Preparing future athletic leaders through mentorship, experience
If you’ve spent any amount of time around an athletic department office, you know this: Nobody stumbles into becoming an athletic director. They might stumble into coaching, they might stumble into helping in the concession stand or taking a turn at the ticket gate, but the A.D. job? That requires intention. It takes preparation, perspective and patience and, as I’ll argue here, it absolutely requires mentorship.
I’ve spent a good chunk of my career preparing future athletic administrators, and one truth becomes clearer every year: We cannot expect the next generation of athletic directors to succeed if our plan is simply to hand them the keys and wish them luck. Today’s athletic directors navigate a world that is more complex, more public, more pressure-filled and more demanding than ever before.But here’s the good news: We know exactly what helps young professionals thrive. We know what steadies them, what guides them and what opens their world beyond textbooks or whistles and clipboards — it’s mentorship.
Not the once-a-year, “You’re doing great!” mentorship. Not the old-school, “Call me if you ever need anything” mentorship. I’m talking about real, authentic, consistent mentorship, the kind that shapes people.
Let’s talk about how we prepare tomorrow’s athletic directors and why mentorship keeps you centered, because no matter how much you prepare, leadership still requires guidance from someone who’s been under those Friday night lights.
The A.D. job has evolved, so must our preparation
The job of today’s athletic director barely resembles what it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Back then, being a strong scheduler, bus coordinator and facilities fixer would carry you far.
We know exactly what helps young professionals thrive. We know what steadies them, what guides them and what opens their world beyond textbooks or whistles and clipboards — it’s mentorship.
Now? An A.D. is simultaneously a communicator, diplomat, risk manager, human resources specialist, fundraiser, culture builder, media liaison, policy interpreter and, on the truly adventurous days, the substitute athletic trainer, event manager, social media manager and weather forecaster.
We’re asking people to step into a role that’s nearly impossible without support. That’s why preparing the next generation cannot be limited to teaching rules, budgets and policies. Those things matter, but they’re the easy part. A handbook can show you how to fill out a transportation request. A seminar can introduce Title IX. A webinar can walk you through developing a layered emergency action plan.
But knowing how to emotionally navigate an upset parent? How to mediate conflict between two coaches who both believe they’re right? How to support a young coach who doubts whether they belong? How to balance a 14-hour day with a healthy home life? Those answers don’t come from inside a classroom. They come from people in the field.
Mentorship and experiential learning: The most powerful combination
I always tell my students, “You can learn information anywhere. But wisdom? That comes from people.”
At the University of Cincinnati’s Sport Administration Program, that belief sits at the heart of how we prepare tomorrow’s athletic leaders and it’s why experiential learning, especially internships, matters so much in our field.
Our field is built on relationships. If the upcoming generation doesn’t have enough support, it’s not their fault — it’s ours.
You can study policy, scheduling and budgeting in a classroom, but stepping into a real athletic department, watching seasoned leaders work, and learning shoulder-to-shoulder with professionals? That’s where the deeper lessons live. Internships give students the reps. Mentorship gives them perspective.
Put the two together and you get something powerful: Mentorship is where wisdom truly lives and experiential learning is where it comes to life.
A mentor can take a young athletic administrator behind the curtain and say, “Here’s how the work really flows. Here’s what I wish someone had told me. Here’s the mistake I made once — don’t repeat it.” That authenticity is gold to someone just starting out.
Good mentors help future athletic directors learn how to:
- Make decisions under pressure when the gym is full, the clock is ticking and something goes sideways.
- Balance confidence and humility — young professionals often feel they need to prove themselves.
- Develop their own leadership style grounded in strengths and values rather than imitation.
- Stay grounded and avoid burnout — a real risk in a role that can swallow your time, energy and identity.
A mentor who has lived the work helps young leaders set boundaries, stay healthy and stay in the profession long enough to flourish.
Mentorship builds confidence, one conversation at a time
Confidence in this profession doesn’t grow from having all the answers; it grows from knowing you have the right people in your corner.
I’ve watched young administrators transform because of one strong mentoring relationship. They interview differently. They communicate differently. They carry themselves with steadiness and clarity. A good mentor doesn’t just teach skills, they instill confidence.
In my forthcoming book, “Internship Playbook: Skills and Strategies for Sport Industry Success” (University of Cincinnati Press, Summer 2026), I write that mentors “serve as a source to provide guidance through their success stories, and encouragement helps motivate interns to strive for excellence.”
Whether we’re talking about interns or first-year athletic directors, mentors offer:
- A safe place to ask questions
- A sounding board for tough decisions
- A connection to a broader professional network
- A model of ethical, student-centered leadership
When young administrators know someone believes in them, they begin believing in themselves. Belief is the boost that takes them to the next level.
Preparing future administrators is a community responsibility
If you’re an athletic director, assistant A.D. or longtime coach, here’s the part where I look straight at you: You are part of the future.
Every seasoned A.D. has stories worth sharing — lessons that can save someone younger from frustration or burnout, examples that can light a path for someone still figuring out how to lead.
Our field is built on relationships. If the upcoming generation doesn’t have enough support, it’s not their fault — it’s ours.
And the encouraging part? Future athletic directors are hungry for mentorship. They want guidance. They want community. They want leaders who will lift them rather than leaving them to sink or swim.
The best mentorship is simple, genuine and consistent
The most effective mentoring relationships aren’t complicated. They often look like:
- A monthly lunch
- A weekly check-in call
- A text-me-anytime understanding
- Sharing real stories, not polished highlight reels
- Letting young administrators see real decision-making
- Offering honest, supportive feedback
It’s not about being perfect; it’s about saying, “I’ve walked this path. Let me walk with you for a while.”
The bottom line: We need better mentors now
The truth is simple: Strong mentorship produces strong leadership.
When we invest in young professionals, we don’t just prepare individuals, we strengthen entire school communities. A well-supported A.D. leads better programs, hires stronger coaches, builds healthier cultures and creates better experiences for student-athletes. If we want the future of school sports to be bright, mentorship isn’t optional — it’s essential.
Every great athletic director can trace their success back to a handful of people who believed in them early on. So, let’s be those people. Let’s build the next generation of athletic administrators not through chance but through intentional purpose. Let’s mentor confidently, invest generously and lead in a way that makes others want to follow.
The next generation is ready. Now, it’s on us.
Dr. David J. Kelley is a professor and online Masters in Sport Administration program coordinator at the University of Cincinnati.
You Might Also Like
