Kalamazoo College
Director of Athletics

Kalamazoo College is a selective, nationally known residential liberal arts college offering a personalized, integrated undergraduate experience known as the K-Plan that interweaves a traditional liberal arts curriculum with individualized research and experiential educational experiences in domestic and international settings. Founded in 1833, Kalamazoo College is one of 40 dynamic Colleges That Change Lives, a group of 40 colleges that excel at developing potential, values, and initiative and provide the foundation for success beyond college. The campus of approximately 1400 students is located midway between Chicago and Detroit in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a metropolitan community of 225,000 residents supporting four college and university campuses and numerous civic arts and cultural associations.

Kalamazoo is a member of the NCAA Division III http://www.miaa.org/, America’s first collegiate athletic conference. The Kalamazoo Hornets athletics program sponsors 18 intercollegiate sports, with approximately 30% of Kalamazoo students participating in intercollegiate athletics.

The Position
Reporting to the provost, the director of athletics 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. Additionally, the director is responsible for compliance with all institutional, MIAA Conference, 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, the academic faculty, student development, the MIAA Conference, the NCAA, and the wider Kalamazoo Community.

Qualifications
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.

Application Process
Review of applications will begin April 5, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. A resume with an accompanying cover letter may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at https://apptrkr.com/5085375. Nominations for this position may be emailed to Dell Robinson at [email protected] or Anne-Marie Kenney at [email protected]. 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/

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.