Director of Athletics

by Jaclyn Barton | Jan 15, 2026

• Milligan Job Opening
• Milligan, TN
• Posted 10 hours ago

Milligan University invites applications for the position of Director of Athletics. Milligan University exists to honor God by educating men and women to be servant-leaders. Athletics at Milligan University plays an important role in fulfilling that mission. Milligan athletics consistently excels, as evidenced by a competitive ranking in the Learfield Director’s Cup. Milligan University seeks an athletic director who will continue this tradition of excellence and who will provide leadership in three primary areas:

1. Leading a continually deepening integration of athletics into Milligan’s Christ-centered mission.
2. Creating an environment that allows student-athletes and coaches to pursue and achieve excellence in the following areas: athletic performance, academic achievement, and the development of character modeled after Jesus.
3. Exercising strong fiscal management of athletics at Milligan University.

Director of Athletics

by Jaclyn Barton | Jan 15, 2026

• Milligan Job Opening
• Milligan, TN
• Posted 10 hours ago

Milligan University invites applications for the position of Director of Athletics. Milligan University exists to honor God by educating men and women to be servant-leaders. Athletics at Milligan University plays an important role in fulfilling that mission. Milligan athletics consistently excels, as evidenced by a competitive ranking in the Learfield Director’s Cup. Milligan University seeks an athletic director who will continue this tradition of excellence and who will provide leadership in three primary areas:

1. Leading a continually deepening integration of athletics into Milligan’s Christ-centered mission.
2. Creating an environment that allows student-athletes and coaches to pursue and achieve excellence in the following areas: athletic performance, academic achievement, and the development of character modeled after Jesus.
3. Exercising strong fiscal management of athletics at Milligan University.

As a Christian liberal arts university Milligan is focused on the holistic formation of students into the image of Jesus. Because of this focus, we are seeking an athletic director who has a clear vision for how athletics can be a vital part of Milligan’s Christian mission. At Milligan, we want our athletic programs to chart a course that is rooted in community, stability, and the development of our student-athletes as whole people. We seek to make athletics a critical component of developing our students to be men and women with deep character modeled after Jesus. We desire our student-athletes to graduate with resilience, with determination, and with the resolve necessary to overcome the obstacles they encounter in life. We believe athletic competition refines our student-athletes, teaches them self-mastery, and prepares them to pursue excellence in leadership and service to others when they graduate. It is in the pursuit of excellence and winning that our student-athletes develop and demonstrate their character. They learn to be gracious in victory and even-tempered in defeat.

Because athletics at Milligan is such an important tool in the fulfillment of our mission, we want it to be tightly integrated with the many other areas that carry our mission forward. We are seeking a leader who can strengthen the collaboration between athletics and academics because we believe the two working in tandem produce strong servant-leaders. We are seeking a leader who will aid in the coordination of our athletic programs and our campus ministry because we believe the combination of athletics and ministry can deeply shape our students to be more like Jesus. We are seeking a leader who will guide our teams to the highest levels of athletic success because we want the entire Milligan experience to be characterized by excellence that glorifies God. We are seeking a leader who will exercise sound financial management of our athletic programs because we believe God has called us to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us. We are seeking a leader who will collaborate with our enrollment team because student-athletes are an important part of our student body. We are seeking a leader who will personally model for our student-athletes and coaches what it looks like to follow Jesus and pursue excellence.

In addition to the employment application, resume, and names and contact info of three references, please submit written answers to the following questions related to the athletic vision above:

1. Milligan’s mission is to honor God by educating men and women to be servant leaders. If selected, how would you ensure that Milligan’s athletic programs remain deeply rooted in Milligan’s Christ-centered mission?
2. How would you collaborate with your colleagues to ensure that Milligan’s student-athletes were successful in the following areas: 1) athletic performance, 2) academic achievement, and 3) the development of Christ-honoring character?
3. How have you demonstrated sound financial management and stewardship in your career to this point? What concrete strategies would you use to make sure Milligan’s athletic teams are both sufficiently resourced and remain within budget?

