Parker Executive Search Seeking Director of Athletics for Villanova University

October 11, 2024 – Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search was recently selected by Villanova University to lead in its search for a new vice president and director of athletics. The director of athletics is responsible for the leadership, strategic planning, management and administration of the university’s athletic and recreation program, in addition to overseeing budgets, personnel, planning, fundraising, revenue generation, marketing, media contract negotiations, and sports facilities. They must also ensure full compliance with university, Big East conference, and NCAA rules and regulations governing intercollegiate athletics and all applicable state rules and laws.

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of prior visionary strategic and operational leadership success in a highly competitive environment, including a demonstrated ability to identify, manage and solve problems through creative and conceptual thinking and effective resources management, as well as capitalize on opportunities as they arise; or equivalent management experience, according to the job specification posted by Parker.

Candidates must have a proven track record of successful hiring and supervision of staff members with demonstrated alignment and commitment to the university’s vision and mission, with an emphasis on the integration of diverse industry experiences and transferable skills to foster an inclusive and dynamic workforce, to include the implementation and monitoring of hiring practices that prioritize candidates with transferrable skills and relevant acumen, regardless of their industry of origin. They should have a proven ability to work with diverse populations of students, faculty, staff, and external constituents.

Villanova University is a private Catholic research university in Villanova, PA. It was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842 and named after Saint Thomas of Villanova. The university is the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania and one of two Augustinian institutions of higher learning in the U.S.

Known as the Wildcats, Villanova competes as a member of the Big East conference, sponsoring 24 varsity sports at the NCAA Division I level. The university’s athletic programs have seen a trajectory of growth and success, marked by numerous conference championships and national accolades, particularly in basketball, track and field/cross country.

Villanova is also using Oak Brook-IL-based WittKieffer to help recruit a vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion (VPDEI). This executive plays a critical role in ensuring a vibrant and equitable campus experience for members of the Villanova community, collaborating with campus partners to achieve this. There are several spheres of influence for the next VPDEI, and this individual will collaborate with the university’s diverse constituents to provide leadership and strategic direction that will lead to the continued cultivation of a nurturing environment that is also welcoming, inclusive and respectful.

Parker Executive Search conducts executive searches for corporations, colleges and universities and collegiate athletics. The firm has a wide range of client schools, including Notre Dame, Dartmouth, the University of Chicago, Iowa State, Fordham, University of Central Florida, University of Oregon, Clemson University, the University of Tennessee, and Iowa State University, among many others.

Related: Collegiate Sports Associates Assists Cal Maritime in Athletic Director Search

Daniel Parker is founder, vice president, and managing director. He leads the firm’s sports practice. He has worked on numerous corporate vice president searches, collegiate athletic director searches, and collegiate basketball, baseball and football head coach searches. In his role, Mr. Parker is also responsible for business development and candidate development.

Athletic Directors

Athletic directors are playing an increasingly vital role at colleges and universities across the country. With the expansion of athletic departments and, for the larger schools, the infusion of big dollars for sports, more schools have turned to search firms when such positions become open. Too much is at stake, they feel, to go it alone. What’s more, the AD job has come to demand greater business and management skills than the typical academic search.

“The AD today is the CEO of athletic operations at a college,” said John Lahey, current president at Quinnipiac University. “Thirty to 40 years ago, you were more likely to see former coaches and athletes promoted into those roles as a way of rewarding success or longevity, but now you need a business person who is able to lead people, generate revenue and understand how the marketing and brand of athletics can impact the entire university.”

Bill Lennox, president at St. Leo University in Florida, said schools must make sure that the AD is a senior member of the entire university staff. “We moved the AD to the equivalent level of a vice president, so he sat in all of the meetings and in the decision-making process with the rest of the VPs of the university,” he said.

The modern AD position oversees finances, marketing, human resources, student-athlete wellness, media contracts, and of course overall performance – all while salaries head well into seven figures and beyond.

Related: Parker Executive Search Assists LSU Recruit First African-American President  

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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