Director of Athletics

About California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Cal Poly, one of 22 universities in the California State University (CSU) system, was founded in 1901, and is one of only a handful of comprehensive polytechnic universities in the nation, with approximately 22,000 undergraduate, 120 post-baccalaureate, and 700 graduate students. A primarily undergraduate university, Cal Poly offers 64 baccalaureate degrees and 32 master’s degrees. Cal Poly is among seven top California schools — and the only California State University campus — to receive 5-star recognition in Money magazine’s 2023 Best Colleges rankings, along with 34 other schools including such Ivy League universities as Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Columbia. U.S. News and World Report has ranked Cal Poly #1 among public master’s universities in the western United States for 31 consecutive years.

Cal Poly is known for its “Learn by Doing” philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in areas such as engineering, architecture, agriculture, science, business and humanities. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world.

The University is organized into eight divisions: Academic Affairs, Administration and Finance, Strategic Enrollment Management, University Development and Alumni Engagement, University Communications and Marketing, Research, University Personnel, and Student Affairs.

POSITION SUMMARY:
Cal Poly’s Athletics Director (AD) provides visionary leadership for a department of over 100 coaches and staff who are deeply committed to the development of 500 student-athletes across 20 varsity programs, overseeing the administration and development of a competitive Division I intercollegiate athletic program. Reporting to the President, the AD is tasked with fostering academic success, athletic excellence, and overall welfare of the student-athlete, while promoting a positive culture to ensure student success. The AD works closely with multiple internal and external constituencies to advance the University’s mission, strategic objectives, and goals. Additionally, the AD represents Cal Poly and the Department with a high degree of integrity while ensuring compliance with the mission and policies of the university and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as well as the Big West, Big Sky and Pac-12 Conferences.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide visionary leadership, strategic planning, and policy development that is committed to the university’s mission and strategic priorities.

• Entrepreneurial leader who is willing to think outside of the box when solving problems or seeking opportunities while demonstrating knowledge of current issues across the intercollegiate athletic landscape (e.g. House settlement, revenue sharing, private equity, NIL, transfer portal).

• Management of personnel, including coaches, administrators, and support staff.

• Develop revenue opportunities and relationships with constituents on and off campus, including fundraising and prospect development in coordination with University Development and Alumni Engagement.

• Prioritize measurable academic success of student-athletes, including retention and graduation.

• Ensure full compliance with the rules and regulations in areas such as NCAA, Big West Conference, Big Sky Conference, PAC-12 Conference and the university.

• Provide sound decision-making.

• Assist in formulating policies and procedures at the conference level for governing athletic programs.

• Evaluate annually all athletic team programs, coaches, and staff to effectively achieve short and long-term strategic goals.

• Recruit, hire, supervise, evaluate, and develop coaches, and administrative staff within the Department of Athletics. Ensure that the Athletics Department has highly competent and diverse employees who are committed to not only winning, but to the welfare of student-athletes and to compliance with rules and regulations.

• Financial management of the Athletic Department and oversight of the budget to ensure that strategic use of resources and fiscal integrity is maintained.

• Manage a culture of accountability for Head Coaches and Supervisors related to annual operating budgets and personnel budgets.

• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, fostering open communication and positive relationships with coaches and staff to enhance team collaboration and performance.

• Commitment to elevating the student-athlete experience by prioritizing high academic success along with the health, welfare, and total development of student-athletes.

• Be an inspiring and innovative leader with great vision who can creatively connect with and motivate various stakeholders.

• Maximize visibility of the Athletic Department through effective public relations and media relations efforts and seek opportunities to strengthen relationships with local and regional media, and work to expand broadcasting of athletic events.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree required, with an advanced degree preferred.

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience in collegiate athletics administration.

• Working knowledge of NCAA Division I athletics programs and what is required to achieve success at that level within the changing policy landscape.

• Demonstrated high integrity and ethical standards.

• Excellent organizational, management, planning and marketing skills.

• Demonstrated ability to represent the institution with professionalism and knowledge.

• Ability to consistently achieve athletic, academic, and financial results, even under tough circumstances and thrive in fast-paced, high pressure environments.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Comprehensive knowledge and experience with FCS athletics programs and Division I basketball as well as major issues and trends across the NCAA landscape (e.g. NIL, transfer portal, House settlement, revenue sharing).

• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and develop staff and coaches.

• Experience in cultivation and stewardship of donors and in successful fundraising.

• Visionary leader who can garner philanthropical support for programs and students.

• Ability to communicate effectively. Develop and deliver multi-mode communications that support the unique needs of different audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to develop ongoing relationships with season ticket holders, members of the local community, and donors.

• Knowledge and experience with athletics-related budget, finance and accounting and experience in presenting financial summaries to key stakeholders.

APPLICATIONS: The position will remain open until filled; but, for best consideration, applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of application and resume electronically via: www.csasearch.consulting by Monday, August 25, 2025. No hard copy applications will be accepted. Nominations for the position and questions concerning the job requirements or hiring process should be directed to: mlanoue@csasearch.consulting.

SALARY: Commensurate with experience.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.