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College Athletic Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Assistant Athletic Director

Walla Walla, WA ยท On-site

$37.49 - $39.58/hr

WHITMAN COLLEGE Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman's vibrant and beautiful ... POSITION PURPOSE The Assistant Athletic Director will support the mission of the College and the ...

Assistant Athletic Director

Dyersburg, TN ยท On-site

$40K - $50K/yr

The Assistant Athletic Director serves as the primary administrative support professional and ... Ensure compliance with college travel regulations and budget guidelines. * Maintain travel records ...

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. * Significant experience as an Athletic Director, Assistant Athletic Director, school administrator, coach, or comparable athletics ...

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. * Significant experience as an Athletic Director, Assistant Athletic Director, school administrator, coach, or comparable athletics ...

Assistant Athletic Director

Joliet, IL ยท On-site

$65 - $100/hr

Assistant Athletic DirectorPosition Summary Assists the Director of Athletics at Joliet Junior ... Joliet Junior College is an AA/EO employer and strongly encourages applications from candidates who ...

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College Athletic Director information

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How much do college athletic director jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for college athletic director in the United States is $21.63, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.39 and $21.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a college athletic director?

College athletic directors are professionals responsible for overseeing and managing the athletic programs of colleges or universities. They handle budgeting, hiring coaches, ensuring compliance with athletic regulations, and promoting the school's sports teams. Athletic directors also work with other departments to support student-athlete success both on and off the field. Their leadership ensures that athletic programs operate smoothly and align with the institution's goals.

What does a college athletic director do?

A college athletic director works at a community college or university. They supervise programs, hire coaches, order equipment, and work to promote the success of the athletic division. A college athletic director also monitors the budget, which may include fundraising, distribution of funds, and strategy planning. It is the responsibility of a college athletic director to ensure that each athlete and coach follows local and national policies and regulations. They are also responsible for the public image of their college's sports program.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a college athletic director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a College Athletic Director, you need strong leadership abilities, organizational skills, and a solid background in sports administration or a related field, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with NCAA regulations, budgeting software, and athletic management systems is typically required. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and relationship-building abilities help you collaborate with coaches, student-athletes, and institutional stakeholders. These skills and qualities are essential to ensure compliance, effective program management, and the overall success of collegiate athletic programs.

What are some common challenges faced by college athletic directors in managing athletic programs?

College Athletic Directors often balance multiple responsibilities, including budget management, compliance with NCAA regulations, and fostering student-athlete success both academically and athletically. A major challenge is maintaining program competitiveness while ensuring ethical standards and academic integrity are upheld. Additionally, Athletic Directors work closely with coaches, university leadership, and external stakeholders, requiring strong communication and organizational skills to align diverse interests and sustain program growth.

What is the difference between College Athletic Director vs College Sports Coach?

AspectCollege Athletic DirectorCollege Sports Coach
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree; often master's; experience in sports administrationBachelor's degree; coaching certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentAdministrative offices, meetings, overseeing entire athletic programsTraining facilities, sports fields, direct team interaction
Employer & Industry UsageColleges and universities managing athletic departmentsColleges and universities coaching specific teams
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding administrative roles in college sportsLearning about coaching responsibilities and career paths

The main difference is that a College Athletic Director oversees the entire athletic department, managing budgets, compliance, and staff, while a College Sports Coach focuses on training and leading specific sports teams. Both roles require relevant experience and credentials, but their responsibilities and work environments differ significantly.

What cities are hiring for College Athletic Director jobs?

Cities with the most College Athletic Director job openings:

What states have the most College Athletic Director jobs?

States with the most job openings for College Athletic Director jobs include:

Infographic showing various College Athletic Director job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,999 per year, or $21.6 per hour.

Assistant Athletic Director

Whitman College

Walla Walla, WA โ€ข On-site

$37.49 - $39.58/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

WHITMAN COLLEGE
Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman's vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.
Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college's working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO).
POSITION PURPOSE
The Assistant Athletic Director will support the mission of the College and the Department of Athletics, serve a strategic leadership position in the athletics department, and play an essential role in the institutional/athletics compliance function. This position supports student-athletes and assists coaches and athletics staff in ensuring we meet our obligations under NCAA and NWC rules, maintain our operational integrity, and reduce the risk of NCAA and NWC violations and penalties.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
COMPLIANCE: (50%)
  • Direct, monitor, and ensure compliance with NCAA and Northwest Conference rules and regulations through the administration, interpretation, and implementation of compliance policies and procedures across the athletics department and camps community.
  • Monitor and maintain compliance systems related to recruiting, eligibility, financial aid, playing and practice seasons, awards, and benefits.
  • Serve as the primary liaison with Teamworks and manage and monitor the platform integration, compliance forms, student-athlete records, roster maintenance, and CARA forms in the database.
  • Provides research and interpretation responses for all NCAA bylaws, NWC Conference bylaws, and Sports Procedures Manuals (SPM's) for coaches, student-athletes, department staff, donors, and college and outside constituents.
  • Review and process compliance-related documentation, including recruiting logs, official/unofficial visits, Countable Athletically Related Activities (CARA) logs, transfer tracers, camps and clinics, and waiver requests.
  • Assist with the certification of student-athlete eligibility and monitoring of academic requirements.
  • Coordinate with the athletics program budget assistant to monitor expenditures for occasional meals, recruiting visits, recruiting travel, and camps.
  • Provide education and rules interpretation to coaches, student-athletes, faculty, staff, and other college entities responsible for compliance with NCAA legislation.
  • Review and coordinate the investigation and reporting of known and/or alleged rules violations with the Director of Athletics and other campus constituents, as necessary.
  • Work collaboratively with campus departments, including Financial Aid, Admissions, Registrar, Academic Affairs, and Human Resources, on areas related to compliance and eligibility matters.
  • Maintain accurate compliance records and assist with NCAA and NWC Conference reporting requirements, such as sports sponsorship, graduation rates, rules certification, national and NWC academic honors, and financial aid reports.
  • Attend NCAA Regional Rules seminars and NWC compliance meetings.

