Director of Athletics

Responsibilities of the Position

Reporting to the provost, the director of athletics (director) has overall responsibility for all aspects of the athletics department, including the visionary leadership, strategic development, management, coordination, and supervision of a comprehensive NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics program with 18 sports teams and approximately 417 scholar-athletes; the leadership of the college’s credit-bearing physical education program; and oversight of the fitness and wellness center including club sports and intramurals. Thirty percent of Kalamazoo students participate in intercollegiate athletics. Additionally, the director is responsible for compliance with all institutional, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), NCAA, Title IX, and other relevant policies, rules, and regulations. The director leads a team of over 65 full-time and part-time coaches and staff and oversees an operating budget of approximately $1 million. 

The new director will be responsible for continuing to enhance the competitiveness of a Division III intercollegiate athletics program found within an academically rigorous liberal arts-centered learning environment. The director will develop, implement, and monitor policies and procedures that promote best practices and address personnel development, financial management, alumni and community relations, compliance and regulatory expectations, and facility renovation and master planning while advancing a high level of integration of athletics into the overall student experience. The director will work collaboratively with coaches and the admission office to recruit scholar-athletes; encourage and promote an equitable and inclusive community among all students, faculty, and staff; and continue advancing and supporting wellness, intramural, and club sports programs. As a strong institutional partner, the director provides leadership to staff and coaches and works collaboratively and productively with a wide range of constituents, including but not limited to the provost’s office to which it reports and to the offices of admission, advancement, alumni engagement, facilities, human resources, college marketing and communication, Title IX, academic faculty, student development, MIAA Conference, NCAA, and the wider Kalamazoo community.

Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate

A bachelor’s degree and significant, progressive experience leading a complex, dynamic, and diverse organization are required. Experience within a highly selective liberal arts institution, collegiate-level coaching, capital planning and fundraising experience, and a master’s degree are preferred. The successful candidate will comprehensively understand intercollegiate athletics administration, student-athlete development, and NCAA compliance within a Division III environment. The next director should be able to mentor and inspire the professional development of coaches and athletics administrators, commit to supporting wellness and recreation in the holistic development of students, and demonstrate strategic planning acumen. A collaborative management approach, coupled with superior communication and relationship-building skills; a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social responsibility; strong planning and fiscal competencies; a familiarity with program development and assessment; and excellent problem-solving abilities are also desired.

Additionally, the successful candidate will ideally possess the following qualities and attributes:

• A commitment to inclusive excellence and cultivating relationships with diverse constituencies.
• Exceptional integrity and a commitment to the highest ethical standards for programs and personnel.
• An entrepreneurial spirit, a disposition toward creative problem-solving, a willingness to take measured risks, and an abiding love for students and their learning. 
• A commitment to championing and advocating for the coaching staff and athletic programs.
• Dynamic leadership in the hiring, supervision, and professional development of coaches and administrative staff, with a strong focus on creating a shared departmental vision grounded in equity, communication, and institutional strategic priorities.
• Strong strategic planning skills and an ability to build consensus and support for short- and long-term goals.
• Collaborative leadership and commitment to forming intentional partnerships with the academic administrative council, student development, academic affairs, enrollment, communications, advancement, and others.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact and work effectively with administrators, coaches, academic leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, community leaders, and members of the community at large.
• A keen interest in and knowledge of the technology, conditions, and research informing 21^st-century higher education and collegiate athletics environments.
• Commitment to supporting the unique needs of first-generation, transfer, international, underserved, and underrepresented students.
• Ability to deploy a modern, future-focused strategy for athletics while respecting tradition and the past. 
• Collaborative, adaptable, and possibility-focused mindset and the ability to navigate change.
• A strong vision for the future of athletics at Kalamazoo College and the ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives.
• A leadership style that models good sporting conduct, fosters resiliency, and creates a culture of belonging and inclusiveness.

Opportunities and Challenges of the Role

As a highly selective, nationally renowned, and internationally oriented four-year college of arts and sciences, Kalamazoo College has developed a tradition of excellence in fulfilling its mission. The athletics program is a piece of Kalamazoo College’s overall focus on a strong co-curricular learning community. Areas of focus for the new athletic director include:

• Conduct a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of athletics, including departmental operations, NCAA Division III programs, and club sports; facilities usage, maintenance, and expansion; and organizational structure and configuration for achieving departmental goals and priorities.
• Provide decisive leadership and supervision, building cohesion and culture for the athletics department through establishing clear expectations and open communication; provide effective feedback while navigating a multi-faced athletics operation with sound fiscal, supervisory, and operations management.
• Develop and adopt an athletic department strategic plan to strengthen the student-athlete experience, create efficiencies and increase productivity with existing resources, enhance revenue generation, and develop programs that foster school spirit.
• Elevate Kalamazoo College’s athletic reputation as an exemplar of student success, competitive excellence, and innovative programs.
• Ensure that student-athletes have a holistic educational experience supported by coaches, faculty, and staff. 
• Collaborate with other senior leaders to champion college-wide initiatives that elevate school spirit and pride among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members.
• Work collaboratively with the admissions office and the coaching staff to recruit and retain student-athletes, representing the campus-wide diversity and inclusion goals.
• Work with advancement to craft a set of fundraising priorities and build a fundraising plan.
• Ensure the athletics program is compliant in all aspects of the program.
• Strengthen communication and collaboration with the greater Kalamazoo community, focusing on outreach and opportunities that further support the student-athlete experience and creatively sustain operational needs.

