Assistant Athletic Director For Academics

Athletics Department

The Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services provides strategic leadership for academic support, student-athlete development, leadership programming, and student-athlete engagement initiatives. The position oversees academic success services and serves as the primary advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), fostering a culture of academic achievement, leadership, service, and personal growth consistent with the NCAA Division II philosophy of Life in the Balance.

Working collaboratively with coaches, faculty, academic advisors, student affairs professionals, and campus partners, the Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services develops and implements programs that promote academic achievement, retention, eligibility, graduation, and holistic student development while maintaining compliance with NCAA, Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), and University of Missouri-St. Louis policies and procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Academic Support and Student Success

• Direct and oversee all academic support services for approximately 250 NCAA Division II student-athletes.
• Oversee Program for Academic Success (PASS), the student athlete study hall
• Monitor academic progress, retention, eligibility, and graduation outcomes for all athletic programs.
• Develop individualized academic success plans for at-risk student-athletes.
• Coordinate academic advising support and referrals in collaboration with university advising units.
• Monitor class attendance, academic performance, and progress toward degree completion.
• Coordinate tutoring, academic mentoring, and learning support services.
• Facilitate student-athlete transitions from recruitment through graduation.

NCAA and Conference Compliance

• Ensure compliance with NCAA Division II, GLVC, and institutional academic eligibility requirements.
• Collaborate with the Athletics Compliance Office to monitor continuing eligibility, progress toward degree, and satisfactory academic progress.
• Maintain accurate academic records and reporting documentation.
• Assist with NCAA Academic Success Rate (ASR) and other required reporting initiatives.
• Educate coaches and student-athletes regarding academic policies and eligibility standards.

Student Development and Programming

• Develop and implement programming focused on academic achievement, leadership development, career readiness, and life skills.
• Coordinate recognition programs celebrating academic success, including Academic All-GLVC, CSC Academic All-District, NCAA honors, and departmental awards.
• Collaborate with Career Services to provide career exploration, internship, networking, and professional development opportunities.
• Support initiatives promoting student-athlete wellness, personal growth, and engagement.
• Coordinate departmental recognition of student-athlete leadership, service, and community impact.

Campus and Faculty Relations

• Serve as the primary athletics liaison to academic colleges, faculty, and university support services.
• Foster positive relationships with faculty members and academic departments.
• Coordinate faculty outreach and student-athlete support initiatives.
• Represent Athletics on university committees and student success initiatives as assigned.

Leadership and Administration

• Collect and analyze academic performance data to evaluate program effectiveness.
• Prepare reports and presentations regarding student-athlete academic outcomes.
• Participate as a member of the Athletics Department leadership team.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Athletics or Senior Associate Athletic Director.

Student Development and Leadership

• Serve as the primary advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
• Provide leadership, guidance, and administrative support to SAAC officers and representatives.
• Facilitate regular SAAC meetings and assist in developing agendas, initiatives, and strategic goals.
• Support student-athlete leadership development through SAAC programming and conference/NCAA leadership opportunities.
• Coordinate SAAC involvement in community engagement, service projects, campus partnerships, and student-athlete wellness initiatives.
• Assist SAAC in identifying and addressing issues impacting the student-athlete experience.
• Serve as the department liaison to the GLVC SAAC and NCAA Division II SAAC structure, ensuring UMSL student-athletes are represented at conference and national levels.
• Promote student-athlete engagement, advocacy, and participation in institutional decision-making processes.
• Coordinate departmental recognition of student-athlete leadership, service, and community impact.

Variable dependent on Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meetings and night activities, but mainly Monday-Friday.

A Bachelor's degree in related/ relevant area or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 3 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

• Three years of progressively responsible experience in academic advising, student success, athletics academic support, higher education, or a related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA rules related to academic eligibility.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with all populations.
• Proficiency with student information systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Master's degree in Higher Education, Educational Leadership, Counseling, Student Affairs, or a related field.
• Experience working in NCAA Division II athletics or any level of NCAA.
• Experience with academic support programming for student-athletes.

$52,000-$60,000

Grade: MKT
University Title: ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Application materials include a cover letter and resume. Finalists will be asked to provide references at a later date.
Applicants must combine all application materials into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as a resume attachment to the UMSL Careers: https://www.umsl.edu/services/hrs/careers/index.html
Limit document name to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.). For questions about the application process, please email employment@umsl.edu. If you are experiencing technical problems, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University will not sponsor applicants for this position for employment visas.

UMSL Athletics is experiencing an exciting era of growth and momentum, making this an exceptional opportunity for a student-centered leader to make a lasting impact. As a member of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference, UMSL is committed to excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and community engagement. Our department prides itself on fostering a collaborative culture where coaches and staff work together to support the holistic development of more than 250 student-athletes across 15 sports.

Located in the vibrant St. Louis metropolitan area, UMSL offers the resources of a comprehensive public research university, meaningful partnerships across campus, and a supportive environment where innovation, integrity, and student success are valued. The Assistant Athletic Director for Academics will play a vital role in shaping the academic experience of our student-athletes while contributing to a department dedicated to preparing champions in the classroom, in competition, and in life.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please email the Office of Human Resources at umslhr@umsl.edu.