University of Michigan

Background

Founded in 1817, the University of Michigan is the nation’s top public university.  Michigan has been a pioneer and leader in higher education for more than 150 years and stands today as the aspirational model for educators around the world.  Recognized for academic excellence, groundbreaking research, innovation, and public service, we serve more than 68,000 students and 668,000+ living alums.  Our alumni are unmatched in scale, global reach, success, and recognition with global leaders in business, government, education, health care, engineering, technology, the arts, and, yes, sports.

Michigan Athletics is the envy of sports organizations everywhere.  We are known not only for our championship pedigree, (Michigan has won more than fifty national championships across thirteen sports), but also for our century-long commitment to a broad-based athletics program to compete at the highest level in every single one of our 29 NCAA-sanctioned sports.  We are student-athlete focused, which is a central component of our mission.   We are looking for a Director of Athletics whose values match the highest-caliber standards set by our student athletes including their commitment to integrity, teamwork, and excellence.

Position Summary

The University of Michigan seeks an experienced, accomplished leader to serve as its next Director of Athletics (AD). Reporting to the University President, the AD will provide comprehensive leadership, strategic direction, and oversight of Michigan Athletics, with accountability for the overall integrity, performance, and success of the department.

Without compromising Michigan’s core values or sacred traditions, the AD will bring a forward-thinking vision to anticipate the future of college athletics and build a department positioned for sustained excellence. Today’s evolving collegiate athletics landscape requires a nimble, adaptable, and open-minded leader with strong business acumen, sound judgment, innovation, and a growth mindset. Equally important, the AD must be a hands-on, day-to-day operational leader who ensures Michigan Athletics consistently advances the University’s institutional priorities and tradition of excellence.

Historically, Michigan’s AD has been responsible for overseeing both competitive excellence and financial sustainability. Recognizing the increasing complexity of the collegiate athletics landscape, Michigan is embracing a new organizational model that separates athletic department leadership from the day-to-day management of commercial and revenue-generating operations. This model establishes distinct executive leadership for two critical areas: competitive excellence and departmental operations, led by the AD; and commercial strategy and revenue generation, led by a commercial leader and team.

Competitive Excellence and Departmental Leadership

First and foremost, the AD will serve as the department’s principal leader and subject matter expert in competitive excellence, maintaining a strong focus on student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and athletic performance. The AD will drive championship-caliber men's and women's programs grounded in integrity, accountability, and competitive excellence while prioritizing student-athlete well-being, safety, academic achievement, and holistic development.

The AD will provide comprehensive oversight of the department's sport programs, coaches, personnel, and operations, ensuring resources, facilities, and departmental priorities are aligned to support sustained competitive success. Financial stewardship within the department will remain a key responsibility, including budget development, resource allocation, operating expense management, and capital planning to support the department's competitive and operational priorities.

The AD will serve as Michigan's primary athletics representative in matters pertaining to competition and institutional athletics leadership, including engagement with the media, Big Ten Conference, NCAA, University leadership, and other key stakeholders.

Commercial Strategy and Revenue Generation

Michigan is establishing a new organizational model in which responsibility and accountability for commercial and monetization strategy, revenue generation, and business operations will reside with a dedicated commercial leader. This leader will bring specialized business expertise and commercial leadership to drive revenue growth, monetize and optimize existing revenue streams, develop new business opportunities, and strengthen the department's long-term financial sustainability.

Under this model, the AD will not have direct, day-to-day management or operational responsibility for revenue-generating activities. Instead, the AD will serve as a valued, collaborative partner ensuring alignment between the department's competitive and institutional priorities and its commercial strategy. The AD will collaborate with the University President and key stakeholders in establishing the organizational structure, attracting and supporting an accomplished commercial leader.

This model allows the AD to concentrate on being the AD, i.e., leading the athletics department, its people, programs, and competitive mission, focusing on student athletes, allocating the expenditure and use of such revenue, complying with all NCAA, Big Ten and other rules, while allowing the commercial leader to concentrate on monetizing and maximizing revenue opportunities. Together, these distinct but highly complementary roles will position Michigan Athletics for sustained competitive excellence and long-term financial strength.  Michigan faithful will know this phrase: “You can’t have one without the other.”  While the exact structure and governance model has yet to be determined, it is anticipated both roles will report to the University President.

Duties and Responsibilities

(not exhaustive):

• Student-athlete health & wellness, academic advancement and competitive excellence.
• Executive leadership, organizational design & development, and human capital.
• Department administration, financial planning, budgeting, and cost controls.
• Facility planning, operations and administration.
• Compliance with Federal, State, NCAA, Big Ten and University rules & regulations.
• Communications and external relations.

Other Qualifications, Skills & Requirements

(not exhaustive):

• Bachelor’s Degree required.  Advanced degree in athletics administration, business, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
• Minimum 10 years leadership experience in sports, entertainment, or related industry.
• Commitment to student-athlete well-being, academic success, gender equity, and institutional integrity.

Michigan welcomes candidates from intercollegiate athletics, professional sports, and sports-adjacent industries who demonstrate strong leadership, commercial acumen, and the ability to advance the University’s mission.

Commitment to Integrity, Accountability, Compliance & Organizational Effectiveness

University of Michigan athletics has earned a national reputation for excellence on the playing field and in the classroom, inspiring extraordinary pride and passion among students, staff, alumni, fans, and supporters. Our aim is to continue to pursue the highest standards of excellence, integrity, competitiveness, and accountability, in the face of extraordinary and ongoing changes to the regulatory and financial landscape of Division I college athletics - which may yet include significant and unprecedented shifts in federal policy - as well as recent challenges specific to Michigan Athletics, including a recent internal investigation, culture review, and ongoing litigation. Following significant investigation and external review the University and its leadership are considering whether and to what extent to implement the resulting recommendations in order to strengthen integrity, accountability, compliance and organizational effectiveness.  Please click here for more information regarding the investigation, culture review, and resulting recommendations: July 2026 internal athletics culture review and reporting recommendations.

ZRG’S Commitment

At ZRG, we do more than 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. ZRG is an equal opportunity employer and workplace, and we encourage applicants of all backgrounds & communities to apply.