Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine & Performance, Office of Athletic Training

Department Office of Athletics Job Posting Title Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine & Performance, Office of Athletic Training Job Description Fort Hays State University Athletics invites applications for the position of Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine & Performance. This senior leadership role offers the opportunity to lead an extensive team of highly skilled professionals within state-of-the-art sports medicine and sports performance facilities. The position provides strategic, administrative, and clinical oversight of all sports medicine, athletic training, sports performance, and student-athlete wellness operations in support of FHSU's NCAA Division II and varsity intercollegiate athletics program. The Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine & Performance serves as a key member of the Department's Administrative Leadership Team and is responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining an elite, evidence-based, and student-centered sports medicine and performance model that supports the health, safety, performance, and holistic development of all Tiger student-athletes. This position carries institution-wide impact, influencing student-athlete success, risk management, staff development, development initiatives, community partnerships, and the overall culture of health, wellness, and performance across the athletics department and university. Leadership Philosophy & Cultural Expectations The successful candidate will be a transformational, thought leader who: Establishes and lives a culture of excellence, accountability, integrity, care, and collaboration Serves as an engaged mentor to staff and student-athletes Leads with a forward-thinking growth mindset grounded in best practice, innovation, and continual improvement Champions interprofessional collaboration within athletics, campus partners, and throughout the regional medical and wellness community Demonstrates passion for building, sustaining, and advancing an elite NCAA Division II sports medicine and performance program Essential Duties and Responsibilities Administrative & Departmental Leadership Serve as a senior administrator within the FHSU Athletics Department, contributing to strategic planning, policy development, and departmental leadership initiatives. Provide vision, direction, and operational oversight for both the Sports Medicine and the Sports Performance teams. Develop, implement, and evaluate departmental policies, procedures, and protocols consistent with NCAA, MIAA, NATA, NSCA, institutional, and state regulations. Oversee sports medicine and sports performance budgeting, purchasing, inventory control, and long-term resource planning. Coordinate staffing models, scheduling, workload distribution, and performance evaluations. Ensure comprehensive risk management, documentation, credential verification, and compliance practices. Clinical Sports Medicine Practice Serve as a licensed, practicing sports medicine clinician, providing direct student-athlete care services as needed. Oversee injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and return-to-play decision-making in collaboration with Team Physicians and allied healthcare providers. Ensure adherence to NATA standards of practice, ethical guidelines, and evidence-based medical care. Provide mentorship and clinical leadership to athletic trainers, hybrid

ATC/CSCS

staff, graduate assistants, and interns. Sports Performance Leadership & Integration Provide administrative and strategic oversight of the Sports Performance program in alignment with NSCA and NCAA best practices. Ensure seamless integration between sports performance, athletic training, coaching staffs, and medical providers. Support data-informed approaches to student-athlete development, injury risk reduction, workload management, and performance outcomes. Promote consistent standards, expectations, and collaboration across all teams. Student-Athlete Holistic Health & Wellness Serve as the departmental leader for holistic student-athlete health and wellness, including physical, mental, and performance health. Oversee education initiatives related to nutrition, hydration, recovery, mental health awareness, substance use, and overall well-being. Collaborate with campus resources in Health and Wellness Services such as the Counseling Center, Student Health and Academic Accommodations along with the Wellness Center and academic partners. Provide leadership for drug & alcohol testing programs and student-athlete education initiatives. Interprofessional & Community Collaboration Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with: Team Physicians and local/regional hospital systems Physical therapy, occupational therapy, mental health, nutrition, and diagnostic imaging providers University partners across academic and health disciplines Serve as a liaison between Athletics, university administration, and external healthcare partners. Promote an integrated care model that prioritizes communication, trust, and shared decision-making. Outreach & Program Advancement Actively participate in departmental development efforts and donor engagement initiatives in collaboration with Athletics Development staff. Assist in securing resources, equipment, and professional development opportunities that elevate department capabilities and overall success. Serve as a visible ambassador for Fort Hays State University Athletics within the community and profession. Support camps, clinics, and educational initiatives aligned with departmental goals. Staff Mentorship, Education & Professional Development Recruit, hire, supervise, mentor, and evaluate professional staff, graduate assistants, interns, and student employees. Foster a culture of learning, professional growth, and leadership development. Encourage and support continuing education, credential advancement, and professional involvement (NATA, NSCA, NCAA). Model ethical leadership, accountability, and lifelong learning. Compliance & Standards Ensure full compliance with NCAA Division

