Position Introduction:

Basic Functions:

This is a full-time professional position within the Prentice Gautt Academic Center, a comprehensive support services unit for intercollegiate student-athletes. The Director of Football Academics reports to the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services and is charged with serving as the football program’s primary point of contact in Academics, communicating team-wide academic updates, preparing and updating recruiting materials and coordinating coverage for recruiting visits. This position also includes responsibility for preparing and distributing meeting agendas and sharing information in coach staff meetings. Responsibilities for this position also include direct advising support for student-athletes from football and at least one other team. This position requires consistent and open communication with coaches and staff and a thorough understanding of NCAA and Conference guidelines and regulations.

Essential Functions:

• Serve as the lead football academic advisor; coordinate communication with academic staff, student-athletes, and coaches.
• Provide supervision for the Senior Athletics Academic Advisor working with football.
• Handle advising responsibilities for designated student-athletes from football and at least one other team; monitor their academic progress; provide course advisement, career and personal guidance; educate student-athletes on rules of eligibility and personal responsibility.
• Communicate with football coaching staff through scheduled academic meetings; regularly and promptly share detailed information regarding the ongoing academic progress of assigned student-athletes.
• Assist with the recruiting process during prospective student-athletes’ visits to campus.
• Coordinate the department’s Honorary Coach Program, a campus outreach initiative to recognize faculty and staff for their support of undergraduate education; collaborate with football staff to plan programming during home football weekends.
• Assist with the coordination of academic orientation and educational programming for incoming student-athletes.
• With a thorough understanding of NCAA legislation, Academic Progress Rate (APR) and Graduation Success Rate (GSR) guidelines, serve as the unit’s primary point of contact for monitoring and projecting student-athlete academic outcomes for football and other assigned teams.
• Promote positive working relationships with college advisors and faculty throughout campus.
• Utilize standard grade reports to communicate student-athlete progress to appropriate constituents.
• Monitor student-athletes’ NCAA academic eligibility through the use of University student systems and established internal degree-tracking forms.
• Maintain eligibility evaluation spreadsheets for all undergraduate degree programs.
• Administer the guidelines of the unit's objective-based study hall and grade report tracking system.
• Regularly communicate the progress, outcomes, and direction of work to the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services; make recommendations concerning improvement of programs and services.
• Support department and campus-wide student success efforts through participation in a variety of department activities and committee work.
• Serve as co-coordinator of student-athlete graduation events and promotions; work with athletics communications and Varsity O staff to highlight graduating student-athletes; assist with planning in-person events for graduates and their families.
• Provide support for student-athletes’ career development and preparation; connect football student-athletes with Soul Mission staff, the Varsity O Association and the university’s Career Center resources, to assist with career planning activities including the creation and maintenance of Handshake and LinkedIn accounts, development of resumes and cover letters, interview preparation, and internship opportunities.

Skills:

• Demonstrated excellent oral, written and presentation skills and proactive, open and responsive interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with diverse student populations, university personnel (e.g. faculty, college deans, administrators, athletic coaches and staff), as well as representatives from the community.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, attention to detail, and high degree of openness to new approaches and new ideas.
• Thorough knowledge of NCAA academic legislation, particularly with rules of student-athlete initial-eligibility and progress-toward-degree, Academic Progress Rates (APR), and Graduation Success Rates (GSR).
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Knowledge of FERPA and ethical principles in working with students.

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Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree.
• Minimum 84 months of experience in academic advising/higher education.

Equivalency/Substitution: Will accept a Master's degree and 60 months of experience or a Doctorate and 36 months of experience.

Department Preferences:

• Master's degree, or in process of completing a graduate degree program.
• Three years of experience as an academic counselor/ advisor for student-athletes at the Division I level.
• Proficiency and/or familiarity with Banner software.
• Proficiency in using computer software such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher, etc.
• Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA and Conference rules and regulations governing, but not limited to, academics, satisfactory progress, and eligibility.
• Demonstrated and successful experience providing academic advising and/or academic support in education.
• Background in counseling, career counseling, or advising in education.
• Two years of experience as an academic counselor, advisor, or educator for a diverse student-athlete population.