Athletics Director

Athletics Director

The University of Texas at El Paso – About UTEP

UTEP –Athletics  

Work type: Executive

Location: El Paso, Texas

Categories: Athletics, Executive/Director/Management

THE UNIVERSITY

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is forging dramatic new directions in higher education. UTEP has become a national model for creating and successfully executing highly competitive academic and research programs while maintaining a deep commitment to  serving a 21st century student demographic. It has made a deep commitment to ensuring both access and excellence to students in its region and, as a result, has become the only research-doctoral university in the United States with a Mexican-American majority student population.

A Carnegie high-research-activity, urban university enrolling more than 25,000 students, UTEP is a member of The University of Texas System (www.utsystem.edu). It serves its primary constituency--residents of far west Texas, southern New Mexico, and northern Mexico—with 72 undergraduate programs, 74 master’s program s,  22 doctoral degree programs,  and a growing portfolio of online degrees. With an 80% Hispanic student population— and an additional 5% from Mexico—UTEP proudly reflects the demographic composition of the binational region from which it draws 90% of its students. 

The University employs nearly 1,350 full-and part-time faculty members, and 95% of the tenured and tenure-track faculty hold doctoral degrees or the equivalent in their fields. With its 36%-Hispanic faculty composition, UTEP boasts one of the highest proportions of minority faculty among research universities in the United States.

Campus Setting

UTEP is an urban university located in El Paso, Texas, a growing community of 750,000 which, together with Ciudad Juárez, Mexico forms the world’s largest bi-national metropolitan area, totaling 2.5 million residents.  El Paso’s attractive and affordable living conditions and broad range of unique cultural and intellectual options, and the surrounding region’s beautiful mountain desert terrain, abundant sunshine and outdoor recreational opportunities, combine to offer a highly satisfying quality of life. With an annual budget of nearly $450 million, more than 3,000 faculty and staff, a university-related local economic impact of $1.3 billion, and a broad range of cultural, arts, continuing education and athletic programs—UTEP is a major contributor to the region’s economic prosperity and quality of life. 

Unique in campus architectural styles, UTEP’s facilities were inspired by buildings in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. The 420-acre campus is bustling with growth, including the recent completion of a number of such significant construction and renovation projects as new state-of-the-art facilities in chemistry, computer science, engineering, health sciences, and nursing, and a major pedestrian-friendly transformation of the campus core. Recent construction has also enhanced campus quality of life with the addition of student housing, parking garages, and an expanded swimming and fitness center. Construction of a new $85 million interdisciplinary research building began earlier this year.   In addition to its more than 800,000 volumes, 260,000 government documents, 71,000 electronic journals, and 1.6 million microforms, the Library offers a rich array of learning spaces and support services.

The UTEP campus also offers rich cultural resources including museums and galleries, a Chihuahuan Desert garden, a cinema and numerous musical and theatre performance spaces, as well as outstanding sports and recreational facilities. Its 12,200-seat Don Haskins Center and 52,000-seat Sun Bowl serve as venues for both UTEP women’s and men’s intercollegiate athletics teams and major regional entertainment programming, ranging from Cirque de Soleil to Elton John and the Rolling Stones.     

CORE PURPOSE AND VISION STATEMENT

UTEP Miner athletics are an important part of campus culture and community pride. UTEP competes in NCAA Division I-A as a member of Conference USA. UTEP has won numerous national championships in track and field and remains the only university in Texas to win an NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. In that 1966 championship game an all African-American Miner starting lineup faced the renowned Kentucky Wildcats, and their victory forever changed the face of intercollegiate athletics. The story of this major milestone in NCAA history was captured in a popular Hollywood film, Glory Road.

UTEP athletics is characterized by academic excellence, premier athletic teams, and a commitment to integrity. Athletics adds exceptional value and benefit to the University mission through the cultivation of relationships with its constituents.

