Director of Sports Science - Football

The University of Georgia (UGA), chartered in 1785, is the birthplace of public higher education in America and Georgia’s flagship university. Located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, UGA is ranked among the top 20 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The university enrolls over 41,000 students across 19 schools and colleges and employs approximately 3,100 faculty and 7,700 full-time staff.

About the role

The Director of Sport Science – Football provides strategic leadership, integration, and oversight of sport science initiatives within the University of Georgia football program. This role optimizes student-athlete health, performance, and recovery through data-informed practices, research translation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The position bridges applied performance science, strength and conditioning, and athletic health services to support holistic athlete development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and oversight of sports science systems to monitor athlete workload, performance, readiness, and recovery.
• Analyze and interpret data collected from practices and competitions, developing algorithms to identify trends and predict outcomes.
• Create and distribute daily data reports for team practices and competitions, communicating results to key stakeholders (sports medicine, coaches, strength & conditioning).
• Collaborate with strength and conditioning, athletic training, sports medicine, nutrition, and coaching staff to integrate sports science into daily operations.
• Oversee the collection, analysis, and interpretation of performance metrics (e.g., GPS, force plates, wellness questionnaires) to inform individualized training and recovery strategies.
• Translate scientific research into practical applications to enhance performance and mitigate injury risk.
• Develop and maintain data dashboards and reporting tools for coaches, support staff, and administrators.
• Lead applied research initiatives in collaboration with academic departments and external partners.
• Manage and maintain the TeamWorks AMS data analytics platform for football.
• Work closely with sports medicine personnel to support rehabilitation plans for injured athletes, providing data to inform recovery strategies.
• Oversee technology integration and maintenance of performance monitoring systems (e.g., Catapult GPS, DARI, Vald, Polar).
• Manage equipment troubleshooting, daily operation, and maintenance of sports science technology systems.
• Ensure compliance with NCAA, SEC, and institutional policies related to student-athlete health, safety, and data privacy.
• Supervise and mentor sports science staff, including interns and graduate assistants.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and liaison between the athletic department and academic/research collaborators.
• Contribute to educational programming and professional development for coaches and support staff on sports science topics.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Executive Associate Athletic Director – Health & Performance and Director of Sports Medicine – Football.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Five years of professional experience in sports science, data analytics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with athlete monitoring, data analytics, and performance technologies (e.g., Catapult, DARI, Polar, VALD).
• Strong understanding of interdisciplinary high-performance models and collaboration within sports medicine/performance teams.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and project management skills.
• Ability to track and analyze athlete progress using computer-based charting systems and daily performance metrics.
• Capability to counsel student-athletes on performance enhancement and recovery strategies.
• Ability to work nontraditional hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and travel as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with a Division I football program.

Skills

• Data analytics and interpretation.
• Use of performance monitoring technologies (e.g., GPS tracking, force plates, wellness questionnaires).
• Project management and leadership.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for professional interactions within and outside the university.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and foster an inclusive training environment.

Physical Demands

• Ability to stand, walk, use hands, and reach with arms regularly during the workday.
• Sit, speak clearly, and hear effectively in team meetings and communication settings.
• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and assist student-athletes during weight training sessions.
• Possess close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision for safe supervision of the training environment.
• Tolerate variable noise levels, including moderate baseline noise and higher levels during peak facility usage.

Pay

Advertised salary: $80,000.