Vice President and Director of Athletics

Leadership Responsibilities

The Vice President and Director of Athletics will provide strategic leadership for all aspects of Tennessee Wesleyan Athletics. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategic and Institutional Leadership
• Serve as the University’s chief athletics officer and a member of the President’s Cabinet, contributing to institutional strategy and decision making beyond Athletics.
• Provide visionary leadership for the Athletics Department and establish a compelling vision for the continued advancement of Tennessee Wesleyan Athletics.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan for Athletics aligned with the University’s mission, strategic priorities, enrollment goals, and aspirations for continued institutional growth.
• Advise the President on athletics strategy, conference and national athletics matters, facilities, personnel, revenue opportunities, and emerging issues affecting intercollegiate athletics.
• Build strong partnerships across the University.
• Represent Athletics appropriately with the University’s Board of Trustees and other institutional constituencies.

Student Athlete Success and Competitive Excellence
• Promote an athletics culture that places student success, academic achievement, character development, sportsmanship, wellness, and competitive excellence at its center.
• Ensure that Tennessee Wesleyan’s athletics programs complement and advance the University’s educational mission.

External Relations, Philanthropy, and Revenue Generation

A significant priority for the next Vice President and Director of Athletics will be expanding the external reach and financial support of Tennessee Wesleyan Athletics.

• Serve as a highly visible and effective ambassador for Tennessee Wesleyan Athletics throughout Athens, East Tennessee, the Appalachian Athletic Conference, the NAIA, and beyond.
• Build meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, parents, corporate partners, community leaders, and friends of the University.
• Partner closely with the President and University Advancement to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors supporting Athletics.
• Develop and grow a comprehensive annual giving program for Athletics, creating meaningful opportunities for alumni, parents, former student athletes, and friends to support TWU teams and student athletes.
• Play a leadership role in securing philanthropic support for athletic scholarships, capital projects, facilities, program enhancements, and other strategic priorities.

Financial and Operational Leadership

• Develop and manage the Athletics Department’s annual operating budget and ensure responsible stewardship of University resources.
• Establish appropriate financial controls and promote a culture of fiscal responsibility throughout Athletics.

Facilities and Strategic Growth

• Provide strategic leadership for the continued improvement and development of Tennessee Wesleyan’s athletics facilities.
• Partner with the President, University Advancement, and other University leaders in planning and securing philanthropic support for major athletics capital projects.

Compliance, Governance, and Integrity

• Ensure full compliance with University policies and all applicable Appalachian Athletic Conference and NAIA rules and regulations.
• Promote the highest standards of ethics, integrity, sportsmanship, and institutional responsibility throughout the Athletics Department.
• Remain knowledgeable regarding emerging issues and trends affecting NAIA and intercollegiate athletics.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in intercollegiate athletics or a closely related field, including significant administrative, supervisory, or organizational leadership responsibility.
• Understanding of intercollegiate athletics administration, including budgeting, personnel management, compliance, facilities, and operations.
• Ability and willingness to represent Tennessee Wesleyan effectively with donors, alumni, corporate partners, community leaders, parents, prospective students, and other external constituencies.
• Demonstrated personal and professional integrity and a leadership philosophy consistent with the mission and values of Tennessee Wesleyan University.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or other advanced degree.
• Experience within NAIA, NCAA, or other intercollegiate athletics.
• Experience as an athletics director, deputy or associate athletics director, senior athletics administrator, head coach with substantial administrative responsibilities, or comparable leadership position.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor cultivation, annual giving, sponsorship development, or revenue generation.
• Experience with athletics facility planning, development, or capital projects.
• Experience successfully recruiting, supervising, developing, and evaluating coaches and professional staff.
• Familiarity with enrollment driven institutions and an understanding of the important relationship among athletics, student recruitment, retention, and institutional enrollment.
• Experience building productive relationships between an institution and its surrounding community.