A full job description is below. The operational details of the job should be understood within the framework of the mission and vision articulated above.

Application Process: Applicants should submit anemployment application, resume, the names and contact info of three references, and answers to the above questions via email to humanresources@milligan.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Questions about the position or application may be directed via email to the email address above.

Milligan is an equal opportunity employer and considers applications for all positions without regard to race, color, age, sex, national origin, disability status-if such disability may be accommodated without undue hardship-protected veteran status in provision of employment opportunities and benefits pursuant to federal requirements. Visit www.milligan.edu for information about the University and its mission.

Basic Job Responsibilities

• Ensure that Milligan’s athletic programs remain aligned with the mission and values of the university.
• Responsible for managing and developing all aspects of the intercollegiate and club sports programs, with a particular focus on budgeting and budget adherence.
• Lead the Athletic Department towards achievement of its enrollment and operational goals in collaboration with the VP for Enrollment.
• Directly supervises all head coaches and athletic support staff.
• Works in conjunction with the VP for Institutional Advancement to secure philanthropic contributions to support athletic programs and facilities.
• Develops a variety of events and programs in partnership with private businesses and individuals to generate marketing and promotional opportunities while providing additional financial support for the athletic program.
• Collaborate with PR and Marketing teams to produce excellent marketing and branding materials for Milligan Athletics.
• Serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet.
• Serves as area liaison with Trustees.

Strategic Priorities (Beyond basic job responsibilities, success is…)

1. Cultivating Strong Mission Focus in Athletics: Athletics at Milligan should not just be about wins and losses and the development of physical prowess. Athletics should be integrally involved in shaping our student-athletes into servant-leaders. To use the words of ancient monasticism, our sports teams should help train our students to become “moral athletes.”
2. Institutional Narrative: One of the key roles of any cabinet member is bearing an institutional narrative to their area of oversight. Within athletics at Milligan, this means helping our coaches and student-athletes develop a holistic and global understanding of the role of athletics at Milligan. Specifically, this will involve nuanced narratives about the budget implications of athletics, an institutional perspective on the interplay between athletics and academics, and diligently highlighting the centrality of Milligan’s Christian mission.
3. Organized Management: Athletics at Milligan is a complex and multifaceted enterprise. As such, it requires careful organization, strong oversight, and diligent management of people. On the financial side, roster management, budget management, and the management of athletic scholarships are of critical importance. Regular meetings with coaches to ensure they are hitting stated targets are essential. Because coaches play an integral role in forming our student-athletes into servant-leaders, diligence in hiring is critical. The character of our coaches is as important as their technical prowess in sport. As such, strict adherence to the hiring policies and a strong focus on mission-fit are essential skills.
4. Communication: Athletics has a unique need for a differentiated online presence (i.e. athletic branding) that still fits within the overall branding of the university. Striking this balance requires strong communication and collaboration with PR and marketing functions, which have ultimate responsibility for the Milligan brand. Similarly, athletic fundraising initiatives need to take place in collaboration and coordination with the overall goals of the advancement department. Any donors to athletics are ultimately donors to Milligan, so we need to ensure that all parties are aware of fundraising efforts and coordinated in approach. The athletic director must also serve as a bidirectional conduit of communication between the coaches and the administration, making sure the needs and priorities of each are communicated effectively to the other.

Skills

Demonstrated competency in leadership, administration, organizational management and interpersonal skills. Ability to work as a member of a team. Must be in agreement with the mission of the University and exhibit a maturing Christian faith. Must be skilled in dealing effectively face to face and by telephone with administration, faculty, staff, students, and prospective students and parents, and the university constituency at large.

Qualifications

Master’s degree required in a field related to higher education, collegiate athletics, and/or business management. Proven experience working with university students in the area of athletic programs, recruiting, facilities management, and fundraising.

To apply for this job email your details to humanresources@milligan.edu

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