Athletic Director
- Employer
- Illinois State University
- Location
- Normal, Illinois
View more
- Administrative Jobs
- Institutional & Business Affairs, Athletics
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
Job No: 510403
Work Type: On Campus
Location: Normal, Illinois
Title: Athletic Director
Department: Intercollegiate Athletics
Campus Location: Normal, IL
General SummaryIllinois State University (ISU) seeks an experienced, energetic and collaborative leader to join a successful and thriving intercollegiate athletic department and serve as its next athletic director (AD).
Founded in 1857, Illinois State is the oldest public university in the state. Located in Normal, 125 miles southwest of Chicago, ISU hosts a diverse community of scholars committed to fostering a small college atmosphere with large university opportunities. Illinois State's mission is based on a shared set of core values: individualized attention, integrity, learning and scholarship, collaboration, respect, diversity and inclusion and civic engagement. Students at Illinois State find rigorous academic programs that challenge them to be their best and a welcoming and supportive campus atmosphere that helps them grow and mature as scholars, citizens and leaders. It has a total enrollment of 20,720 students (17,987 undergraduate and 2,733 graduate) situated on a 1,111 acre campus.
For over 100 years, the Illinois State Athletics Department has established a rich tradition of competitive excellence, sportsmanship and equality. Approximately 450 student athletes compete in 19 sports, (eight men's and 11 women's) primarily in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, men’s tennis in the Summit League, and gymnastics in the Midwest Independent Conference. The Redbirds have won nine team and individual national championships, more than 160 MVC league titles and hundreds of All-American honors. Student-athletes have also found success in the classroom, averaging a 3.61 GPA during the spring 2020 semester. In 2019, 13 of 15 Redbird teams recorded a GSR greater than the national average in their respective sport. Nine teams achieved a perfect 100% GSR. Led by the award winning Red Alert student section, Illinois State is home to one of the toughest places to play in the Midwest. Welcoming fans to the Redbird Arena is a statue honoring Illinois State basketball greats, Will Robinson and Doug Collins. Will Robinson was the first African-American head basketball coach in NCAA Division I history, and Doug Collins was the first overall pick in the 1973 NBA Draft.
Reporting directly to the president, the athletic director will be expected to lead and manage a team of approximately 175 coaches and staff while supporting the academic and athletic activities of its student-athletes. The successful candidate will manage an operating budget of approximately $22 million and related facility accounts while identifying and securing new resources in support of the department's 19 sports. The incoming athletic director should be a seasoned fundraiser who is comfortable serving externally as an advocate, spokesperson and leader within the community and region. The athletic director should be knowledgeable about current local, national and industry trends, NCAA transfer and compliance issues, and other related topics and best practices that will impact the future of Redbird athletics. The athletic director will be expected to create a clear and compelling department-wide strategic plan and vision, while ensuring its goals and objectives are aligned with the University's goals and objectives. It will be important for the next AD to lead, manage and develop action-oriented initiatives, strategies and tactics that support and inspire diversity, equity and inclusion. Finally, the director will be expected to engage with alumni, donors, volunteers, fans, industry executives and other external stakeholders to advance the department's goals and objectives by creating awareness, building relationships and ultimately generating resource support for the department.
Qualified candidates should have the experience and knowledge necessary to lead an NCAA Division I department of intercollegiate athletics of comparable scope and size with a focus on both academic and athletic excellence. The athletic director should be a trustworthy collaborator with an outstanding record of judgement, decision-making and integrity. The successful candidate should be skilled at media and public relations and positively contribute to the overall reputation and image of the athletic department and the University. The athletic director should possess strong marketing and communications skills, an ability to advance and secure philanthropic and corporate partnerships and serve as a visible ambassador for the University to external communities. Furthermore, the athletic director should be knowledgeable about and have strong skills in budget management, conference and NCAA compliance issues, crisis management and communication, and trends related to fan experience and engagement.
For more information on ISU athletics, please visit https://goredbirds.com/index.aspx.
All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile. WittKieffer is assisting Illinois State University in this search. The position will remain open until filled.
Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer's candidate portal: https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/description?jobID=21976
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Jeff Compher, Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D. and Kim Brettschneider
IllinoisStateAD@wittkieffer.com
All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile. WittKieffer is assisting Illinois State University in this search. The position will remain open until filled.
Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer's candidate portal: https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/description?jobID=21976
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Jeff Compher, Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D. and Kim Brettschneider
IllinoisStateAD@wittkieffer.com
If this position is Security Sensitive or if you are subject to a criminal background investigation based on University policy, employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.
Illinois State University, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding affirmative action, nondiscrimination, and anti-harassment. Illinois State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, order of protection, gender identity and expression, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, unfavorable military discharge, or status as a veteran in employment, educational programs and activities, or admissions.
If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.
Application Opened: 10/27/2020 09:00 AM CST
Application Closes:
Organization
About
Illinois State University, founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois. Illinois State is a co-educational, residential university committed to fostering a small-college atmosphere with large-university opportunities and promoting the highest academic standards in teaching, scholarship, and community service. Serving more than 20,000 students, our six colleges offer 178 undergraduate majors, 77 minors, 102 master’s programs, 18 doctoral degrees, and 42 certificate options. We have repeatedly been named a “Great Place to Work” by the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Illinois State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our mission.
Vision
Illinois State University, a first-choice public university, will be increasingly recognized as a national leader for educating high-achieving, motivated students who seek an individualized and transformative experience at an institution that:
- Offers premier undergraduate and graduate programs that integrate traditional knowledge and methods with emerging ideas and innovations
- Generates knowledge through high-quality research, scholarship, and creative activities
- Supports student learning and development inside and outside of the classroom
- Serves the region, state, nation, and world through its commitments to responsible stewardship, meaningful civic engagement, cultural enrichment, and the development of global citizens
Mission
We at Illinois State University work as a diverse community of scholars with a commitment to fostering a small-college atmosphere with large-university opportunities. We promote the highest academic standards in our teaching, scholarship, public service and the connections we build among them. We devote all of our resources and energies to creating the most supportive and productive community possible to serve the citizens of Illinois and beyond.
Values
Pursuit of Learning and Scholarship
Illinois State University works with students as partners in their educational development inside and outside of the classroom so that students come to appreciate learning as an active and lifelong process. The University contributes new knowledge through research, scholarship, and creative activities in which all students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate. Faculty members embrace a balanced teacher–scholar model that values their contributions as teachers (facilitators of learning) and scholars (creators and discoverers of knowledge and information).
Individualized Attention
Illinois State University provides a supportive environment that places all learners at the center of teaching and scholarship. Innovative curricular and cocurricular programs, strong student-faculty-staff connections, and superior student services focus on each student as an individual. The University fosters academic and personal growth, recognizes unique educational aspirations, and acknowledges that each faculty and staff member is integral to student success.
Diversity
Illinois State University affirms and encourages community and a respect for differences by fostering an inclusive environment characterized by cultural understanding, ethical behavior, and social justice. The University supports a diverse faculty and staff who mentor a diverse student population. The University endeavors to provide opportunities for all students, staff, and faculty to participate in a global society.
Integrity
Illinois State University promotes an environment defined by the highest ethical standards. Leadership of the University is characterized by stability, adherence to shared values, collaborative decision making, and accountable stewardship of all university resources. Members of the University community work collaboratively through shared governance to ensure the success of the University and are dedicated to making ongoing improvements, always enhancing their contribution to Illinois State University and building on prior accomplishments. Teaching and learning, including research and creative activities, are conducted at the highest level of academic quality and integrity.
Civic Engagement
Illinois State University prepares students to be informed and engaged global citizens who will promote and further the goals of society. The University promotes active learning experiences through which students will gain an awareness and understanding of civic engagement as a lifelong responsibility. The University partners with business, industry, government, and educational entities providing leadership in local, statewide, national, and international initiatives; expanding service and outreach; and enhancing financial support for instructional, scholarly, and service activities.
Illinois State University, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding affirmative action, nondiscrimination, and anti-harassment. Illinois State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, order of protection, gender identity and expression, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, unfavorable military discharge, or status as a veteran in employment, educational programs and activities, or admissions. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed by contacting the director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access by email at EqualOpportunity@IllinoisState.edu, by calling (309) 438-3383, or by mail at Illinois State University, Campus Box 1280, Normal, IL 61790.
- Website
- https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/prospective/opportunities/
- Telephone
- 309-438-8311
- Location
-
Campus Box 1300
Illinois State University
Normal
Illinois
61790
US
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