RECRUITING: (25%)
  • Lead and coordinate compliance efforts related to recruiting, admissions, campus visits, and the certification and monitoring of initial and continuing eligibility for all prospective and current student-athletes.
  • Manage transfer student-athlete eligibility and transfer portal processes, working directly with Admissions and the Registrar's Office to review academic records, certify eligibility, and ensure compliance.
  • Oversee international prospective student-athlete monitoring processes and serve as the primary liaison with the NCAA Eligibility Center and Whitman College's International Student and Scholar Support Services office to support admissions, academic credential evaluation, and initial eligibility certification.
  • Monitor playing and practice season declarations, countable athletically related activities, outside competitions, and summer league participation.
  • Oversight of student-athlete participation reports for practices, scrimmages, exhibitions, and competitions as it relates to eligibility usage and medical/mental health waivers.
  • Participates in enrollment planning discussions, yield strategies, and metrics for recruiting efforts with seventeen varsity programs.
  • Assist with recruiting efforts and outreach for Athletics and Club Sports if and when needed.

STUDENT ATHLETE SUPPORT & RETENTION: (15%)
  • Monitors academic progress and works with student-athletes, faculty advisors, and academic support services on eligibility standards, requirements, and academic progress.
  • Provide education to faculty and staff who work with student-athletes to develop course schedules that meet NCAA and institutional progress towards degree requirements.
  • Oversee a robust academic monitoring program to guide and collaborate with campus constituents to ensure effective academic advisement, tutoring, appeals process guidance, and communication as needed with the Registrar's office, the Board of Review, and the Associate Dean.
  • Collaborate with the Dean of Students Office and serve as a member of the CARE team to assess, intervene, and provide timely resources and support for students with needs.
  • Assist with departmental initiatives such as Inclusive Excellence, Mental Health, Athletes for Consent Education, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and other areas of programming.
  • Serve as co-advisor to the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

INTERNAL OPERATIONS: (10%)
  • Assist the Director of Athletics in the day-to-day operations of the department.
  • Assist the Director of Athletics with the annual review of Title IX compliance and equitable best practices.
  • Serve as a game-day administrator for athletic and department events.
  • Assists with athletics programming, awards recognition, WClub events, and fundraising initiatives.
  • Coordinate award recognition events, including Celebration of Champions and post-season honors.
  • Provide leadership and planning for fan engagement and community outreach regarding partnerships.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
Must be able to explain and/or demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Specifically,
  • Demonstrated knowledge and ability to work within the framework of Whitman College policies, NWC regulations, and NCAA Division III rules.
  • Ability to maintain a proficient level of knowledge and understanding of NWC and NCAA legislation through continuing education and professional development.
  • Ability to plan, organize, and execute day-to-day operations and to work under deadlines with detailed documentation and a highly confidential approach.
  • Familiarity and integrity in support of the NCAA Division III rules and the scholar-athlete philosophy.
  • Knowledge and appreciation of liberal arts education.
  • Professional Engagement - ability to develop positive, professional relationships with officials, league personnel, and coaching colleagues.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Excellent and effective communication skills (both verbal and written).
  • Ability to work nights, weekends and holidays.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
  • 2+ years or more of demonstrated administrative work in intercollegiate athletics or a related field.
  • OR a combination of relevant education, training, and experience.

Whitman College values diverse pathways to acquiring skills and knowledge and encourages applicants to demonstrate how their background aligns with the role.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Master's degree.
  • Experience with NCAA Compliance Rules and Regulations.

Please note that while the description details both required and preferred qualifications, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply.
WORKING CONDITIONS
  • This position may be required to work nights, weekends and holidays.

BENEFITS
Whitman College offers a competitive benefits program that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees. Benefit offerings and eligibility described reflect current offerings and may be subject to change in accordance with College policies and plan documents. Full-time employees enjoy the following benefits:
Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.
Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.
403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.
Paid Time Off: 20 accrued vacation days, 12 accrued sick days, 13 paid holidays.
Tuition Remission - Dependent Children
Employee tuition waiver for two Whitman courses per semester.
Employee Assistance Program
Relocation assistance for eligible employees.
Learn more about benefits eligibility here.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES
Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.
APPLICATION REVIEW
Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
START DATE
August 2026