High School Athletic Director job description template
If you are hiring for this role, start here. This free template is our detailed definition of the position, with everything you need to find and hire the right person. Copy it, add your own requirements, and post it.
What is a High School Athletic Director?
A High School Athletic Director oversees all aspects of the athletic program.
This includes scheduling games and practices, hiring coaches, and ensuring that all athletes follow the rules.
They also work with the school's administration to make sure that the athletics program meets the needs of the students and the school.
Athletic directors are the foundation of any sports program.
They are responsible for handling all the necessary details of a successful team.
This includes everything from scheduling games and practices to hiring coaches. In addition, they must also make sure that all athletes follow the rules of the sport.
The top High School Athletic Director skills.
Five things separate a strong hire from a résumé that reads well. Use these as your scorecard criteria.
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We are hiring a skilled and expert High School Athletic Director to join our growing program. An ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, excellent communication abilities, and experience coaching or managing a team. They must also understand the rules and regulations of various sports and be able to handle a budget effectively.
As our High School Athletic Director, you will oversee all aspects of the athletics program. This includes scheduling games and practices, hiring coaches, and ensuring that all athletes follow the rules. You will also work with the school's administration to make sure that the athletics program meets the needs of the students and the school.
Duties and responsibilities
- Oversees all aspects of the athletics program
- Schedules games and practices
- Hiring coaches for all sports teams, managing the athletics department, and mentoring athletes
- Ensures that all athletes follow the sport's rules
- Works with school administration to ensure athletics program meets student and school needs
- Organizing travel logistics for sports teams so they can attend away games
- Manages budget
- Purchasing athletic gear and making sure it is kept in good working order
- Fundraises for additional funding
- Developing positive relationships with the community and responding to media inquiries
- Creating and putting in place processes and practices for the athletic department are challenges that every athletic director faces
- May fill in as a coach if needed
Requirements
- A bachelor's degree in sports management, athletic administration, or a similar discipline is required.
- Teaching certification, if applicable
- Extensive knowledge of all sports offered at the high school level.
- Excellent communication abilities
- Experience in coaching or managing a team
- A love for sports and education
- Understanding how to develop younger athletes
- Understands the rules and regulations of various sports
- Ability to effectively manage a budget
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Copy it straight into your job board or ATS, or have it emailed to you with the interview questions for this role.
What education this role needs.
At least a bachelor's degree in sports management, athletic administration, or a similar discipline is required.
Teaching certification, if applicable, is also necessary.
Extensive knowledge of all sports offered at the high school level is essential. Excellent communication abilities are a must.
Experience in coaching or managing a team is highly beneficial.
Sample interview questions for a High School Athletic Director.
Once you have gathered the applications, work through these in order. Twelve questions across four areas, enough to tell your shortlist apart.
- How did you get interested in working as a High School Athletic Director?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What are your thoughts on filling in as a coach if needed?
- How would you handle a situation where there is a disagreement between coaches and athletes?
- What are the most significant things that High School Athletic Directors should remember when working with athletes?
- Describe a time when you dealt with a problematic media inquiry.
- What are the biggest challenges that High School Athletic Directors face?
- What is the most vital attribute of an effective High School Athletic Director?
- What do you think are the most effective ways of communicating with athletes and coaches?
- What experience do you have in coaching or managing a team?
- Describe a time when you had to manage a budget effectively.
- How do you think High School Athletic Directors can best develop relationships with the community?
How much to pay when hiring.
Annual pay by percentile. Where you land depends on the size of the cycle they will own, and the 25th percentile is usually where a first analyst hire sits.
Hourly equivalents run from $18.99 at the 10th percentile to $47.20 at the 90th.
Candidates may apply under a different name.
Post the title your industry uses and keep the rest of the description. These three roles overlap enough that the same posting usually reaches all of them.
Three titles, one description.
Search behavior varies by industry, so the same job is advertised under several names. If you are unsure which one your candidates search for, run two titles and see which fills.
High School Principal
Middle School Principal
Athletic Coordinator
Frequently asked questions.
How does someone become a High School Athletic Director?
Most Athletic Directors in high schools have a background in education and coaching.
Many states require that athletic directors have a teaching certificate along with several years of coaching experience.
Athletic directors typically start out as assistant coaches before being promoted to the head coaching position.
Once they have gained enough experience, they can then move into an athletic director role.
Some athletic directors may also have a master’s degree in education or sports administration.
What is the typical schedule for a High School Athletic Director?
The typical schedule for a High School Athletic Director usually includes working during the day, evening, and weekends.
They often have to attend practices, games, and meetings.
Athletic Directors may also have to travel to other schools to observe their athletic programs.
What is the career path of a High School Athletic Director?
A High School Athletic Director may become a college athletic director, a professional sports team manager, or a business owner in the sports industry.
Some may choose to become a professor at a college or university. Many High School Athletic Directors are also involved in coaching.
What is the job outlook for a High School Athletic Director?
The job outlook for a High School Athletic Director is positive.
As more and more students participate in sports, the need for Athletic Directors will continue to grow.
Those with bachelor's degrees in sports management, athletic administration, or a related field will have the best chances of getting hired.
Excellent communication abilities and experience coaching or managing a team are also beneficial.
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