Athletic Administration

Athletic administration is the term used to describe the professional management and leadership of intercollegiate athletics on college and university campuses. Despite early opposition to athletics by faculty and institutional leaders, growing popularity and participation in athletic activity, coupled with increased injury and death of students necessitated the hiring of administrative personnel to oversee and manage athletic programs. The first professional coach at a U.S. higher education institution was hired in 1864 and since then the professional staff hired to oversee the support, training, and performance of student–athletes at U.S. colleges and universities has grown exponentially in number and complexity.

While the role of athletic administrators is similar at colleges and universities with athletics programs outside the United States, this entry focuses on the United States ...