The Opportunity:     

UTEP seeks an experienced and knowledgeable leader to direct a comprehensive NCAA Division I men's and women's intercollegiate athletics program.  Candidates should possess a strong commitment to both academic and competitive excellence for our more than 300 student athletes.  A philosophical approach demonstrative of the integrity that reflects core institutional values is required.  Candidates must have a proven track record of successful fund raising and management and leadership in athletics administration, as well as strong interpersonal communication skills.  The candidate must have the ability to work with diverse populations of students, staff, faculty, and the public and possess a clear understanding of the role of athletics in a major research university setting.

The position oversees departmental staff, budgeting and financial operations, strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, media negotiations, athletics facilities and all other duties as assigned by the University President.  The Director also must ensure strict compliance with regulations governing intercollegiate athletics and all applicable University and state guidelines.  The Director reports directly to the University President and serves on the President's Cabinet.

Athletics Information:         

The goal of Athletics is to strengthen the interconnectivity between intercollegiate athletics and the campus community that prepares our student athletes for success in school, in sport, and after graduation and benefits our university, community, and state.

UTEP’s athletics department has an annual operating budget in excess of $23 million, employs a full time staff of 85, and supports 5 men's and 9 women's sport programs as a member of Conference USA.  The University sponsors the following intercollegiate sports at the NCAA Division 1 level: MEN'S: basketball, cross country, track and field, golf, and football; WOMEN'S:  basketball, cross country, track and field, golf, soccer, tennis, volleyball, rifle, and softball.

Statement of Duties and Responsibilities:

• Represents the University ethically and professionally and develops positive relationships with students, staff, faculty, media, alumni, and local, state, and national communities.

• Provides leadership for a competitive athletic program in Conference USA.

• Provides leadership over an administrative team and coaching staff, including the recruitment and hiring of qualified personnel, evaluation of staff, evaluation of coaching performance, and professional development.

• Pursues the University’s commitment to the success of the student athlete; promotes and fosters the education, development, and overall experience of student athletes; provides for enhancement of academic support to student athletes; provides educational opportunities regarding pertinent issues, such as drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, sports agents, resume writing, etc.; assists with interface of student athlete with El Paso community.

• Coordinates the development of long-term strategic goals and facilities plans; provides vision for the future of the University’s athletics; develops and implements a 3-5 year plan for departmental operations and facilitates.

• Commits to gender equity, Title IX, and affirmative action; works to provide equal opportunities for members of both sexes to participate in intercollegiate athletics following guidelines set forth by Title IX and OCR.

• Promotes effective and positive marketing efforts of the University and athletics; promotes the athletics program among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community; attends University functions and events; works with the Alumni coordinators to enhance the University’s relations nationally; speaks to community, student, non-profit and alumni organization; develops a relationship with student organizations and student government leaders; serves on community boards and committees.

• Oversees and monitors all departmental and capital budgets in compliance with UT System and University policies.

• Provides leadership in fundraising efforts, solicits major gifts, and works to cultivate and develop external constituency relationships that enhances athletics funding; participates in leadership boards connected with fund raising activities for the University’s Athletics; ensures proper fund raising coordination with the University’s development office.

• Supervises coaching and administrative staff; provides structure and guidelines for all coaches and staff; sets realistic goals for staff and coaches; provides for a creative and responsible work environment; evaluates programs.

• Ensures compliance with NCAA, C-USA, UT System, and institutional rules and policies.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability and experience to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Strong interpersonal communication skills

• Personal and professional integrity

Preferred Qualifications:     

• Experience and success as an athletics administrator at an NCAA Division 1 university

• Master's or professional degree

Search Process:        

Candidates should submit a cover letter detailing their experience, vision, and strategic direction for the position and athletic program at UTEP, a resume, and at least three (3) professional references, including names, phone numbers, and email addresses.  Screening of applications will begin immediately and continues until the position is filled.

All candidate information will be held confidential.  References will not be contacted without prior approval.

Application queries or nominations should be sent to: 

Richard Adauto

Executive Vice President

Office of the President

radauto@utep.edu

To apply, please visit:  http://utep.edu/employment

In keeping with its Access and Excellence mission, the University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity in employment or the provision of services.

These positions are security-sensitive and subject to the Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information. An employment offer is contingent on completion of a satisfactory criminal background investigation.