Scheduled for Free Communication: Coaching Concerns, Challenges, and Responsibilities in Sport, Friday, April 11, 2008, 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM, Convention Center: 202C


Coaching and Fund-Raising Responsibilities in NCAA Division II Programs

Randall A. Nichols, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA and Carl Bahneman, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

NCAA Division II schools sponsor a variety of athletic programs. Sometimes, as many as 15 to 25 men's and women's varsity athletic teams are supported on a single campus (NCAA, 2003b). With the exception of football and men's basketball, few sports generate significant revenue, and in many cases, these sports rarely produce enough revenue to cover their own expenses (Fulks, 2004). This is especially true in NCAA Division II. The costs of operating athletic programs on a competitive basis with quality coaching staffs, facilities, equipment, etc. are substantial (Pickle, 2004). Athletic directors and coaches are being required to become actively involved in athletic fund-raising in order to secure and build their programs (FDCH, 2001). The purposes of this study were: (1) to describe the fund-raising efforts and expectations of head coaches at NCAA Division II baseball and football programs (2) to determine which fund-raising activities are financially successful; (3) to describe how money that is raised through fund-raising is utilized by NCAA Division II baseball and football programs; and (4) to describe the duties and responsibilities of NCAA Division II head football and baseball coaches including their fund-raising responsibilities and expectations. The data were collected via a survey instrument sent to all (n= 122) of the institutions that offer both baseball and football at the NCAA Division II level. Purpose specific data indicated that a 79.3% of head baseball coaches are responsible for coordinating their programs fund-raising efforts while 42.2% of head football coaches have this responsibility, the most successful fund-raising activities for baseball programs are fund-raising events, while football programs raise a higher percentage through solicitation of alumni and individuals with athletic interests. Money raised by these programs was used differently with baseball programs using a 75.3 % of the money raised for travel and equipment, while football programs used 85.4 % of the money raised for capital improvements and recruiting. The role responsibilities of the head coaches outside of coaching vary with 80.5 % of baseball coaches having additional responsibilities in teaching, athletics, admissions, and residence life, while 26.3 % of football coaches have these similar responsibilities outside of coaching. Data analysis also revealed that head baseball coaches are expected to raise a higher percentage (21.88%) of operating costs than are football coaches (9.06%).


Keyword(s): coaching, college level issues, sport topics

Back to the 2008 AAHPERD National Convention and Exposition (April 8 - 12, 2008)