Director of Athletics and Recreation

Allegheny College is seeking an experienced athletics administrator to provide strategic and operational leadership as its next Director of Athletics and Recreation (AD).  The successful candidate will be a dynamic visionary and a skilled collaborator who will build upon the renewed energy, upward trajectory, and new and recently renovated facilities in the athletics and recreation department.  The AD is a member of the College’s Administrative Executive Committee (the AEC is the College’s senior leadership team) and reports to the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (EVP/COO). The AD leads the Department of Athletics and Recreation consisting of approximately 50 employees and manages operating budgets of approximately $1.2 million.

 

Allegheny is one of the founding members of the NCAA, is one of the first colleges in the nation to sponsor intercollegiate teams for women and is a founding member of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), which is perennially heralded as one of the best Division III leagues in the country. Allegheny College has an outstanding academic pedigree which makes it the perfect place for the serious student-athlete. Currently, over 200 student-athletes compete for Allegheny in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's golf, women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field, and volleyball. Field hockey will begin play in the fall of 2019, while the inaugural season of Gator men's lacrosse will be spring of 2020.

 

The next AD at Allegheny will provide visionary leadership and create and sustain a culture of transparency, partnership, accountability, continuous improvement, professionalism, integrity, and respect at all levels. The successful candidate will ensure that departmental planning and decisions are aligned with the College’s strategic goals and promote a full commitment to student success and the College’s Statement of Community. The successful candidate will ensure that the department provides athletic and recreation opportunities to students with varying interests and skills, and will promote student-athletes’ personal development, high academic achievement, and full participation in all aspects of college life. The AD will develop a strategic plan for Athletics and Recreation that includes academic and athletic achievement, facilities, alumni and parent engagement, fundraising, and community connections.

 

This person should be prepared to work closely with the Faculty Athletic Representatives to promote positive relationships and mutual awareness between Athletics and the faculty. Furthermore, the AD will honor and advance the College’s commitments to academic and athletic excellence by partnering with Admissions and the faculty to align athletics with the overall academic mission of the College. The successful candidate will collaborate with other College departments in support of campus health and wellness.

 

The AD will have the opportunity to focus on “friendraising and fundraising”. In partnership with Development, the AD will enhance financial support for the athletics and recreation programs. The AD should focus on partnering and creating new ways to promote athletics and school spirit to the on-campus community, the alumni of Allegheny, and the community of Meadville. The AD will oversee and work to improve athletic and fitness facilities that are used by students, faculty, staff, members of the Meadville community and student-athletes in a fiscally responsible manner.

 

The successful candidate for the AD position will have earned a Bachelor's degree; a graduate degree and previous coaching experience are strongly preferred. The AD will have a demonstrated record of progressive athletic administrative experience of no fewer than seven years. Additionally, the AD will have: strong organizational and leadership skills with demonstrated competence in strategic planning, program development, administration, decision‑making, compliance, and fiscal management; Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of athletics in an academically rigorous, student-centered environment, including fundraising, enrollment management, fiscal planning, facilities management, and scheduling; Demonstrated understanding of the recruitment process and the ability to work collaboratively with the Enrollment team in the recruitment and retention of students; Familiarity with and insight into the issues confronting NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics in general and athletics at a highly selective liberal arts college; Superior verbal and written communication skills including the ability to articulate persuasively the role of athletics and recreation in a private liberal arts education; Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in team relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, media and the Meadville community; and a genuine commitment to the Allegheny Statement of Community.

 

Koya Leadership Partners is assisting Allegheny College with this recruitment. Nominations and applications, including a detailed letter of interest, references, and a current curriculum vitae, should be submitted here. The full position profile is available here.

Allegheny College is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong institutional commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.