Position Information Position Information

Posting Number S-3548 Position Number 79760 Type of Recruitment External Position Title ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR / SPORT PERFORMANCE Position Summary The Associate Athletics Director for Sports Performance will be charged with leading and integrating the sports performance units within the athletics department to enhance the holistic development and competitive success of student-athletes. This position will focus on maximizing the relationship between key performance areas, including strength and conditioning, nutrition, athletic training, and sports psychology, to create a progressive, data-driven, and excellence-oriented program that fosters peak performance and well-being. This position plays a critical role in shaping the future of our athletics department and creating a high-performance culture that prioritizes the success and well-being of our student-athletes. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in sports science, kinesiology, exercise physiology, or a related field is required.
Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in sports performance, strength and conditioning, athletic training, or a related field within intercollegiate athletics.
Demonstrated experience managing interdisciplinary teams and integrating diverse areas of expertise.
Strong knowledge of contemporary practices in strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, injury prevention, recovery, and sports psychology.
Proven ability to develop and implement data-driven performance strategies.
Exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
Ability to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Preferred Qualifications Certifications such as CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist), ATC (Athletic Trainer Certified), or other relevant credentials are highly desirable.
Master’s degree in sports science, kinesiology, exercise physiology, or a related field.
Experience working at a MAC (Mid-American Conference) institution. Duties & Responsibilities Strategic Leadership:
Develops and implements a unified vision for sports performance that aligns with the department’s goals of student-athlete success and competitive excellence.
Collaborates with sport coaches, athletic administrators, and other stakeholders to identify priorities and ensure alignment of sports performance initiatives with team objectives.
Integration and Collaboration:
Fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between strength and conditioning, nutrition, athletic training, and sports psychology to create a seamless approach to student-athlete performance and wellness.
Develops systems to enhance communication and shared decision-making among sports performance professionals.
Develops collaborative relationships with campus units who specialize in sports/data driven areas to enhance the student experience and work toward athletic performance goals.
Program Development:
Designs and oversees innovative performance programs that incorporate evidence-based practices and emerging trends in sports science and technology.
Ensures that programs are tailored to the specific needs of individual sports and athletes, emphasizing injury prevention, recovery, mental health, and peak performance.
Performance Monitoring and Analytics:
Leads efforts to collect, analyze, and utilize performance data to inform training, recovery, and nutrition strategies. – Evaluate program effectiveness through key performance indicators and make data-driven adjustments to enhance outcomes.
Staff Development:
Recruits, mentors, and oversees sports performance staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, professional development, and excellence.
Provides ongoing education and training opportunities to ensure staff remain at the forefront of their respective fields.
Student-Athlete Support:
Serves as a resource and advocate for student-athletes, promoting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Develops programming and workshops to educate student-athletes on topics such as nutrition, recovery, mental resilience, and injury prevention.
Resource Management:
Oversees budgets, facilities, and equipment related to sports performance, ensuring efficient use of resources to support the department’s goals.
Identifies and pursues opportunities for partnerships, sponsorships, and fundraising to enhance sports performance capabilities.
Compliance and Safety:
Ensures all sports performance activities adhere to NCAA, conference, and institutional regulations and policies.
Maintains the highest standards of safety and ethical practices within all aspects of the sports performance program.
Other duties as assigned. Supervision Exercised Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others in our teams. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve leadership abilities and demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU, we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMU’s culture of excellence. Message to Applicants Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering a broadly diverse and inclusive campus that respects all social identities, experiences, and perspectives. In an effort to further this initiative, we are especially interested in candidates who will advance and promote an inclusive and supportive environment for every member of our university community.


You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee. Employee Group Professional & Administrative -Salary Staff Pay Level Pay Range $95,000 - $105,000 Division President Department Athletics Position Status Regular Position End Date Employment Status Full-Time FTE 1.00 Position Type 12 month Weekly Work Schedule Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as required. Location Mount Pleasant, MI About the Department About CMU Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms. CMU Leadership Standards Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position. EEO Statement CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity and provide equal opportunity within its community. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex‐based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight (see https://www.cmich.edu/offices-departments/OCRIE).
If you wish to see “EEO is the Law” posters, please click here.
CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.
Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU’s Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, or both.
CMU’s Title IX Coordinator can be reached at:
Phone: 989-774-3253
Office: 103 E. Preston St.
Bovee University Center, suite 306
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
Email: titleix@cmich.edu Posting Ends 02/16/2025 Open Until Filled No Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

* How did you learn of this vacancy? Please indicate the specific source by title (i.e., CMU website, HigherEdJobs.com, Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, The Chronicle, specific professional association, specific list serv, etc.):

(Open Ended Question)

* Are you currently an internal employee of CMU according to the university's definition? Yes No * If yes, to which employee group do you belong? (If not applicable, select "Not Applicable"). Not Applicable Dispatcher Medical Faculty Office Professional P&A, SO or Faculty Police Public Broadcasting Sergeant Service Maintenance Supervisory/Technical * Do you have at least a bachelor’s degree in sports science, kinesiology, exercise physiology, or a related field? Yes No * Do you have a minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in sports performance, strength and conditioning, athletic training, or a related field within intercollegiate athletics? Yes No * Applicants for this position are subject to the NCAA Bylaws. You may be asked about these Bylaws in an interview, or you may be asked to sign a future affirmation confirming the same prior to or upon your employment by CMU, if you are selected for employment. Do you understand that by submitting your application for employment you are affirming that you have read these Bylaws, and that such Bylaws would not preclude your employment by CMU? Yes No * Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position and click “Yes” if you understand and support the culture that is important to CMU. Yes No Optional & Required Documents Required Documents Resume/Curriculum Vitae Cover Letter Optional Documents List of References