Intercollegiate Athletics Recruiting

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At Funk Associates, we’ve brought an industry-leading boutique perspective to higher education search. With our extension of services into recruiting athletic leadership, we are breaking new ground and empowering institutions to build winning teams both on and off the field.
In today's competitive environment, attracting top talent is essential for success. Over the course of nearly 500 President searches, we’ve become intimately familiar with the integral role athletics play in the life of colleges and universities, and it’s a space where we know we can add value.
Our extension into the space bridges the gap between academic and athletic leadership recruiting, offering comprehensive solutions for institutions seeking to elevate their athletic programs. In bringing a broad institutional perspective, our goal is to help universities seamlessly integrate athletics into their broad institutional vision, ensuring a cohesive approach to strategic priorities across the enterprise.
Funk Associates' athletics leadership search services are tailored to meet the unique needs of colleges and universities seeking to recruit top-tier athletic directors, coaches, and other key leadership positions within their athletics departments. With our deep expertise in executive search and our commitment to excellence, we help institutions identify and attract exceptional talent to lead their athletics programs to new heights of success.

Here's an overview of our athletics leadership search services:

  1. Needs Assessment: We begin by conducting a thorough needs assessment in collaboration with the institution's leadership team and athletics department stakeholders. This involves understanding the institution's strategic goals, vision for its athletics program, and the specific leadership qualities and qualifications desired for the role.
  2. Targeted Search Strategy: Leveraging our extensive network and industry knowledge, we develop a targeted search strategy to identify and attract qualified candidates for the position. This may include reaching out to potential candidates through direct outreach, networking, and leveraging our collective rolodex of contacts.
  3. Candidate Recruitment and Screening: We conduct a rigorous screening process to identify candidates who meet the qualifications and criteria by the hiring authority. This includes conducting initial interviews, and assessing candidates' qualifications, experience, and fit with the institution's culture and values.
  4. Candidate Evaluation and Presentation: We present a select group of highly qualified candidates to the institution's leadership team for consideration. Our presentations include detailed candidate profiles outlining each candidate's background, qualifications, leadership style, and suitability for the role.
  5. Interview Coordination and Support: We coordinate and support the interview process, including scheduling interviews, facilitating candidate meetings, and providing guidance and support to the institution's leadership team throughout the interview process.
  6. Offer Negotiation and Placement: Once a preferred candidate has been identified, we assist the institution in negotiating an offer and finalizing the terms of employment. We provide support and guidance to ensure a smooth transition and successful placement of the selected candidate into the athletics leadership role.
By partnering with Funk Associates for athletics leadership search services, institutions can access our extensive network, industry expertise, and proven track record of success in recruiting leadership talent. Our goal is to help institutions build winning athletics programs and achieve their strategic objectives through the recruitment of exceptional athletic leaders.

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InterCollegiate Athletics Recruiting

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