What It Takes to be a College Athletic Director
When it comes to college sports, most of the attention is given to the players and the coaches. However, usually you don't hear much talk about the athletic director. This individual is responsible for making things happen behind the scenes for the benefit of the school's sports program. Depending on the performance of a college team, the athletic director may receive some of the credit or receive more of the blame.
No matter what the level of expectations are for a college sports program, anyone looking to find an entry level job as an athletic director should possess certain characteristics according to one article. They include the following:
Political Skill - Obtaining financial support for your college from your state's government
Thick Skin - Taking a lot of criticism from the school and the fans when a sports program doesn't succeed
Pick Top Coaches - This characteristic could make or break you as an athletic director as far as attracting financial support for your college. Remember, people usually are excited about having a coach with a winning reputation.
Be Approachable - An athletic director comes in contact with many people and has to be the "go to" person to gain or maintain support for the college sports program.
While they may not get a lot of media attention, athletic directors play an important role in college sports programs. They work behind the scenes to make their programs better. Entry level job seekers do need a college education, but they should also have the characteristics that are important to the job.
For more information on athletic directors, read Athletic Director Job.
Source
http://sportscareers.about.com/od/administrativepath/a/collad.htm
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