Athletic Director

Michigan Association of School Boards; Michigan; On-site; USD 80,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

South Lake Schools seeks an Athletic Director to lead the middle and high school interscholastic athletic programs and ensure safe, inclusive, student-centered operations. You will supervise coaches, manage budgets, facilities, and eligibility, while promoting academics, sportsmanship, and school pride.

The role requires coordinating schedules, events, and transportation, with strong leadership and community collaboration. This full-time position is based at the district in Michigan.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in education, sports management, athletic administration, business administration, or a related field.
• Valid Michigan teaching certificate and/or School Administrator Certificate preferred.
• Minimum of five years of successful experience in coaching, teaching, athletic administration, school leadership, or a related field, preferably at the secondary level.
• Demonstrated knowledge of interscholastic athletic program management, student-athlete development, and MHSAA rules and eligibility requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage athletic operations, including supervising coaches and athletic personnel; coordinating schedules, events, facilities, transportation, and budgets; and supporting student-athlete health and safety.
• Strong leadership, organizational, technological, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build positive relationships with students, families, staff, and community partners.
• Ability to fulfill scheduling and attendance requirements, including regular evening and weekend responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership, supervision, and continuous improvement of the District’s middle and high school interscholastic athletic programs.
• Develops and communicates a clear vision for education-based athletics aligned with the District’s mission, values, policies, and strategic priorities.
• Promotes academic achievement, equitable participation, student well-being, sportsmanship, ethical conduct, character development, school pride, and competitive excellence.
• Evaluates athletic programs, participation opportunities, and program outcomes and recommends improvements based on student needs, available resources, data, and established best practices.
• Participates as a member of District and high school leadership teams and contributes to goals, procedures, and initiatives related to interscholastic athletics.
• Represents the District at league, conference, regional, and Michigan High School Athletic Association meetings and activities.
• Recruits, interviews, recommends, or hires, as authorized, qualified coaches and athletic personnel in accordance with District procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Technology skills

Problem solving

Scheduling & attendance

Education

Bachelor’s degree (education/sports mgmt.)

Michigan teaching certificate or School Administrator Certificate (preferred)

Job description

Deadline: September 2, 2026
District/Organization: South Lake Schools
Position/Type: Other, full time
Salary: $79,613 - $85,734

South Lake Schools

Job Description-Athletic Director

At South Lake Schools, we believe great schools are built through strong relationships. Together with our community, we create an engaging and nurturing environment where students thrive and staff feel valued, connected, and supported. Our small-school setting fosters meaningful collaboration and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on learners. Located along beautiful Lake St. Clair in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, our district offers a welcoming community with convenient access to the cultural attractions, dining, entertainment, and professional sports of Detroit, as well as the region's scenic orchards, cider mills, and outdoor recreation, making South Lake Schools an exceptional place to live, work, and grow.

Job Summary/Goal

The Athletic Director serves as a member of the District and high school leadership teams and provides leadership and oversight for South Lake Schools’ interscholastic athletic programs. The Athletic Director advances the District’s vision and mission by fostering a safe, inclusive, and student-centered athletic environment; promoting academic achievement, student well-being, sportsmanship, and competitive excellence; supervising coaches and athletic personnel; and collaborating with students, families, staff, and community partners. The Athletic Director ensures effective athletic program operations, compliance with District policies and applicable athletic regulations, and responsible management of athletic events, facilities, budgets, and student eligibility while contributing to a positive culture that promotes character, school pride, and student success.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in education, sports management, athletic administration, business administration, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Valid Michigan teaching certificate and/or School Administrator Certificate preferred.
• Minimum of five years of successful experience in coaching, teaching, athletic administration, school leadership, or a related field, preferably at the secondary level.
• Demonstrated knowledge of interscholastic athletic program management, student-athlete development, and Michigan High School Athletic Association rules and eligibility requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage athletic operations, including supervising coaches and athletic personnel; coordinating schedules, events, facilities, transportation, and budgets; and supporting student-athlete health and safety.
• Strong leadership, organizational, technological, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build positive relationships with students, families, staff, and community partners.
• Ability to fulfill the scheduling and attendance requirements of the position, including regular evening and weekend responsibilities.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent or designee may find appropriate and acceptable.

Reports to:Principal

Supervises:Coaches, athletic support personnel, event workers, and middle and high school interscholastic athletic programs as assigned.

• Leadership and Program Improvement: Ability to collaboratively advance the District’s vision and continuously improve education-based athletic programs that promote achievement, equity, well-being, sportsmanship, and excellence.
• Athletic Program Management: Ability to manage schedules, events, facilities, transportation, officials, equipment, budgets, purchasing, records, and other operational requirements.
• Compliance and Safety: Knowledge of MHSAA rules, eligibility standards, District policies, applicable laws, emergency procedures, and student-athlete health and safety practices.
• Personnel Leadership: Ability to select, supervise, evaluate, develop, and support coaches and athletic personnel while promoting professionalism and accountability.
• Data-Informed Decision-Making: Ability to use participation, eligibility, academic, financial, safety, and program data to guide decisions and allocate resources.
• Culture and Community Engagement: Ability to foster an inclusive, respectful athletic culture and build productive relationships with students, families, staff, officials, booster organizations, and community partners.
• Communication and Problem-Solving: Ability to communicate effectively, resolve concerns, adapt to changing circumstances, and make timely, fair, and sound decisions.

Performance Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Program Management

• Provides leadership, supervision, and continuous improvement of the District’s middle and high school interscholastic athletic programs.
• Develops and communicates a clear vision for education-based athletics aligned with the District’s mission, values, policies, and strategic priorities.
• Promotes academic achievement, equitable participation, student well-being, sportsmanship, ethical conduct, character development, school pride, and competitive excellence.
• Evaluates athletic programs, participation opportunities, and program outcomes and recommends improvements based on student needs, available resources, data, and established best practices.
• Participates as a member of District and high school leadership teams and contributes to goals, procedures, and initiatives related to interscholastic athletics.
• Represents the District at league, conference, regional, and Michigan High School Athletic Association meetings and activities.
• Recruits, interviews, recommends, or hires, as authorized, qualified coaches and athletic personnel in accordance with District procedures.
• Supervises, supports, and evaluates coaches and assigned athletic personnel.
• Provides orientation, mentoring, professional development, feedback, and performance support for coaches and athletic personnel.
• Establishes and communicates expectations for professional conduct, student-athlete development, program operations, safety, and sportsmanship.
• Ensures coaches and athletic personnel satisfy applicable District, league, and Michigan High School Athletic Association training and qualification requirements.
• Verifies completion of required safety training and certifications, including CPR, AED use, first aid, concussion awareness, and sudden cardiac arrest response.
• Promotes collaboration, professionalism, accountability, and consistent expectations across athletic programs.
• Promotes academic achievement and monitors student-athlete eligibility in accordance with District policies and Michigan High School Athletic Association requirements.
• Coordinates and verifies athletic registration, physical examinations, consent forms, eligibility records, and other participation requirements.
• Collaborates with administrators, teachers, counselors, coaches, students, and families to support student-athletes’ academic achievement, attendance, behavior, health,