With college football season staring us in the face, recent graduates and experienced sports job seekers have already begun their search for the perfect NCAA football job. While it might seem there’s a countless supply of vacancies, applicants should do their homework to find the right position that fits their needs.
Because of the wide variety of college football job openings being advertised by both small and large programs, qualified candidates should follow their passion rather than apply to jobs that might not be suitable for them. It’s also important to remember that some positions require additional hours in the evening and on weekends. Finding an NCAA job that’s a good match for your skills on a personal and professional level should be a high priority.
Graduates from Division I schools which had winning football programs may not enjoy working at Division II or III schools that are less talented with a fraction of the national exposure. Another factor in deciding where to apply might be the weather. Applicants accustomed to year-round warm temperatures should think before pursuing football jobs in colder climate states.
Getting hired for a college football job that you truly love can be a daunting task. It takes time and research to determine if your dream job will become a reality. In no particular order, here are eight of the best NCAA football jobs that await job hopefuls seeking a career in college athletics.
Top NCAA Jobs in Football to Consider
1. Director of Football Recruitment
It’s National Signing Day and all eyes are on you. This is undoubtedly one of the most important jobs in college football, but it’s also a position that’s often underappreciated.
During the recruitment process, it’s the assistant coaches who are hitting the recruiting trails and establishing crucial relationships with prospective recruits. However, it’s the recruiting director who handles all the details and is the master planner behind the scenes.
This is not a job for someone who desires a 9-to-5 workday. Not only is this a time-consuming position with a staggering amount of responsibilities, but even the smallest controversy or mistake could result in the school being placed on NCAA probation.
2. Director of Football Gameday Operations
Welcome to the big leagues. If you have excellent people skills and want a football job with non-stop action, look no further.
To be successful, this detail-oriented position requires superior management skills. Not only will you be responsible for coordinating security, broadcasting, and parking operations at all home games, you’ll also be supervising game-day personnel. And that’s just a small portion of your duties. Directing game operations is not for the faint of heart. Much like NFLoperations, there’s a heavy workload of planning before each game, and on game day you must be comfortable making quick decisions in a fast-paced environment. But if you have what it takes, this directorial NCAA football job can be very self-fulfilling.
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3. Director of Athletic Performance
If your dream is to make the college football team but can’t play football, aspiring to be the director of athletic performance might be the next best thing. As director, your primary job will be helping student-athletes stay healthy by teaching them how to keep their bodies in peak physical condition.
One of the coolest parts about this college football job is that you’ll have the opportunity to rub shoulders with players. Besides keeping records of their individual workouts, you’ll also be assisting each student-athlete with their injury rehabilitation.
Another perk about being the athletic performance director is that you’ll be watching every game from the sidelines. Even though you’ll be assisting injured athletes and monitoring performance, you’ll still have a great view of all the action.
4. Director of Ticket Operations
Selling tickets to sporting events can be more fun than work. This job requires impeccable customer service and math skills, but this could be a dream sports job for the right person.
This position is responsible for the entire ticket office operations, which means you’ll have heavy contact with students, alumni, and the public. Although there are strict NCAA guidelines and state laws that must be followed, the perks of this NCAA football job outweigh all the regulatory demands. If you like working in a fun environment with high customer service interaction, this department is tailor-made for you.
5. Director of Video Production
If you have a knack for creating video content, you might want to consider an NCAA football job in video production. This is a terrific position for someone with a passion for film production and digital media. Much like the director of football recruitment, this job requires working evenings and weekends.
But imagine getting paid to do something that you truly love. Furthermore, supervising the video department will help showcase your talents to an entire region. How cool is that? The next time you see college football highlights on a video scoreboard, or streaming clips of press conferences and post-game interviews, you could be admiring your own production skills.
6. Equipment Manager
Being an equipment manager might not be the most glamorous sports job, but it’s an essential part of a college football program and comes with an assortment of perks. Not only will you be interacting daily with both coaches and players, you’ll be on the football field so much that you might consider it your second home.
This management job requires long hours and good organizational skills. Besides overseeing uniforms, equipment, and footwear for the team, you and your staff will also be responsible for equipment repairs and the storage of all inventory. Unlike some of the entry-level college football jobs, you may be appreciated a bit more in the athletic department.
If you’re not afraid of hard work and being around dirty laundry, this is the perfect career choice in NCAA football. The next time you’re watching a football game, it’s a good bet you’ll see an equipment manager on the sideline making repairs.
7. Administrative Coordinator: Football Recruiting
If you enjoy the process of recruiting talented high school prospects, this is the football job for you. Although you’ll need exceptional communication and organizational skills, this position will allow you to personally interact with some of the nation’s top players.
Football recruiting is high-energy, and it’s likely you’ll be wearing many hats. Not only will you be developing recruiting videos, you’ll also help with on-campus visits, social media, and special projects. Despite the pressure, helping to elevate the program to new heights will make this job in NCAA football worthwhile.
8. Football Office Manager
Do you possess problem-solving skills? If so, you might be a perfect fit to manage the front office of a football program.
To be successful in this position, you’ll need to be flexible with excellent administrative abilities. This college football job requires you to assist the coaching staff with a variety of clerical tasks including travel reimbursements, ticket distribution, and scheduling.
Your supervising talents will also be tested as you’ll be responsible for hiring and managing a staff of student employees. If you’re up to the challenge, this is a rewarding job that plays a key role in the daily operations of a football team.
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