Method: The study employed an exploratory, descriptive research design using a quantitative electronic survey tapping a census of all ADs of NCAA Divisions I, II, and III. The survey sought demographic data from which career pathways were determined. Responses were obtained from 269 of 966 respondents for a 28% response rate. Descriptive and Chi-square statistics were used for data analysis. Results portrayed demographic characteristics, career pathways, and the relationship between variables identified in the research questions and the hypotheses.
Analysis/Results: Findings reinforced existing scholarship regarding the specific AD demographics of age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and sports affiliation, as well as number of years in key positions. Results from the descriptive analysis indicated men were more widely represented than women as ADs, with White men appearing in the greatest number in this post. White women and men were not distributed equally across the NCAA Divisions; women were more likely to serve as ADs in Division III institutions. Other categories of race/ethnicity include Blacks/Non-Hispanics, Hispanic/Latinos, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Asian, and those who self-identified as two or more races. The Masters was the most common highest degree earned. Education was the most common study field at both the undergraduate level and at the level of the highest degree earned. Across the highest degree earned, education was followed by sport administration/ management, business, science and technology, arts, communications, law, and medicine.
Conclusions: The study underscored the low distribution of race/ethnicity and gender among ADs across NCAA Divisions, with women disproportionally located in Division III institutions. Those ADs who have advanced degrees beyond the bachelor's degree are primarily credentialed in the fields of education and sport. There were more similarities than differences among the career pathways of ADs across the three NCAA divisions. Five sports emerged as involving the largest number of ADs having been both college athletes and head coaches in football, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball and softball. The pathways indicated that team sports played and coached versus individual sports played and coached were the key thresholds for advancement to the AD position.