Athletic Director

Athletic Director

The Athletic Director (AD) provides comprehensive, full-time leadership and administrative oversight for athletic programs at Minnesota West Community and Technical College. This position is responsible for the success of athletic operations, encompassing compliance, personnel management, academic and wellness coordination, housing and basic needs support, athletic transportation, budgeting, facility oversight, and strategic development of new programs like Club-sports.

The AD also serves as the primary public-facing representative of the Athletics Department and is tasked with coordinating closely with the college's Marketing and Communications Office to ensure consistent branding, effective promotion, and prompt response to media inquiries. The Director fosters inclusive excellence, academic integrity, institutional pride, and student success through an equity-driven and student-centered approach.

The incumbent will initially exercise administrative oversight exclusively for intercollegiate athletic programs. However, the scope of appointment is projected to expand into a consolidated Director of Athletics portfolio, encompassing comprehensive governance of all intercollegiate athletic operations. This transition remains contingent upon subsequent departmental reorganization, institutional strategic alignment, and demonstrated programmatic need.

Principle Responsibilities :

Provide direct supervision to assigned employees.

Lead and supervise assigned athletics personnel, including but not limited to, hiring, training, coaching and developing, promoting, rewarding, assigning and reviewing work, directing work, approving transfers, evaluating, disciplining, suspending, and recommending dismissal. Maintain assignments in the Faculty Workload Management (FWM) system.

Ensure that collective bargaining agreements and policies / procedures are implemented and appropriately enforced.

Recruit, onboard, coordinate, and evaluate all coaches and athletics support personnel for teams.

Provide guidance on game strategies, season planning, athlete discipline, and NJCAA compliance.

Facilitate ongoing professional development opportunities, including annual workshops, certifications, and coaching clinics.

Promote clear performance expectations, continuous improvement, and ethical conduct in all athletic staff.

Strategic Leadership & Athletics Oversight

Provide overall leadership and direction for athletic programs across all college campuses.

Develop, implement, and evaluate short- and long-term strategic plans aligned with institutional priorities, including student success, equity, and enrollment growth.

Promote a culture of sportsmanship, personal accountability, and academic excellence.

Represent the institution at NJCAA Region XIII, MCAC meetings, and related professional consortia.

Collaborate with college leadership to align athletic programming with college-wide strategic and operational priorities.

Student-Athlete Academic, Health, and Conduct Support

Coordinate with faculty, advisors, and tutoring services to monitor eligibility, provide interventions, and support academic progress for athletes.

Serve as primary liaison to Student Health needs and athletic trainers to manage injury reporting, referrals, and wellness initiatives.

Ensure athletes are educated on college behavioral expectations; manage informal discipline in coordination with the Dean of Student Development.

Track retention and academic performance of student-athletes and implement strategies to improve outcomes.

Housing and Basic Needs Support

Partner with the Basic Needs Resource Hub to ensure student-athletes are connected to real-time support for food, housing, transportation, and healthcare.

Work with local housing authorities, landlords, and nonprofit partners to help athletes secure affordable, safe housing options.

Monitor athletes at risk of housing insecurity or food instability and intervene proactively in coordination with student services.

Support emergency housing access and case management during breaks, off-season periods, and transitional enrollment phases.

Transportation & Event Coordination

Coordinate all athletic travel logistics for teams, including fleet scheduling, driver coordination, and travel compliance.

Collaborate with Transportation Services on game day needs, safety reviews, and post-event evaluations.

Oversee planning and staffing of home athletic events, including officials, facilities setup, crowd management, and compliance.

Develop an internal system for managing and approving travel requests aligned with college policy and budget protocols.

Budget Management, Facilities, and Equipment Oversight

Develop and administer budgets for athletics in coordination with the Business Office and Dean of Student Development.

Track expenditures, monitor grant-funded athletic components, and ensure fiscal stewardship.

Supervise the inventory, purchase, maintenance, and rotation of all athletic uniforms, equipment, and team supplies.

Coordinate facility scheduling, upgrades, and maintenance in collaboration with Physical Plant and Operations staff.

Media, Communications & External Relations

Serve as the primary spokesperson for the Athletic Department in response to external media inquiries and interviews.

Collaborate closely with the college's Marketing and Communications team on all athletics-related press releases, branding, marketing materials, and social media coverage.

Oversee internal content production (e.g., game recaps, team highlights, athlete spotlights) and ensure consistent branding across platforms.

Strengthen alumni and donor engagement through athletic storytelling, recognition events, and campaign partnerships.

Club Sports Program Development

Lead the design, launch, and growth of a competitive collegiate Club-sports program within athletics.

Benchmark national and regional models to establish rules, recruitment pipelines, coaching roles, and team culture.

Coordinate space, equipment, and software needs for an on-campus or hybrid Club-sports lab.

Promote Club-sports as a strategic enrollment and retention initiative tied to emerging student interests and digital engagement.

Perform other duties as assigned to ensure the smooth functioning of the department and maintain the reputation of the organization as a viable business partner.

Compliance and Student Engagement

Develop and implement inclusive recruitment strategies to attract diverse student-athletes, including those from historically underserved backgrounds.

Create a team culture rooted in respect, anti-discrimination, and inclusive excellence.

Support equity-intended trainings and collaborate with campus affinity groups and community partners.

Leverage athletics to build school pride, student engagement, and community connection across all campuses.

Perform other duties as assigned to ensure the smooth functioning of the department, student service, orientation and general campus needs. Assist to maintain the reputation of the organization as a viable business partner.

Salary Range : $33.61 - $50.52

Minimum Qualifications :

Three years of professional experience in athletics administration, coaching, student services, or related field. A Bachelor's degree in Sports Management, Athletic Administration, Education or closely related field can substitute for one year of experience.

Knowledge of NJCAA or similar collegiate athletics regulatory frameworks.

Demonstrated experience supervising staff, managing budgets, and coordinating compliance.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to travel, work evenings / weekends, and manage multi-campus operations.

Preferred Qualification :

Master's degree from an accredited college or university

Experience in leadership and / or supervision appropriate to the assignment

Experience working with intercollegiate athletics and knowledge of NJCAA / MCAC guidelines

Other Requirements :

You must apply online and attach an electronic cover letter and resume to your online application in order to be considered for this position.

All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of employment.

In accordance with the Minnesota State Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, employees driving on college / university business who use a rental or state vehicle shall be required to conform to Minnesota State's vehicle use criteria and consent to a Motor Vehicle Records check.

Work Shift (Hours / Days of work) : This position requires a flexible schedule to accommodate athletic events, meetings, and administrative responsibilities. Typical work hours vary and may include evenings and weekends.

Telework (Yes / No) : No

About :

Minnesota West Community and Technical College is a student-centered, open-access community and technical college within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. The college provides transfer, occupational and career programs, workforce training, educational outreach and life-long