I would have a simple rule on whether this position is necessary - is there so much revenue generated by the football program you can afford to cover the cost of paying someone? Once the duties of running the non football side of a program become too much for boosters, then you might need this. I see this as a position that might be needed at bigger schools with high attendance at football games.

 

And see I don't see how anything you mentioned makes the position necessary. Big crowds at home games. Have multiple administrators on hand. All schools have assistant(s) principals. Most bigger schools also have assistant AD's. Why pay someone else, when you already staff people to handle any of the situations above?

Could be that part of the motivation to create this position at a school is simply for the prestige factor, or an "our school is more big time than your school" kind of thing.

 

Hope not and I doubt it right now. But, your point is well taken.

 

There was a time most high school's didn't have full-time AD's, or assistant AD's. But once that started trending, it was time for everyone to keep up with the Jones'.

I guess I could see this as a move to take the place of a "Boosters Club President". I would see this position as a full time booster president in charge of generating revenue for the program, i.e. selling adds, selling sponsorships, paying bills, ect. I've ran our boosters club for several years and I can say that sometimes it could be a full time job to do it right when you are talking about selling program ads, field ads, game ball sponsors, season sponsors; and organizing fundraisers for an organization that is incorporated with a gaming licenses and employe id numbers and tax id numbers and financial reports; and organizing meetings and working as a go between with school administration, the coaching staff, the school board, and parents.

 

That's not mentioning some of the duties that are done by many coaches that could be included in a position such as this, like, ordering supplies and equipment, scheduling, logistics, statistics, trading films, making highlight films, and other needed things.

 

I could see it.

 

What would the position pay?

I was chatting (email) with a head football coach here in our wonderful state recently and he told me he has a Director of Football Operations. Off the top of my head it sounds like a fantastic idea. How many schools have such a thing and good idea or bad idea?

 

 

Why does this sound like a "fantastic" idea? How much would you think such a position should be paid?

As a parent who works long hours on many of the fundraisers, I would want plenty of accountability for a position like this. Also, what happens in a down year in a program when the revenue drops off because of results on the field? How does this position get funded then? Certainly puts more pressure to win when you financially extend yourself like this. Personally, I would rather have two or three more assistants coaching than funding a position like this.

Why does this sound like a "fantastic" idea? How much would you think such a position should be paid?

 

No real idea on pay other than it can't be too much because most coaches are not paid very much for the time they put in.

 

Fantastic because ideally it would let the coaches focus on coaching.

Someone sent the below to me in a PM:

 

This is essentially my position at my school. It started out as a purely volunteer position about seven years ago, but I have been paid as an assistant coach for the last couple of years, though I have not asked for a penny once. My head coach, athletic director and principal made the decision to pay me, without my knowledge or approval, seriously.

 

1) Keeping physicals current.

2) Fundraising - setting up fundraisers, collecting money, making the deposits.

3) Setting up JV concession stand and gate workers, ordering of food, getting change for both.

4) Ordering equipment and keeping inventory.

5) Issuing of equipment and maintenance.

6) Setting up game transportation (usually school bus, but a few times on long games, we've taken a charter bus).

7) Pre-game meals - collect money from players, order food, pick up food, distribute food.

8) Putting together (or coordinating with a parent to do so) the season program.

9) Coordinate with local media for "Media/photo day"

10) Do all offensive stats in game on the sideline, do our team's defensive stats via film after the game, and contact/interact with media to distribute stats post game.

11) Non-certified athletic training (and since we don't have a certified athletic trainer, well...) during practice or at home games.

12) Washing of practice uniforms and issuing of those before practice daily ( though this is done mainly by our manager girls, I oversee that it gets done)

13) Monitoring and keeping records of the heat index every 30 minutes of practice and games until Sept 15th...and this is the ONE area that all parties agree that I outrank the head coach "The heat index is now 96. Equipment comes off (and breaks will occur every 30 minutes with ice towels." Or "the heat index is now 104...we are now moving inside to watch film!" That way, there is no "oh, let's just run this drill one more time" and then put our players in jeopardy. I also do a quick assessment of each player as they pick up their practice gear each day (though our head coach and assistants interact with each before practice, too) and get the feel for anyone that might not be feeling well ahead of time...and to keep an eye on that player.

What would the position pay?

Heck, I don't know. I'm not sure it's needed, I was just saying "I could see it", especially if the program had the resources to fund it. I guess the pay would be based on how the position was filled, it could be filled by an existing teacher that would be paid as an assistant coach, or it could be a previous volunteer of the program that is given as stipend as pay, or it could be classified as an assistant athletic director that deals with just football. I would say it would have to be based on the organizational structure.

