Director, Student-Athlete Management

J  o  b    D  e  s  c  r  i  p  t  i  o  n

Job Information:

Title:

Director, Student-Athlete Management

Classification Title:

Academic Professional

Job Location or Region:

Urbana-Champaign - 133

Job Description Reason:

Vacancy

Appointment Type:

Permanent

Position Number:

UD3669

Position Class Code:

NABDA-DIR  ATHRC INTCL

Employee Group:

B - Academic Professionals

COA:

1 - Urbana

Organization Code:

336000

Organization Name:

Intercollegiate Athletics

College/Administrative Unit:

NU-Div Intercollegiate Athletics

HR Information:

Full Time Equivalent (FTE):

1

Is this position Security Sensitive?

Is this a Protection of Minors position?

Purchasing Authority of $5,000 or more?

Supervisory Authority of 20 or more?

Regular Driver?

Organizational Relationship:

Chancellor

Director of Athletics

Deputy Director of Athletics, Chief Operating Officer

Associate Director of Athletics, Student-Athlete Management and Administration

Director of Student-Athlete Management

PRIMARY POSITION FUNCTION/SUMMARY

The Director of Student-Athlete Management plays a vital and hands-on role in the administration, coordination, and delivery of programs and services dedicated to supporting student-athletes as a result of the House Settlement. Working under the guidance and leadership of the Associate Athletics Director, this position is responsible for executing established strategies, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and institutional policy. The Director serves as a critical liaison for revenue sharing, scholarship allocations and roster management and other related student-athlete benefits for assigned sports and is and will collaborate among coaches, staff, and campus partners in the daily management and continuous improvement of student-athlete experiences.

•

Leadership and Collaboration

 • Support the department’s comprehensive student-athlete management and benefits initiatives, ensuring strategic alignment, and effective collaboration acrossDIA and with the Big Ten Conference;

 • Serve as a department liaison for the distribution of institutional benefits to student-athletes per the House settlement for assigned sport programs;

 • Collaborate with the Office of University Counsel on contract development, negotiation, and execution matters for assigned sport programs;

 • Serve as a department liaison for the College Athlete Payment System (CAPS) and NIL Go systems;

 • Collaborate closely with senior leadership, compliance staff, and external partners to ensure all activities are aligned with NCAA, CSC, conference, and institutional policies;

 • Organize and conduct educational workshops, distribute official guidelines, and support the continuous education of student-athletes, coaches, and staff on emerging contract trends, changes in regulatory requirements, and evolving best practices;

 • Facilitate training sessions and ensure resources are accessible, up-to-date, and effectively communicated to all stakeholders; and

 • Serve as a visible, positive ambassador for University of Illinois and DIA in all public-facing responsibilities, creating stronger partnerships with our various communities (local, regional, state, campus, and industry-specific).

50%

•

Student-Athlete Management and Benefits

 • Assist in the management and implementation of the student-athlete scholarship program, including the coordination of annual processes, communication of deadlines and requirements, and facilitation of information sharing between coaching staffs, academic advisors, financial aid officers, and other campus partners;

 • Engage with recruits, student-athletes, and their representatives regarding revenue sharing contracts, successfully promoting the academic and athletic programs;

 • Maintain detailed records of negotiations and finalized contracts;

 • Support the daily operations of student-athlete housing, including but not limited to oversight of room assignments, resolution of housing-related issues, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders such as housing services, coaches, and student affairs staff;

 • Lead and assist efforts regarding student-athlete roster transactions, collaborating with the offices of Compliance, Academic Services, Sport’s Medicine, sport programs, and the Sport Administration team;

 • Leverage data analytics platforms to collect, analyze, and interpret relevant data, supporting the department’s efforts to enhance student-athlete well-being and maximize benefits related to House settlements. Prepare regular and ad hoc reports for leadership, identify trends or issues, and recommend actionable improvements based on data-driven insights.

 • Actively support Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiatives; and

 • Ensure program adherence to university, NCAA, CSC and conference guidelines while providing consistent and transparent experience for all student-athletes.

50%

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree

At least three years of experience in or adjacent to college or professional sports of the entertainment industry.

Specialty Factors:

Preferred Qualifications:

Law Degree or Master’s in Business Administration, Sport Administration or related field

Experience in contract work within collegiate or professional athletics, higher education, or the entertainment industry; four years of experience negotiating, evaluating, and managing contracts

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong analytical and counseling skills, judgment, and empathy;

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong contract-drafting and negotiation skills;

• Knowledge of legal and regulatory developments at the federal and state level as it relates to major NCAA legal developments, student-athlete employment initiatives, name, image, and likeness, and other key matters;

• Willingness to learn new areas of law in a higher education environment;

• Demonstrated ability to navigate a large, complex organization, including excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills;

• Public speaking skills essential for the promotion of the athletics program to the University community.

Championship Mindset and Expectations

Understands and displays professionalism and integrity that builds and maintains trust between student-athletes and fellow DIA staff;

Prioritizes and contributes to the life changing student-athlete experience;

Adheres to University, DIA, Big Ten, and NCAA rules and regulations;

Commitment to the Athletics Department and University’s mission and values;

Flexible to various scheduling to include nights, weekend work and some holidays, team travel; and

Maintain professional competency and skills required for professional practice.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS

Providing this information helps ensure that the essential functions of the position are fully documented for the benefit of employees, applicants, and the university.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions Comments:

Manager Approval

Manager Approver

Taylor, Evan

Date Approved/Finalized

1/14/2026