ASU Law’s MSLB program and Women Leaders in Sports partner on updated analysis of NCAA athletic director career paths

Women Leaders in Sports (Women Leaders), in collaboration with
Associate Teaching Professor Stephanie Jarvis and research assistants from the Allan “Bud”
Selig Master of Sports Law and Business program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of
Law at Arizona State University, has released updated research findings on the
career paths of NCAA Division I, II and III athletic directors.

Since first partnering in 2017, Women Leaders and ASU Law have worked together to
examine hiring trends and career characteristics of administrators selected for athletic director
roles across all NCAA divisions. The research aims to provide deeper insight into the
pathways, education and experience that lead professionals to these top leadership positions
in collegiate athletics.

“While the representation of women and minorities in athletic director roles has remained
largely consistent, the five-year trends in career progression - particularly regarding
interdivisional movement and evolving experience pathways - offer powerful insights,” says
Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports. “These findings guide the continued evolution
of our programs and strengthen our efforts to prepare women leaders for advancement.”

The Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business Program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College
of Law at Arizona State University is honored and privileged to have the opportunity to share
its research with Women Leaders in Sports.

“ASU is proud of its partnership with Women Leaders in Sports in conducting this valuable
research,” says Professor Jarvis. “We hope that schools will continue to use the data to assist
in their leadership hiring decisions and the report will help future athletic directors make
informed decisions about their educational and professional paths.”

This research is based entirely on publicly available information gathered from institutional 
websites and other online sources. The research team reviewed hundreds of sites to compile
data on all current NCAA athletic directors. Data collection was completed on April 30, 2025,
and reflects leadership as of that date. Updates after that date will be included in next year’s
report.

Highlights from the report appear below:

Division I Trends

• Females comprised 15.7% of all DI Ads (no change YOY)
• Over 55% of newly hired ADs have graduate degrees.
• Increase of 3.3% for ADs with prior interim experience.
• Amongst DI female ADs, compliance as a previous work-related experience dropped by 8.8%.
• Power 4 AD minority representation dropped from 18.8% to 16.2%.
• 91.2% of Power 4 ADs have experience in college athletics prior to becoming AD.
• 63.2% of Power 4 ADs had previous AD experience.
• Increase in number of male P4 ADs hired this year with a decrease of 7.3% in female P4 hires.
• Overall increase in minority representation amongst newly hired, with an increase in 10% of African Americans.
• Number of newly hired ADs with previous work-related experience in Athletic Fundraising
  increased by 17.6%

Division II Trends

• Females comprised 26% of all DII Ads (+0.7% YOY)
• Minority representation increased overall by 1.3% in 2025 while female minority representation
  also increased by 0.7%.
• There were 74 DII ADs (24.7%) who transitioned directly from DI, an increase from 24 ADs (8%)
  in 2024.
• Athletic business operations surpassed athletic fundraising as the most common track for
  Division II ADs to their current role.
• Since last year’s report, the number of DII athletic directors with master’s degrees decreased by
  3.
• DII athletic directors with coaching experience decreased from 57.9% in 2024 to 56.4% in 2025.
• The number of Division II athletic directors with collegiate student-athlete experience increased
  by four in the last year.
• There were 37 newly hired Division II athletic directors in 2024 while in 2025 the number jumped
  to 58 new hires.
• The percentage of newly hired Division II athletic directors (ADs) who were African American
  declined from 21.6% in 2024 to 15.5% this year, while the number of newly hired DII ADs with
  graduate degrees increased by 6.1% compared to 2024.
• In 2025, 62.1% of newly hired DII athletic directors were collegiate student-athletes, an increase from the 54.1% in 2024.

Division III Trends

• Females comprised 33% of all DIII Ads (-1.8% YOY)
• Increase in minority representation by 1.4% in 2024-25.
• In both 2023-24 and 2024-25, athletic operations/facilities, compliance, and fundraising were the
  top 3 previous work-related experiences.
• 70% of DIII athletic directors previously worked in college athletics.
• Decrease in overall number of ADs with college coaching experience, but an increase in
  number of ADs with head coach experience.
• Of newly hired DIII ADs, increase in male representation by 4.9%, and a decrease in female
  representation by 4.9%.
• Amongst newly hired ADs, female minority representation had decrease in 2.8%.
• Increase in number of newly hired DIII ADs with graduate degree and/or MBAs.
• 3 more newly hired ADs had previous DI experience than in 2023-24.
• Of newly hired ADs, 14 more were college coaches than in 2023-24.

About the Sports Law and Business Program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law

The Sports Law and Business program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State
University is the only graduate program in the country that strategically combines law, business, and
athletics to teach and prepare the next generation of sports industry leaders. The program features an
innovative curriculum, experiential learning and faculty experienced in both the classroom and within
the industry.

The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, located in Phoenix, Los
Angeles, Washington, D.C. and online, boasts more than 10,000 graduates, features a world-class
faculty and consistently ranks among the nation’s top 20% of all law schools by U.S. News & World
Report. ASU Law offers students a personalized legal education and is committed to advancing the
next generation of professionals through its JD, three master’s and LLM degrees. Honoring its
namesake, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, ASU Law embodies her legacy of integrity, innovation and
dedication to public service.

About Women Leaders in Sports

Women Leaders in sports is a privately funded non-profit committed to transforming the landscape of
leadership in sports. Since its inception in 1979, Women Leaders has sparked a vibrant movement,
uniting over 6,500 members nationwide. Offering comprehensive programs and training, Women
Leaders empowers female sports executives at all levels with its invaluable networking opportunities,
career resources, and growth initiatives. Learn more at womenleadersinsports.org and follow on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.