ATHLETICS DIRECTOR #00031163

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) seeks a dynamic, innovative, and student-centered leader to provide strategic, financial, operational, and administrative leadership for its comprehensive athletics and recreation enterprise.

About the Role

The Director oversees 15 NCAA Division II varsity sports—nine men’s and six women’s—comprising approximately 500 student-athletes competing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The role also includes leadership of the Student Recreation Center, fitness programs, club sports, intramural sports, informal recreation, and related services supporting a campus of approximately 7,200 students.

The Director is responsible for the fiscal management, operations, maintenance, scheduling, safety, utilization, and long-term planning of Missouri S&T’s athletic and recreation facilities, fields, complexes, competition venues, practice spaces, and fitness areas.

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Student Success, the Director serves as the chief executive officer for Athletics and Recreation and leads approximately 13 administrators, 20 head and assistant coaches, and additional professional, support, and student staff.

Leadership Priorities

• Establish and execute a clear strategic vision aligned with institutional, Student Success, and enrollment priorities.
• Build a positive, accountable, collaborative, and high-performing organizational culture.
• Recruit, supervise, develop, and evaluate coaches, administrators, and recreation professionals.
• Champion student-athlete academic achievement, retention, graduation, career readiness, health, safety, and well-being.
• Provide disciplined fiscal leadership, transparent budget management, effective internal controls, and timely operational execution.
• Maintain a strong culture of NCAA Division II, GLVC, university, and institutional compliance.
• Advance competitive excellence while supporting ethical conduct, sportsmanship, and student development.
• Provide strategic oversight for recreation, fitness, club sports, intramurals, and informal recreation.
• Lead athletic and recreation facility operations, maintenance planning, capital priorities, and space utilization.
• Partner with Enrollment Management on recruiting, scholarship strategy, roster planning, yield, and retention.
• Collaborate with University Advancement to strengthen fundraising, alumni engagement, sponsorships, and revenue generation.
• Serve as a visible and effective ambassador with students, employees, alumni, donors, community members, the GLVC, and the NCAA.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible professional experience from which comparable leadership and administrative skills have been acquired.
• Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, emotional intelligence, fiscal responsibility, operational excellence, transparent communication, and strong follow-through.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience within collegiate athletics, including success in personnel supervision, financial management, NCAA compliance, facilities operations, strategic planning, fundraising, student-athlete success, recreation programming, organizational change, and the development of a positive workplace culture.

Achievements

Missouri S&T Athletics has a strong tradition of competitive and academic excellence, including:

• 17 Academic All-America selections during the 2025–26 academic year—the most in NCAA Division II.
• A school-record 381 Academic All-GLVC honorees in 2025-26.
• Four conference championships in the past five years:
  • 2025 GLVC Baseball Tournament Championship
  • 2025 GLVC Men's Basketball Regular Season Championship
  • 2026 GLVC Baseball Regular Season Championship
  • Inaugural 2026 GLVC Men's Volleyball Championship
• During the 2025-26 academic year:
  • 10 athletic programs advanced to conference or NCAA postseason competition.
  • 22 student-athletes earned all-region honors.
  • 13 were named All-Americans.
• Extended its streak to 26 consecutive years with at least one Academic All-American.
• Additional records set in 2025-26:
  • 92 GLVC Distinguished Scholars
  • 48 Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence recipients
  • 14 GLVC Team Academic Awards

Pay

The anticipated hiring range for this position is up to $120,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Benefits

This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Retirement contributions
• Paid time off
• Short- and long-term disability
• Paid parental leave
• Paid caregiver leave
• Educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses

About the University and Community

Missouri S&T is one of the nation’s leading research universities with over 100-degree programs in 39 disciplines. Founded in 1870, it is located in Rolla, Missouri, about 100 miles west of St. Louis. The university offers undergraduate degrees in engineering, the sciences, liberal arts, humanities, and business, with M.S. and Ph.D. programs available in many science and engineering fields. With over 7,200 students and 300 faculty, Missouri S&T balances a broad academic population with opportunities for high visibility and impactful careers.

Rolla, Missouri, offers a high quality of life with a low cost of living, excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, and abundant recreational activities. The community hosts multiple events, concerts, art exhibitions, and theater performances throughout the year, and the university’s Leach Theatre showcases nationally renowned performers.