Director of Athletics

Shenandoah University•Winchester, VA

About The Position

Shenandoah University seeks a Director of Athletics to lead its Division III athletic department in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The university is a full member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and offers 23 varsity sports, supported by 75 full-time and part-time coaches and staff members. This is a full-time, 12-month position with competitive salary and benefits. The Director of Athletics will be the principal advocate for all athletic programs and uphold academic excellence, sportsmanship, and the philosophy of Division III. The role oversees the departmental budget and compliance with NCAA and ODAC regulations, and leads the athletic department’s staff through mentoring, recruitment, hiring, training, and evaluation. The Director will work with Advancement on fundraising and with Admissions on student-athlete recruitment in support of institutional enrollment goals. The Director will build relationships on campus and in the Northern Shenandoah Valley and Loudoun communities, strengthen the Athletic Hall of Fame, SU 1875 Club, and alumni support, and oversee expansion of the Wilkins Athletics & Events Center. The Director reports directly to the president and the Vice President for Student Affairs, works closely with university vice presidents, serves on the University Cabinet, and teaches one course annually. The university seeks a leader who can advance team success in the ODAC and at the NCAA national level, improve student-athlete recruitment and retention, and increase athletic fundraising. The Director oversees athletic endeavors and supports the marching band, color guard, club sports, intramural sports, and cheerleaders, while prioritizing student-athletes’ academic studies and career pathways. A pre-employment background check is required; a satisfactory driving record may be required as a condition of hire. Authorization to work in the United States is a precondition of employment, and the university is not currently able to sponsor international visas.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Extensive knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations.
Commitment to inclusion and belonging.
Ability to be fair and balanced across all sports.
Must be authorized to work in the United States; the university is not able to sponsor international visas.
Pre-employment background check required.
Satisfactory driving record may be required as a condition of hire.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Coaching experience.
Prior collegiate athletic administrative experience.

Responsibilities

Advocate for and provide leadership to all athletic programs at Shenandoah University.
Oversee the athletic department budget and ensure compliance with NCAA and ODAC regulations.
Mentor coaches and recruit, hire, train, evaluate, and lead athletic department staff.
Participate in fundraising in cooperation with the Office of Advancement.
Collaborate with the Office of Admissions to support institutional enrollment goals through student-athlete recruitment.
Build a strong presence at the university and in the Northern Shenandoah Valley and Loudoun communities.
Strengthen the Athletic Hall of Fame, SU 1875 Club, and alumni support.
Oversee expansion of the Wilkins Athletics & Events Center.
Serve on the University Cabinet and work closely with university vice presidents.
Teach one course per year.
Position teams for success in the ODAC and greater opportunity to compete at the NCAA national level.
Improve recruitment and retention of student-athletes and increase fundraising for athletics.
Support the marching band, color guard, club sports, intramural sports, and cheerleaders, while supporting student-athletes’ academic studies and career pathways.