Assistant/Associate Athletic Director for Husky Advantage

University of Connecticut; Storrs (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition waivers

Excellent benefits

Job summary

The University of Connecticut is seeking an Assistant/Associate Athletic Director for Husky Advantage to lead comprehensive programming that supports the career, financial, personal, and leadership development of student-athletes within a Division I environment.

This role requires collaboration with coaches, campus partners, alumni, and external stakeholders, plus oversight of program assessment and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Sports Management, Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field.
• Five years of experience with college students in career readiness, student success, and personal development.
• Experience developing, coordinating, and facilitating educational programs, workshops, and student development initiatives.
• Interpersonal, verbal, written, organizational, and presentation skills with diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships with students, coaches, faculty, campus partners, and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement educational initiatives related to career readiness, financial wellness, networking, and life skills.
• Collaborate with coaches, SASP staff, campus partners, alumni, and employers to align programming with priorities.
• Design and facilitate a junior/senior-level 'Adulting' course for post-graduate success.
• Organize career development and networking trips to connect student-athletes with opportunities.
• Create and track community service and civic engagement opportunities for student-athletes.
• Promote inclusion, belonging, respect, and positive relationships within the student-athlete community.
• Develop and administer program assessments to measure participation and outcomes.
• Plan orientation programs, leadership initiatives, and engagement activities.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Presentation skills

Collaboration

Program development

Public speaking

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Sports Management, Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field

Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Sports Management, or related field

Job description

Search #: 499789

Work type: Full-time

Location: UConn Storrs

Categories: Athletics (Coaches, Trainers, Specialists), Student Programs and Services

JOB SUMMARY

The Assistant/Associate Athletic Director for Husky Advantage provides strategic leadership for the development, implementation, and assessment of comprehensive programming that supports the career, financial, personal, and leadership development of student-athletes within a competitive NCAA Division I environment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position designs and delivers initiatives that equip student-athletes with the knowledge, experiences, and transferable skills necessary for success during their collegiate careers and beyond graduation. Programming includes career readiness, networking, leadership development, communication skills, financial literacy, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) education, community engagement, and other life skills that promote holistic student-athlete development.

Working collaboratively with coaches, athletics administrators, campus partners, alumni, employers, and current and former student-athletes, this position advances the university's commitment to academic excellence, student well-being, and post-graduation success. The Assistant/Associate Athletic Director serves as a key leader in ensuring NCAA student-athlete service expectations are met through innovative programming, strategic partnerships, and continuous program assessment. This role also serves as an important recruiting and retention asset by enhancing the student-athlete experience and strengthening the university's competitive position within Division I athletics. Additionally, the position will assist in coordinating services and programming within the new Trisha Bailey Student Success Center, scheduled to open in January 2027.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement educational initiatives related to financial wellness, career readiness, networking, communication skills, transferable life skills, management of NIL opportunities, and personal growth.
• Collaborate with coaches, athletics administrators, Student-Athlete Success Program (SASP) staff, the National C Club, campus partners, alumni, and community partners to develop and execute department-wide initiatives and strategic programming aligned with departmental and institutional priorities.
• Design, develop, and facilitate a junior/senior-level "Adulting" course focused on preparing students for post-graduate success through practical transferable life skills development, career readiness, financial literacy, and personal responsibility.
• Assists in organizing and leading career development and networking trips to promote student-athlete connections with potential job opportunities.
• Create, coordinate and effectively track community service and civic engagement opportunities for student-athletes.
• Promote inclusion, belonging, respect, sportsmanship, and positive relationship-building within the student-athlete community.
• Serve as a resource, mentor, and advocate for student-athletes by fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes personal accountability and emotional well-being.
• Develop and administer program assessments, surveys, and evaluation tools to measure participation, effectiveness, and student-athlete outcomes.
• Assist in the planning and execution of orientation programs, leadership initiatives, special events, and student-athlete engagement activities.
• Organize and encourage student-athlete participation in NCAA and conference-sponsored programs as well as professional development opportunities, including the NCAA Career in Sports Forum, Black Student-Athlete Summit, Big East Well-Being Forum, and similar initiatives.
• Work with campus partners to create programming for our international students to support their sense of belonging within the UConn community.
• Work to promote and nominate student-athletes for various awards and recognition.
• Oversee additional staff within the Husky Advantage program.
• Provide input into the budgeting process and oversee fund allocation.
• Maintain knowledge of NCAA, conference, institutional, and departmental policies and ensure all programming aligns with compliance standards and expectations.
• Lead meetings with key stakeholders to plan and execute the full student-athlete development calendar in collaboration with athletics and campus partners.
• Potential opportunity to assist with sport administration duties.
• Participate in departmental meetings, professional development opportunities, and other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Sports Management, Higher Education, Student Affairs, or a related field.
• Five years of experience working with college students in career readiness, student success, and personal development. One year of experience must be serving as an advanced team member.
• Demonstrated experience developing, coordinating, and facilitating educational programs, workshops, and student development initiatives.
• Interpersonal, verbal, written, organizational, and presentation skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships with students, coaches, faculty, campus partners, and external stakeholders.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Sports Management, or a related field.
• Experience working within NCAA Division I athletics, preferably at the Division I FBS level, with an understanding of the unique academic, personal, and professional development needs of student-athletes.
• Experience teaching, facilitating, and delivering educational courses, workshops, and programming focused on career readiness, fiscal literacy, life skills, and holistic student development.
• Demonstrated experience supporting student-athletes through career development initiatives, professional readiness programming, and post-graduation planning.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and utilizing assessment data to evaluate program effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
• Proven experience planning, coordinating, and executing events and programs ranging from small workshops to large-scale campus and athletics events with diverse attendance levels.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, permanent position. The University offers a competitive salary, and outstanding benefits, including employee and dependent tuition waivers at UConn, and a highly desirable work environment. For additional information regarding benefits, please visit UConn Health Benefits and explore the sections under the Benefits & Leaves and Engagement & Learning headers. Other rights, terms, and conditions of employment are contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association (UCPEA).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The incumbent of this role must be committed to fostering student well-being, inclusion, and academic success, leadership development, and the holistic growth of student-athletes. Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics. All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community. The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce. The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner. This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all. We strongly respect each individual employee’s unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disabilities, veteran’s status, status as a victim of domestic violence and/or sexual assault and/or trafficking in persons as defined by Connecticut law, prior conviction of a crime, workplace hazards to the reproductive systems, or gender identity or expression. The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO employer including for Disability and Veteran status.