SPECIAL GUEST POST FROM DAN CHRISTENSEN 

In college athletics, the on-campus interview is rarely a “final check.” It is a high-stakes, multi-stakeholder audition for leadership.

While your win-loss record and tactical philosophy got you in the door, they won’t necessarily get you the keys to the office. On campus, you are being evaluated by a disparate group of stakeholders, from the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) and student life staff to fellow coaches and student-athletes. They aren’t just looking for a coach, they are looking for a brand ambassador, a risk manager, and a coalition builder.

To leave campus as the clear choice, you must shift the room’s perception from “this is a strong candidate” to “this person is already our head coach.”

Here are three essential “Dos” and three critical “Don’ts” to help you command the room and close the deal.

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SPECIAL GUEST POST FROM DAN CHRISTENSEN 

When I used to do recruiting consulting for college coaches, I always strongly recommended that they develop some kind of detailed grading scale for recruits.

There is certainly a “gut” or “feel” factor when evaluating a player. Experienced coaches often know when someone looks like a good fit.

But when you define categories that matter to you in a recruit, and then numerically grade and rank them, it creates a much more consistent process.

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SPECIAL GUEST POST FROM DAN CHRISTENSEN 

In the modern landscape of college athletics, your first interview doesn’t usually happen on campus, it often happens on Zoom. Whether you are interviewing with a search firm or a 6-person committee, the virtual interview is no longer a mere screening tool. It is a high-stakes evaluation of your leadership and personality.

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SPECIAL GUEST POST FROM DAN CHRISTENSEN 

In the high-stakes world of athletics hiring, we often treat the on-campus interview like a deposition. We put candidates in front of search committees, donors, and school presidents to see if they can handle the heat. But we often forget a fundamental truth: The candidate is interviewing you just as much as you are interviewing them. [Read more…]

SPECIAL GUEST POST FROM DAN CHRISTENSEN 

For tuition-driven institutions, athletics is often a primary lever for enrollment. When a search committee doesn’t prioritize recruiting and cultural systems, they often inadvertently sign off on a multi-year financial deficit.

As an Athletic Director, you aren’t just hiring a strategist; you are hiring a revenue driver and a culture architect. Here are the three major consequences of failing to get that hire right.

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