Director of Athletics

About Knox College

Founded in 1837 by anti-slavery social reformers, Knox College (Knox) has a rich history rooted in social justice and progressive education. Located in Galesburg, Illinois, Knox is a private liberal arts college on a campus with over 82 acres. Known for its strong liberal arts curriculum and commitment to undergraduate education, Knox offers over 60 courses of study, including 43 majors and 58 minors in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. In addition, Knox offers nine pre-professional and cooperative programs, including business, engineering, and law. Knox is notable for its emphasis on experiential learning and independent research. The College features the Senior Capstone Experience, where students complete significant research or creative project in their final year.

The student body at Knox is made up of over 1,000 diverse students, coming from 45 states across the country and 49 countries around the world. With an average class size of 14 students, this setting offers an intimate class setting that gives students the opportunity to excel. With over 110 total faculty, 95% of which hold a Ph.D. or terminal degree, this offers a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, along with a trimester academic schedule, to help support students in a rigorous academic environment. Under the leadership and guidance of the College’s 20th President, C. Andrew McGadney, Knox has continued the mission of building a community of individuals from diverse backgrounds that challenge each other to explore, understand and improve oneself, the society, and the world.

About Knox College Athletics

As a member of the NCAA Division III and the Midwest Conference, Knox emphasizes the importance of student-athletes maintaining a balance between academics and athletics. The focus is on student development, and athletes are encouraged to excel in both their chosen sport and their academic pursuits. With 14 varsity teams and over 60+ conference championships, the Prairie Fire have continued to achieve athletically and additional varsity programs are currently under consideration. Knox fields teams in a variety of sports including basketball, soccer, volleyball, football, cross country, golf, track and field, softball, and baseball. The college has several top-tier facilities to support its athletic programs, including two artificial turf competition venues, Knosher Bowl for football and Jorge Prats Field for soccer, Memorial Gym for basketball and volleyball, natural grass Blodgett baseball field and softball field, T. Fleming Fieldhouse for indoor track and field, Turner Track at Trevor Field for outdoor track and field, Schmidt Golf Performance Center, and the E. & L. Andrews Fitness Center.

About Knox College Recreation & Wellness

Understanding the importance of campus mental health and wellbeing, Knox provides a robust and diverse offering of campus recreation and wellness programming. More than half of Knox students participate in some kind of organized athletic activity, from club sports to intramurals to fitness classes organized and taught by students. Knox offers great equipment and facilities for everyone. The 13,000-square-foot E. & L. Andrew Fitness Center features a cardio exercise area, a free weight training area, and a fitness studio. Off campus, Knox is surrounded by more opportunities such as biking, camping, spelunking, hiking, kayaking, plus the 600-acre Lake Storey Recreational Area, which includes a very serious waterslide.

Position Overview

Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the President’s Cabinet, the Director of Athletics oversees operations of the College's NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics program, as well as campus recreation. The Director of Athletics will work with students, faculty, staff, and alumni across the College to maintain excellence in its athletic programs, recruit and retain a diverse group of exceptional coaches, promote the student-athletes’ academic and athletic achievements, and advance the health and wellness of the College community.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Director of Athletics will provide a clear vision of the role and mission of athletics and recreation. The Director of Athletics plans, administers, conducts, and evaluates all activities associated with the College's Athletics and Recreation Department. The Director of Athletics also oversees club sports, intramurals and recreation, and fitness and wellness programming and activities for the benefit of the entire College community and is expected to:

• Work at the highest levels of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness to provide leadership and oversight to the intercollegiate athletics and recreation program.

• Advance all aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion and understand gender equity in athletics and Title IX compliance.

• Manage fiscal responsibilities, including budgeting and financial planning, forecasting, reporting, revenue generation, and cost efficiency.

• Recruit, develop, and lead department staff and coaches.

• Represent and support the mission, interests, and accomplishments of the College, athletics and recreation, to audiences within and beyond the campus.

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for the maintenance, construction, and restoration of the athletics facilities and designs for future facility needs.

• Communicate insight into the opportunities and challenges of Division III athletics at a small liberal arts college and manage competing and conflicting goals.

• Work with the Faculty Athletic Representative and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to the health, safety, personal development, and academic success of student-athletes with experience and knowledge of the academic support needs and strategies for student-athlete academic success.

• Work closely with the Division of Student Development to promote wellness, retention, and success of all students.

• Assist in fundraising initiatives and work closely with the Office of Advancement and the K Club coordinator.

• Work closely with admissions in recruiting student-athletes.

• Oversee the ongoing professional development of the athletics and recreation department staff and coaches.

• Ensure compliance with federal, NCAA, and College policies and procedures.

• Provide timely and accurate reporting to the Midwest Conference, federal, NCAA, and College departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

• 7-10 years’ experience within a highly selective liberal arts institution, collegiate-level coaching, and significant capital planning and fundraising preferred.

• A thorough knowledge of athletics administration at the collegiate level and a demonstrated record of successful athletic administrative experience.

• Commitment to excellence in academics and athletics.

• Competence in budget planning, strategic planning, facilities management, and personnel evaluation.

• An understanding of the recruitment process and the ability to collaboratively work with Admissions staff in the enrollment of students to an academically rigorous institution.

• Demonstrated commitment and sensitivity to diversity, equity, and equal opportunity.

• Ability to recruit, motivate, supervise and evaluate departmental personnel.

• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students and College departments.

• Evidence of high ethical standards as well as personal and professional integrity.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with both internal and external constituencies.

• Commitment to understanding the College’s vision while developing a future vision and strategic plan for the overall program.

• Understanding of changes and trends in athletics education and practice.

Application Process

Knox College invites nominations and applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the College. Applications must include a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, and list of references. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to Parker Executive Search’s website by October 10, 2024. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.

For additional information, please contact:

Daniel Parker, Vice President and Managing Director

Grant Higgison, Principal

Xavier Harper, Executive Recruiting Coordinator

ghiggison@parkersearch.com | xharper@parkersearch.com

Parker Executive Search

770-804-1996 ext. 118 | 770-804-1996 ext. 123

Knox College prohibits sex discrimination and discrimination in violation of federal or state law in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions regarding sex discrimination or other prohibited discrimination to the Director of Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance. The notice of nondiscrimination is located at www.knox.edu/notice-of-non-discrimination