Heck, I don't know. I'm not sure it's needed, I was just saying "I could see it", especially if the program had the resources to fund it. I guess the pay would be based on how the position was filled, it could be filled by an existing teacher that would be paid as an assistant coach, or it could be a previous volunteer of the program that is given as stipend as pay, or it could be classified as an assistant athletic director that deals with just football. I would say it would have to be based on the organizational structure.

 

And, contrary to what may posts may indicate, I'm not saying the position is a terrible idea under the right circumstances. If someone wants to volunteer for this type of position, hey you can never have too many right minded volunteers in any program.

 

It's when the position becomes paid, that I see a slippery slope develop. Ru posted a PM, and of the 15 things that were listed, almost all of them fall directly into the job responsibility of someone already being paid by the school.

I would say it would only be fair to say that Highlands DOF is Carolyn Smith. Anybody close to Highlands would agree that she is Dale's first in command.

And yes she is mother of Highlands / UK Derek Smith, wonderful lady who loves the kids and the program.

 

I can't honestly say that her title is DOF but it might as well be.......................................................

I would say it would only be fair to say that Highlands DOF is Carolyn Smith. Anybody close to Highlands would agree that she is Dale's first in command.

And yes she is mother of Highlands / UK Derek Smith, wonderful lady who loves the kids and the program.

 

I can't honestly say that her title is DOF but it might as well be.......................................................

 

Very nice person.

Someone sent the below to me in a PM:

 

This is essentially my position at my school. It started out as a purely volunteer position about seven years ago, but I have been paid as an assistant coach for the last couple of years, though I have not asked for a penny once. My head coach, athletic director and principal made the decision to pay me, without my knowledge or approval, seriously.

 

1) Keeping physicals current.

2) Fundraising - setting up fundraisers, collecting money, making the deposits.

3) Setting up JV concession stand and gate workers, ordering of food, getting change for both.

4) Ordering equipment and keeping inventory.

5) Issuing of equipment and maintenance.

6) Setting up game transportation (usually school bus, but a few times on long games, we've taken a charter bus).

7) Pre-game meals - collect money from players, order food, pick up food, distribute food.

8) Putting together (or coordinating with a parent to do so) the season program.

9) Coordinate with local media for "Media/photo day"

10) Do all offensive stats in game on the sideline, do our team's defensive stats via film after the game, and contact/interact with media to distribute stats post game.

11) Non-certified athletic training (and since we don't have a certified athletic trainer, well...) during practice or at home games.

12) Washing of practice uniforms and issuing of those before practice daily ( though this is done mainly by our manager girls, I oversee that it gets done)

13) Monitoring and keeping records of the heat index every 30 minutes of practice and games until Sept 15th...and this is the ONE area that all parties agree that I outrank the head coach "The heat index is now 96. Equipment comes off (and breaks will occur every 30 minutes with ice towels." Or "the heat index is now 104...we are now moving inside to watch film!" That way, there is no "oh, let's just run this drill one more time" and then put our players in jeopardy. I also do a quick assessment of each player as they pick up their practice gear each day (though our head coach and assistants interact with each before practice, too) and get the feel for anyone that might not be feeling well ahead of time...and to keep an eye on that player.

 

The above duties sound like the job of most current ADs to me. I really don't think a position like this is needed in most schools.

The above duties sound like the job of most current ADs to me. I really don't think a position like this is needed in most schools.

 

Anymore with all the paperwork and time needed to do these jobs posted, AD's need to be a full time position period. Either that or, they need Asst Ad or Director of Operations like this to help them. To many sports, to many athletes to put in a full day of teaching, and then be an AD.

 

These positions are very good, and more schools should consider them paid or not.

Anymore with all the paperwork and time needed to do these jobs posted, AD's need to be a full time position period. Either that or, they need Asst Ad or Director of Operations like this to help them. To many sports, to many athletes to put in a full day of teaching, and then be an AD.

 

These positions are very good, and more schools should consider them paid or not.

 

How many schools have an assistant AD? We've had one at Cov Cath since back before I can ever recall...

How many schools have an assistant AD? We've had one at Cov Cath since back before I can ever recall...

 

Only a few that I know of, in most districts the BOE pays for an AD, if the school wants/needs an Asst AD, it has to come from the schools general funds somewhere.