Atlantic 10 Conference

THE ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE (A-10) STORY:

The Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) stands out as one of the most respected leagues in Division I athletics, blending competitive success with strong academic traditions and passionate fan engagement. While nationally recognized for its basketball excellence and wide geographic footprint, the A-10 also prioritizes broad-based athletic opportunities and student-athlete development. The conference sponsors a diverse range of Olympic sports, providing high-level competition in soccer, volleyball, field hockey, lacrosse, and tennis, among others. At the center of this success is the commissioner, a leadership role responsible for guiding strategic vision, expanding media and corporate partnerships, and advocating for member institutions. Together, the strength of the A-10 and the influence of its commissioner make the conference an important and dynamic force in collegiate athletics.

The A-10 was founded in 1975 as a basketball-focused collegiate athletic conference, originally formed by eight schools in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Throughout the late 20th century, the conference established itself as one of the premier non-Power Five basketball conferences in the country. In the 1990s, the conference enjoyed national success with teams regularly appearing in the NCAA Tournament, which elevated the conference’s reputation for producing tough, well-coached basketball teams.

Today, the A-10 is known for its depth, balance, and consistency, particularly in men’s and women’s basketball. The conference is committed to pursuing and achieving multiple NCAA Tournament bids each year and having their member institutions compete on a national stage. In addition to men’s and women’s basketball, the conference is also home to nationally competitive teams in many Olympic sports, such as soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and lacrosse. Overall, the A-10 stands as a highly stable, aggressive, and respected conference, blending tradition with adaptability while continuing to play an important role in the landscape of college athletics.

Position Overview:

The A-10 Commissioner serves as the chief executive officer of the league, responsible for providing strategic leadership and advancing the conference’s competitive, athletic, and institutional mission. This role oversees all conference operations, including governance, regular season and championship administration, media rights and revenue distribution, compliance with NCAA regulations, and relationships with member institutions. The Commissioner represents the A-10 at the national level, working closely with the NCAA, media partners, and other top conferences, while guiding long-term planning that strengthens the conference’s brand, stability, and visibility in an evolving collegiate athletics landscape.

In addition, the Commissioner plays a critical leadership role in aligning presidents, athletic directors, and other stakeholders around shared goals and values. This includes supporting student-athlete well-being and academic success, promoting inclusion and belonging, and positioning the conference to adapt to changes such as NIL policy, conference realignment, and shifting media models in constant pursuit of multiple NCAA bids in men’s and women’s basketball. The position requires a balance of vision, diplomacy, and operational expertise, ensuring the Atlantic 10 remains competitive and respected while upholding its tradition of integrity and excellence in both athletics and academics.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Partner with and serve the A-10 Presidents, Athletic Directors, SWAs, FARs and coaches who are in direct, day-to-day contact with the student-athletes.
• Promote collaboration, consensus, and open communication among the A-10 members.  When there is disagreement and/or conflict, work to build consensus and seek creative solutions.
• Display thought leadership, working collaboratively with the other leaders of intercollegiate athletics.  Ensure continued consideration of the A-10 as an innovative pioneer, and in constant pursuit of excellence.
• Help guide a long-term strategic agenda for the A-10 that unites all stakeholders in facing national trends and issues that threaten the stability of all non-Power 4 conferences. Innovation and agility should be the hallmark of the A-10 in this regard.
• Serve as the strong outspoken voice of the A-10 both within the conference and on the national stage.
• Serve as the primary champion of the conference’s mission, vision, strategic plan, emphasis on academic excellence, and support of the student-athlete experience.
• Ensure that the A-10 keeps its rich basketball history and tradition, including that of receiving multiple bids in the NCAA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournament year in and year out.
• Understanding that resource availability and basketball traditions vary across the conference, work with the Presidents and AD’s to set minimum expectations and create incentives for the success of each school and the league as a whole.
• Keep the A-10 a diverse league while remaining academically focused and staying within the current geographical footprint.
• Identify and create new revenue growth opportunities not only for the conference collectively but also for the schools individually.
• Analyze and assess the key business relationships and contractual commitments not only at the conference level but also assist A-10 schools in benchmarking key agreements.
• Recruit, retain, develop and lead a group of talented and diverse support staff at the conference office level.  
• Meet regularly with key stakeholders at the membership institutions, the media, and commercial partners.
• Review and evaluate partnerships going forward, including with media partners, sponsors, co-branding opportunities, sponsor activation, and licensing, not only at the conference level, but also in support of the schools.  Find ways to reset and reinvigorate how the A-10 of the future conducts and optimizes its business.
• Champion Title IX initiatives and drive a strong commitment to diversity, in all forms, within athletics.  Recognize and acknowledge the challenges facing all student-athletes, including ones from diverse or marginalized backgrounds.  
• Prioritize and advance initiatives and programs that foster an equitable and inclusive A-10 community supporting the economic, social, psychological and emotional needs of all stakeholders, most importantly student-athletes.
• Strengthen the overall strategic direction of the conference by raising national visibility of the conference, pursuing new branding and digital and broadcast opportunities, and identifying new opportunities for conference revenues and greater financial success.
• Upgrade and market the conference brand and sponsorship opportunities and expand the distribution of conference-related content.
• Represent and advocate for the interests of the conference among Division I members, in the NCAA, and at other relevant associations or organizations concerned with intercollegiate athletics.
• Form alliances with other similar, basketball-minded schools to keep the conference pertinent on a national level.
• Develop and oversee an analytical and innovative basketball approach to non-conference and conference scheduling.
• Work with Washington, DC and Congress to ensure that the A10 is always in the picture in an ever-changing world of college athletics.

