadership, community engagement, and career preparation. The Athletic Director will regularly interact with a variety of constituents including current/prospective student-athletes, families, coaches, department and university staff, faculty, and external support entities .
Job Description:
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
  • Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, and demonstrated success with public speaking.
  • Transferrable leadership skills for successfully leading and guiding student-athletes.
  • Demonstrated attention to detail.
  • Proven ability to work with a diverse population and a wide range of constituencies.
  • Experience (typically 3-8 years) directly related to the position either working with student-athletes specifically, or in a comparable position in the field of student affairs, higher education, counseling, or similar.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's degree in student affairs, higher education, counseling, or a closely related field.
  • Experience working with student-athletes, specifically in college athletics.

Conditions of Employment:
  • This position may require additional hours beyond the typical work week, including occasional overnight and frequent night and weekend work as needed to meet the business needs of the operation.
  • Occasional travel is required.
  • This is a restricted position subject to the continued availability of funding.
  • This position requires the ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive information, particularly in dealings with a wide variety of populations (e.g., faculty, staff, and students) of varying levels of education and skills in communication.
  • This position requires adherence to all applicable NCAA, conference, and institutional rules and regulations.

Job Duties:
65% - Develop and manage a W&M Student-Athlete Development Program:
  • Leverage existing department and university resources to design, implement and evaluate the Student-Athlete Development Program with the goal of enhancing the student-athlete experience and overall student success. Areas of emphasis will include but are not limited to, mentorship, leadership, career preparation, and community engagement.
  • Collaborate with leaders of university-wide orientation programs to develop and implement orientation programs specific to first-year and transfer student-athletes.
  • Support student-athlete transition to life beyond collegiate sports participation by recognizing student-athlete needs and actively connecting them with appropriate on and off-campus resources; or through developing and advocating for additional necessary resources.
  • Assist the Deputy AD with the development of the program budget.
  • Forecast and manage program needs and expenditures.

15% - Community and Career Engagement/Support:
  • Coordinate student-athlete programming with the Cohen Career Center to include interviewing and networking skills, resume writing, preparation for internship opportunities, and job search.
  • Enhance the intra-department community by encouraging/ incentivizing student-athletes to support each other's team competitions.
  • Promote and support continuing networking and engagement with alumni.
  • Develop, coordinate, and document student-athlete outreach and service projects in partnership with the W&M Office of Community Engagement.
  • Serve as the advisor to the Student-Athlete Advocacy Committee (SAAC).The SAAC meets twice monthly and is made up of two representatives from each varsity athletic team. Responsibilities of the committee include coordinating philanthropic/social events and annually participating in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) meetings, providing input on proposed NCAA legislation.

15% - Educational Coordination/Support:
  • Coordinate and promote educational programming relative to the student-athlete experience.
  • Ensure compliance with NCAA-mandated educational programs for student-athletes.
  • Assist in on-campus recruiting of prospective student-athletes.

5% - Other:
  • Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Additional Job Description:
Salary: up to $70,000 commensurate with experience and internal alignment.
A resume/CV and cover letter are required for this position.
Please note: No more than 5 individual documents may be uploaded into the upload field provided. Each individual file must not exceed a size limit of 5MB. If necessary, candidates can compress multiple files into a single zip file for upload.
For full consideration, submit application materials by the initial review date, August 3, 2026. Applications received after the initial review date will be considered if needed.
Job Profile:
JP0794 - Senior Academic Advisor - Exempt - Salary - S11
Qualifications:
Compensation Grade:
S11
Recruiting Start Date:
2026-07-27
Position Restrictions:
Restricted Funds
EEO is the Law. Applicants can learn more about William & Mary's status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the "Know Your Rights" poster published by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal
Background Check: William & Mary is committed to providing a safe campus community. W&M conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.
Remote Work Disclaimer: Remote work eligibility is not guaranteed and is subject to approval. Employee eligibility depends on the likelihood of the employee succeeding in a remote work arrangement and the supervisor's ability to manage remote workers. Departments and/or Human Resources may amend, alter, change, delete, or modify eligibility.

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