The University of Alabama at Birmingham - Director of Athletics | Parker Executive Search

Birmingham, Alabama, About the Opportunity The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) seeks a visionary and innovative Director of Athletics to lead UAB Athletics during a transformative period in intercollegiate sports. As the leader of an 18-sport NCAA Division I athletics program competing primarily in the American Conference, the Director of Athletics will be responsible for advancing competitive excellence, supporting the academic achievement and holistic development of student-athletes, strengthening financial sustainability, and engaging the university, Birmingham community, alumni and supporters around a compelling vision for the future of Blazer Athletics. The next Director of Athletics will inherit a department with significant institutional momentum, including substantial investments in athletics facilities, strong academic performance and a growing university and community. At the same time, the rapidly changing collegiate athletics landscape creates an opportunity for an entrepreneurial leader capable of developing new revenue streams, strengthening philanthropy and corporate partnerships, maximizing media and brand opportunities, and strategically managing student-athlete revenue sharing and other emerging competitive investments. About the Role The Director of Athletics will report directly to President Dr. Ray L. Watts and Senior Vice President for Financial Affairs etics environment. The Director of Athletics will be responsible for establishing and executing a compelling vision for UAB Athletics, aligning departmental priorities with institutional objectives, and developing innovative strategies to strengthen competitive excellence, revenue generation, and long-term financial sustainability. The Director of Athletics will cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with University and University of Alabama System leadership, ensuring alignment with institutional and System priorities through transparent communication, accountability, and proactive engagement. The successful candidate will foster a culture of trust, transparency, collaboration, and accountability while creating an environment that supports the academic, athletic, and personal development and well-being of student-athletes. This leader will engage meaningfully with the UAB student body, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, corporate partners, and the broader Birmingham community to strengthen relationships, expand support, and elevate the visibility and impact of UAB Athletics. Responsibilities will include establishing departmental policies and strategic priorities; leading and developing staff, including approximately eleven or more direct reports; evaluating organizational structure and operational effectiveness; and strategically managing financial resources with signatory and/or budget authority. The Director of Athletics will ensure compliance with Title IX and applicable university, conference, University of Alabama System, and NCAA rules and regulations while promoting sound governance, ethical leadership, and institutional accountability. Additionally, this individual will oversee departmental fundraising and revenue-generation initiatives, represent UAB Athletics on internal and external committees, and serve as the department’s primary public representative and advocate. Key Duties & Responsibilities Strategic Direction & Organization Alignment • Develop, articulate, and execute a comprehensive, long-term vision for UAB Athletics that aligns competitive aspirations, departmental priorities, institutional objectives, and available resources. • Establish strategic priorities, measurable goals, and accountability measures to advance the department’s mission and position UAB Athletics for sustained success. • Provide strategic leadership in navigating the evolving intercollegiate athletics landscape, including conference dynamics, NIL, revenue sharing, and governance reform. Revenue Generation & Business Development • Develop and implement innovative revenue-generation strategies, including philanthropy, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, ticket sales, and other commercial opportunities, to diversify revenue streams and strengthen financial sustainability. • Establish and oversee departmental fundraising goals and strategies, actively cultivating relationships with donors, prospective donors, corporate partners, and other supporters. • Provide strategic oversight of departmental financial planning, budget management, and resource allocation to support competitive priorities and long-term sustainability. Organization Leadership, Culture, & Talent Management • Evaluate and strengthen the department’s organizational structure, operational effectiveness, and talent development strategies to support institutional and departmental priorities. • Recruit, hire, develop, and retain talented coaches, administrators, and staff while establishing clear expectations for performance, professional development, and accountability. • Foster a collaborative, high-performing organizational culture rooted in trust, transparency, professionalism, integrity, respect, and UAB’s shared values. • Promote effective communication, collaboration, and productive working relationships across all levels of the athletics department. Competitive Excellence & Resource Stewardship • Establish and maintain a culture of competitive and academic excellence across all UAB-sponsored athletic programs. • Evaluate competitive performance, establish clear expectations for coaches and programs, and strategically allocate resources to support sustainable success. • Provide leadership and oversight to ensure that athletics programs are positioned to compete successfully while maintaining responsible financial stewardship and operational effectiveness. External Engagement, Brand Development & Community Relations • Serve as a visible and compelling ambassador for UAB Athletics, strengthening relationships with alumni, donors, corporate partners, fans, and the broader Birmingham community. • Advance UAB Athletics’ visibility and brand recognition through strategic marketing, public relations, community engagement, and initiatives designed to expand fan support and attendance. • Actively engage with students, faculty, staff, alumni, community organizations, and other stakeholders to cultivate enthusiasm, strengthen institutional pride, and increase support for athletics programs. • Promote a constituent-focused approach to fan relations and engagement, creating a welcoming and positive experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and community supporters. Institutional Collaboration and Student-Athlete Experience • Establish and maintain productive partnerships with university leadership, faculty, administrators, student government, institutional partners, and other constituencies to advance shared priorities. • Align athletics initiatives with UAB’s broader institutional mission while identifying opportunities for collaboration across academics, student affairs, advancement, and other university functions. • Foster an environment that prioritizes student-athlete academic achievement, personal development, health, well-being, and overall experience. • Represent UAB Athletics effectively in university, conference, and other external matters, strengthening relationships and advocating for the department’s interests. • Maintain regular engagement with University of Alabama System leadership and Board stakeholders, creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue regarding departmental priorities, progress, challenges, and long-term strategic goals. Integrity, Governance, Risk Management, and Accountability • Ensure compliance with applicable university, conference, University of Alabama System, NCAA, and Title IX rules, regulations, and policies while promoting a culture of ethical leadership and institutional accountability. • Provide strategic leadership and guidance in navigating intercollegiate athletics governance reform and evolving regulatory requirements. • Foster a proactive approach to risk management, sound decision-making, and transparency, working collaboratively with institutional partners to protect the interests of UAB, its athletics programs, and student-athletes. • Model and uphold UAB’s shared values, demonstrating integrity, professionalism, and accountability in all aspects of departmental leadership. • Demonstrate an understanding of institutional and University of Alabama System governance structures, exercising sound judgment, diplomacy, and effective communication while navigating complex organizational priorities and decision-making processes. Minimum Qualifications:   Bachelor’s degree in a related field; advanced degree preferred Ten (10) years of related experience Significant experience in strategic and financial planning, as well as in organizational development and personnel management Experience in recruiting and hiring of exceptional coaches and athletic administrators Effective written and verbal and presentation skills, and the ability to communicate complex issues in a succinct and cogent manner to a variety of audiences Ability to build relationships and maintain leadership presence in all situation Ability to be a highly engaged and motivated leader Ability to be self-motivated with a high degree of personal initiative Ability to achieve strategic initiatives and attain organizational goals Analytical and problem solving skills Strong prioritization skills for competing requests and meeting diverse customer requirements Application Process:   The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) invites nominations and applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the university. Applications must include a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, and a list of references. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to Parker Executive Search’s website , by November 13, 2026. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.   Daniel Parker, Vice President and Managing Director DeLaina Sarden, Principal Wade Jones, Executive Recruiting Coordinator Parker Executive Search danielparker@parkersearch.com | dsarden@parkersearch.com | wjones@parkersearch.com 770-804-1996 ext. 116 | 770-804-1996 ext. 119 | 770-804-1996 ext. 135   UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran’s status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB’s Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix .   UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans. A pre-employment background check is performed on candidates selected for employment. In addition, physicians and other clinical faculty candidates who will be employed by the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation (UAHSF) or other UAB Medicine entities must successfully complete a pre-employment drug and nicotine screen to be hired.