II, MIAA

Conference, NATA, NSCA, state licensure, and institutional policies. Maintain accurate medical records, performance documentation, and compliance reporting. Lead education efforts related to health care policies, emergency action plans, concussion management, and risk mitigation. Work Environment & Expectations Flexible schedule with early mornings, evenings, weekends, travel, and emergency response as required. Physically active clinical and performance environments. High visibility leadership role within Athletics and the University. Required Minimum Qualifications CAATE Accredited degree in Athletic Training. BOC certified Athletic Trainer in good standing. Current or Eligible for Athletic Training Licensure in the State of Kansas at the time of appointment. Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in collegiate athletic training, with demonstrated supervisory or leadership responsibilities. Athletic training experience across multiple sports, including high‑risk and high‑volume sports Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive sports medicine services, including injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and return‑to‑play protocols. Demonstrated administrative and supervisory experience within a sports medicine or athletics healthcare setting, including: Policy and procedure development Budget planning and fiscal oversight Staffing models and coverage assignments Risk management and medical best practice assurance Comprehensive working knowledge of NCAA Division II regulations, the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook, and applicable Interassociation Consensus Statements related to student‑athlete health and safety. Demonstrated communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced collegiate environment. Ability to collaborate effectively with athletic administrators, team physicians, sports performance staff, coaches, mental health professionals, and campus partners. Demonstrated commitment to student‑athlete health, safety, and welfare, including adherence to NATA ethical standards and evidence‑based practice. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree or Terminal degree in a sports medicine or sports performance related field. NSCA Certified Performance & Sport Scientist (CPSS) certification. Previous experience in sports performance Experience providing or overseeing sports performance services at a football sponsoring institution. Comprehensive understanding of applied sports performance science, with the proven ability to support and guide the foundational and operational principles of a sports performance department. Proven ability to provide administrative leadership and oversight for a comprehensive sports performance team. Experience integrating sports performance models, including collaboration with strength and conditioning, nutrition, sports science, and wellness initiatives. Knowledge of contemporary load monitoring, injury surveillance, and performance technology platforms commonly used in collegiate athletics. Record of leadership within professional organizations, such as NCAA committees, NATA, NSCA, district or state athletic training or strength & conditioning associations.

Benefits:

To review our competitive benefit package, please visit FHSU Benefits.

Priority Deadline:

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Application Process:

To apply for this position, please visit FHSU Careers. Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.

Required Application Documents:

Applicants must submit letter of application addressing the qualifications listed above, a current resume, and the names and contact information of three references. Applicant documents must be submitted in one PDF. Community of Hays FHSU is located in Hays, a vibrant college town of approximately 20,000, located halfway between Kansas City and Denver on Interstate 70. Hays is the regional center for education, health care, professional services, shopping, culture, and recreation for the western half of Kansas. The community boasts excellent recreational programs and facilities, including the comprehensive Center for Health Improvement, Hays Aquatic Park, Smoky Hill Country Club, Hays Municipal Golf Course, and extensive walking, running, and biking trails. Hays is within 45 minutes of two large lakes that offer great opportunities for boating, fishing, and camping. The Hays Municipal Airport provides connecting service to Denver with several flights daily. The Hays community is home to excellent Pre-K and K-12, public and private schools. With over 60 restaurants, major retail outlets, a low unemployment rate, and very short commute times, the city provides a safe, welcoming, low-cost, high-quality living environment for the residents who call "Hays, America" home.

Notice of Non-discrimination:

FHSU is committed to providing equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, employment, services, and activities in compliance with federal and state nondiscrimination laws. FHSU prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression), age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its programs, activities, admissions, or employment.

Background Check:

Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check. Notice to KPERS retirees applying for a position: Recent legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for both you and your employer if you go back to work for a KPERS employer. Please contact your KPERS representative or www.kpers.org for further information on how this might affect you. Fort Hays State University was founded in 1902 as the Western Branch of Kansas State Normal School-a teacher's college. Our hometown, Hays, Kansas, is located on the high plains of north-central Kansas. The original home of the institution was on the grounds of Fort Hays, a Nineteenth-Century frontier military outpost. The state of Kansas initially intended the university's academic programs to focus on agriculture, but it opened in as a "normal" or teacher's college. Our mission is to develop the engaged global citizen-leaders our world needs. FHSU today is a regional comprehensive public university where determined, innovative, and caring faculty and staff share a deep commitment to teaching and mentoring students. Total enrollment at FHSU exceeds 14,000 students who pursue their educational goals on-campus, online, and at our two international partnership campuses in China. Employers tell us the combination of challenging academic programs, close faculty/student relationships, and the abundance of experiential learning opportunities our students enjoy while at FHSU set our students apart in competitive job markets worldwide. More than 95% of FHSU students secure jobs or higher education opportunities after they graduate. And FHSU consistently ranks among the top regional universities in the American Midwest. A pioneer in distance education, we began delivering correspondence courses to teachers in rural Kansas early in the 20th Century. Today, FHSU Online delivers more than 200 flexible, affordable, and high-quality online programs. Over the years, FHSU Online received many accolades, including U.S. News & World Report Online Programs rankings, GetEducated.com, Best Buys in Education, among others. The university has rich sports and cultural programming, all of which enjoy tremendous community support. The Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center is home to the Encore Series, which hosts many traveling Broadway shows, the Hays Symphony, university, and other national and world-caliber performances. The university supports one of the most extensive and successful intercollegiate sports programs of any comparably sized college or university in America, boasting numerous All-American athletes and eight national championships. Nearly 400 athletes compete annually in eight men's and eight women's sports. FHSU is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, which comprises 14 schools from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Click here to go back to the Job Listings. Visit the Fort Hays State University homepage at www.fhsu.edu.