Qualifications, Skills and Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's or other post-graduate degree in athletic administration, education, business, law, public policy or related field preferred.
• An intellectual curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning; demonstrated commitment to academic integrity, student-athlete graduation rates and student-athlete wellness.
• Strong executive presence with the proven ability to inspire and mobilize others in an organized way to carry out a compelling and coherent vision. Strong yet humble.
• Innovative thinker who is intellectually curious and thoughtful about the future of college athletics.
• Strategic leader who has the ability, and determination, to form a broad consensus among presidents, athletic directors, staff, and other constituents.
• Possesses the foresight of where we are today, but most importantly, where we are going tomorrow as it pertains to conference realignment, innovation, programming, and growth opportunities.
• Must possess demonstrated eagerness to interact with, understand, and relate to student-athletes, athletic administrators, presidents, other commissioners, coaches, media, and all stakeholders, etc.
• Deep understanding of intercollegiate athletics and current issues facing Division I Intercollegiate athletics, including NIL and collectives, the potential impact of student-athletes being reclassified as employees, conference realignment, and issues arising from the NCAA Transformation Committee and how they will impact the strength and viability of the conference. Demonstrated experience working in relation to the NCAA.
• A strong work ethic; great attention to detail; the ability to balance conflicting goals and agendas; the ability to make difficult decisions as part of a team; ability to effectively respond to and learn from criticism; strong negotiating skills.  
• Demonstrated experience in a strategic leadership role, with a record of anticipating future trends, and staying ahead of trends.
• Appreciation for the importance of academic excellence in student-athletes’ development and performance.  The successful candidate shall embody the tone and tenor of an educator, coach, business leader and public servant.
• Experience in marketing and branding, digital and broadcast media, and business development.
• Demonstrated experience or potential capacity to recruit, develop, and manage talented and forward-thinking administrators with comprehensive skill sets and backgrounds.
• Effective communication and organizational skills, and ability to work with a variety of constituents simultaneously.  Proven ability to inspire and empower a highly diverse team.
• Demonstrated commitment to, and success in advancing, multi-dimensional diversity and creating an inclusive environment, assuring gender equity and full compliance with Title IX.
• A track record demonstrating wise judgment in complex situations, flawless personal and professional integrity underpinning a deep knowledge of and experience with all applicable rules, a record of success in meeting legal, regulatory, and/or other compliance standards.  
• Commitment to the mission, values, and identity of the conference.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, collaboration and team building skills.
• Is relentless in their commitment to bettering the A-10 and its member institutions.
• Experience with strategic planning and proven success developing and implementing visionary and forward-looking goals and strategies.  
• Understands the urgency of the moment and articulates a compelling vision and multiple potential paths to achieve it. While not necessarily seeking difficult conversations, is comfortable with them and does not shy away from confrontation or tough decisions.
• Deep, sophisticated basketball knowledge and connections that can keep the A-10 as a basketball-centric conference and multi-bid league in the NCAA Tournament.
• Understands Washington, DC, Congress, and grassroots campaigns.
• Not afraid to make tough decisions.

Any interested candidates should contact ZRG directly.
Contacting the A-10 will only delay consideration of your qualifications.

Application Process:

• Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and references  at www.ZRGPartners.com/jobboard.

ZRG’s Commitment:

At ZRG, we do not just accept differences—we celebrate and support them. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital or partnership status, military or veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. TurnkeyZRG is an equal opportunity employer and workplace, and we encourage applicants of all backgrounds & communities to apply.