Dr. David Hoch

March 20, 2011

Balancing the athletic director job with family

Our position as athletic director is extremely time-intensive, demanding and unforgiving. It's not uncommon to have contests scheduled every day of the week, some during the evening in either the stadium or gym, and even some on Saturdays. Our one...


October 2, 2009

Use E-mail to Your Advantage

Even if my incoming phone calls are being screened by the answering machine at my desk, the phone remains the most intrusive part of my day.If used properly, E-mail can be much more effective and efficient. It is my preferred mode of communication. A...


October 2, 2009

Mentoring the coaches in your program

Since mentoring has never been a generic art form, there are several things you may want to consider when implementing or restructuring a mentoring program for your coaches. It must fit into the structure and culture of your program, school, and c...


October 2, 2009

Every Minute Counts

Between meetings, appointments, and perhaps teaching a class – if you still have one – our daily schedules have a number of built-in time restrictions. When you also consider your, “To Do List,” there will be some tasks that m...


October 2, 2009

Controlling Interruptions

Does anyone doubt that the passage of time complicates the Athletic Director position? Almost monthly, it inherits new responsibilities without disinheriting the old.Since many A.D.s, including myself, have neither an assistant nor a secretary, they ...


October 2, 2009

Contingency Plans

Considering the complexity of our positions, the number of participants, coaches, and contests that we direct, and the endless responsibilities we have, something surely has to go wrong sometimes.Even though we plan and have good procedures in place,...


October 2, 2009

Timing is Everything

We often get so wrapped up in our own little world of athletics that we may forget that timing is everything. Years ago, someone pulled me aside and pointed out that it is important to know when to approach your principal, with a request for money or...


October 2, 2009

The Dearth of Women Athletic Directors

nAn old friend who has been involved with athletics his entire adult life recently made an observation to me that proved he was not involved as much as he should have been about a questions asked of him:n"Why aren’t more women serving as athlet...