Measures of Success

At an appropriate interval after joining Kalamazoo, the items listed below will initially define success for the director of athletics.

• The director has developed and adopted an athletic department strategic plan that has strengthened the student-athlete experience, increased revenue, and created a sense of school spirit and engagement that is felt community-wide.
• The director is a visible and highly accessible advocate for the college and coaches, staff, and programs.
• The director has demonstrated a relational, collaborative, and effective leadership style.
• The director has developed and communicated a clear vision and mission that the athletics staff can articulate, contribute to, and own.
• The director has established clear, frequent, and comprehensive communication channels with athletics staff and campus and community partners.
• The director has defined, illustrated, and demonstrated internally and externally an understanding of competitiveness and student-athlete success that reflects the Kalamazoo mission and the goals of the NCAA Division III.
• The director has developed a fundraising plan for the athletics department, including raising funds for the operating budget and the Hornets Athletic Association, the department’s annual fund.
• The director has developed relationships with students, a reputation as an accessible, student-centered leader, and regular opportunities for student input.
• The director has established strong relationships and partnerships with the president’s cabinet, the academic administrative council, student development colleagues, advancement, direct reports, student-athletes, faculty, alumni, student-athlete advisory council (SAAC), and other key institutional stakeholders.
• The director will have demonstrated the ability to manage change for short-term and long-term development for the department, including staffing, professional development, facilities management, and strategic capital planning.
• The director is regarded as a collaborator and partner in the areas of enrollment, advancement, and student life.
• The director sees athletics as an opportunity to build community with Kalamazoo students through the physical education requirement for all students, club sports, and its dynamic health and wellness programming.

Athletics Mission Statement

“The Department of Athletics at Kalamazoo College enhances the greater college mission by providing challenging opportunities for our student-athletes to use BEST principles toward building a healthy balance of outstanding scholarship and winning athletic achievement to realize their full human potential. In serving this mission, all involved with the department become champions in the classroom, in competition, and in life.”

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

Physical Education

Kalamazoo has a physical education (PE) requirement for graduation, and all students participate in PE activity classes. Through its physical education activity requirement and offerings that carry academic credit, the college honors the “sound mind in a sound body” philosophy, a landmark of a liberal arts education. Course categories include fitness, dance, sports skills, life skills/health, outdoor leadership, independent study, and varsity sports.

Recreation

Intramural participation is open to all students, faculty, and staff. Students who are members of an athletic varsity team are not eligible for competition in that sport (e.g., Kalamazoo College soccer student-athletes would not be permitted to play in the soccer league).

Participants are expected to display the highest levels of sportsmanship, fair play, and good conduct per the Student Handbook’s general rules and policies.

Available Intramural Sports:

• Basketball
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Pickleball
• Futsal
• Sand Volleyball

More Information about Kalamazoo Athletics

Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Mission

“The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAA), founded in 1888, is the nation’s oldest collegiate athletic conference. The governance of intercollegiate athletics at member colleges and conference legislative responsibility rests with the college presidents and their institutional delegates. Primary considerations in all conference decisions are the welfare of every participating student-athlete, procedures that underscore the academic missions of member colleges, and fair play at all conference events.”

Member Institutions:

• Adrian College
• Albion College
• Alma College
• Calvin University
• Hope College
• Kalamazoo College
• The University of Olivet
• Saint Mary’s College
• Trine University

The Student Body

Total Enrollment: 1,378

Retention Rate: 88%

Men: 42%

Women: 58%

White: 62%

African American: 5%

Asian: 5%

Hispanic: 16%

Two or More Races: 5%

Kalamazoo Mission

“As it looks toward its third century, Kalamazoo College reaffirms its mission of preparing its graduates to better understand, live successfully within, and provide enlightened leadership to a richly diverse and increasingly complex world.”

Strategic Vision and Values

Application Process

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position please click on the Apply button, complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895.

The anticipated hiring range is $95,000 to $100,000 annually.

Visit the Kalamazoo College website at https://www.kzoo.edu/

Visit the Kalamazoo Hornets Athletics website at https://hornets.kzoo.edu/

An equal opportunity employer, Kalamazoo College is committed to equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal protection under the law. In adherence with applicable laws, the college prohibits discrimination in its employment practices and its education programs, activities, and services on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, height, weight, marital status, familial status, veteran status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law.

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