Role, job scope, and status of high school athletic directors in South Dakota

The purpose of this study was to develop a comprehensive data base of the status, role, and functions of athletic directors in South Dakota. Because the position had never been formally studied in this state, school administrators and school board members had no reliable data base to use when making policy and personnel decisions.The population surveyed consisted of all 191 athletic directors in South Dakota. One hundred and seventy eight athletic directors responded for a return rate of 93.2%. Differences among Class AA (16 largest schools), Class A (next 64 largest schools), and Class B (111 smallest schools) athletic directors were calculated using a chi-square test of independence with significance at p-value <.05.The surveys and subsequential statistical tests revealed that the larger the school in South Dakota, the more likely athletic directors were assigned full-time status, administrative status, secretarial assistance, a greater weekly time commitment to their jobs, more sports to supervise, more staff members to supervise and evaluate, an administrator to supervise and evaluate them, and a higher part-time stipend. The larger the school, the less likely athletic directors were assigned coaching duties. Larger schools were also more likely to employ athletic directors with more years of experience in teaching and coaching than were smaller schools. Physical education was the primary undergraduate major of athletic directors.These findings suggest that school enrollment is an important variable determining the role, status, and job scope of South Dakota athletic directors. In addition, many athletic directors in the smallest schools were principals or superintendents who performed the duties of athletic director as a part of their overall administrative duties.Recommendations are made for improving role definition and further research.Department of Educational LeadershipThesis (D. Ed.