Career Center

Established on September 4, 1899, Tarleton State University (Tarleton) offers the value of Texas A&M University System with its own brand of personal attention, individual opportunities, history, and community. With over 120 undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a doctorate in education program, Tarleton’s eight academic colleges give all Texans the opportunity to achieve their career dreams. These academic colleges include Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business, Education, Graduate Studies, Health Sciences, Liberal and Fine Arts, Science and Mathematics, and The Mayfield College of Engineering. This high level of academic achievement is boosted by Tarleton’s student-to-faculty ratio of 23-to-1.

Under the leadership and direction of Tarleton’s 16th President, Dr. James Hurley, who was unanimously appointed in August 2019 by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, Tarleton has become one of the country’s fastest-growing comprehensive public universities. This trajectory has been made possible through the Tarleton Forward 2030: Our Future-Focused Strategic Plan. Dr. Hurley’s leadership has aided the elevation of Tarleton’s academics and research, increased enrollment to over 16,000 students during the 2023 academic year, increased retention rates to record levels, boosted the 6-year graduation rate to the top 25% in the nation, elevated fundraising, athletics, and national exposure, and made Tarleton one of the most affordable public universities in the state.

About Tarleton State Athletics

The mission of the Tarleton athletic department is to provide an experience that offers student-athletes the opportunity to compete at a high level of scholarship athletics while excelling in the classroom and fully engaging in the broader campus. This mission is structured to develop student-athletes to create a sense of teamwork, sportsmanship, and competitiveness. Those who buy into this mission will walk away from Tarleton with high integrity, a sense of belonging, physical well-being, recognition, understanding and compassion, emotional intelligence, discipline, perseverance, civic engagement, and loyalty.

Tarleton State University’s athletic program was accepted as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) and NCAA Division II on January 10, 1994. During their 26-year reign in the LSC, the Texans compiled 36 LSC Championships, nine LSC tournament championships, and 14 NCAA regional championships across 14 NCAA sports. The Texans were also able to capture eight individual national championships in track and field.

On July 1, 2020, the Texans became the ninth full-time member of the NCAA Division I Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Currently, 15 of the 17 Tarleton sports compete in the WAC. The football team competes at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level in the newly formed, United Athletic Conference, which is a merger of the ASUN-WAC football partnership that was rebranded in April of 2023. The newly added beach volleyball program is a member of Conference USA.

Position Overview

Serving as a member of the President’s Executive Cabinet, the Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics will provide leadership, guidance, and fundraising for Tarleton State University’s Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. This individual will be responsible for monitoring the quality of the Tarleton athletics programs, work with student-athletes, faculty, and administrators to advocate the importance and value of a strong and competitive athletics program. Related tasks will include providing leadership for maintaining communication, compliance and effective working relationships between the University, NCAA, The Texas A&M University System, and the local community.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides strategic and visionary leadership of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics to create an environment that enhances student-athletes’ growth and development and the overall student-athlete experience in alignment with the University's Mission Ensures and strives for excellence in academics and athletics with unwavering integrity, while embracing access to opportunities, good sportsmanship, and ethical conduct at all levels.

• Directs divisional strategic planning process, establishes and drives divisional assessment and benchmarking efforts to support institutional priorities.

• Oversees the administration of Intercollegiate Athletics, while maintaining accountability for its design, operation, and evaluation, ensuring compliance with institutional, WAC Conference, NCAA, and state and federal laws and Title IX regulations, guidelines, and requirements.

• Supervises athletic staff to improve student-athletes’ satisfaction and ensure momentum towards strategic goals of the University and Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. Supports the professional development of the administrative and coaching staffs in promoting their accomplishments and establishing positive morale and relationships.

• Creates and maintains systems that promote student-athlete learning and development outside the classroom. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships and communications with faculty, administrators, trustees, staff, student body, alumni, and the local community regarding Intercollegiate Athletics sports programs, with specific attention to recognizing that students must find a balance between athletic endeavors and academic success in a rigorous academic setting. • Fosters a welcoming environment by working collaboratively with campus constituents to facilitate positive change for all student-athletes. Collaborates and builds relationships with the campus community to develop/provide additional opportunities to enhance the student-athletes experience.

• Supports and advances the university’s commitment to recruitment of the highest caliber of student-athletes, while promoting accessible and inclusive learning and working environment, providing educational opportunities amenable to their athletic commitments, and developing them into leaders on campus and in their communities.

• Informs the President and Provost of emerging or ongoing issues in areas of responsibility including student-athletes’ concerns with actionable recommendations.

• Leverages University resources (academic and non-academic) to support student athletes’ retention including collaboration with academic partners to identify supports to student-athletes’ success.

• Leads the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics in facilitating unit-wide assessment evaluation including data collection, data management, dissemination, and consultation.

• Provides and assumes primary responsibility for the budget, policy development, staffing, and planning for the division.

• May serve on an on-duty rotation within the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics for significant issues or emergencies.

• Develops plans to enhance the revenue-generating capacity of Intercollegiate Department through the external functions of the department including fundraising, brand management, ticket sales, sponsorship, media, and marketing.

• Responsible for preparation and/or implementation of projects or reporting as assigned by the President.

• Completes, updates, evaluates, and maintains an active Institutional Effectiveness divisional/unit plan(s) and evaluation strategy/strategies which link to the University Strategic Plan and the unit budget and provide for the documentation of the use of assessment results for continuous quality assessment and improvement.

• Builds and maintains collegiate relationships with the WAC, NCAA, and participates actively in conference meetings and activities.

• Leads the development of Intercollegiate Athletics fundraising goals and strategies and works closely with the Division of Institutional Advancement to meet strategic needs and work with alumni, and the broader Tarleton community to increase financial support for Tarleton’s Intercollegiate Athletics.

• Possesses a strong and ethical business acumen with the ability to navigate and manage the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics.

• Serves as an outgoing, enthusiastic, and eloquent spokesperson for Tarleton Intercollegiate Athletics and the student-athletes when called upon at the many public engagements.

• Serves as a Campus Security Authority (CSA).

• Responsible for all division-required report preparation and dissemination.

Application Process

Tarleton State University invites nominations and applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University. Applications must include a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, and list of references. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to Parker Executive Search’s website by January 8, 2023. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.

For additional information, please contact:

Daniel Parker, Vice President and Managing Director

Grant Higgison, Principal

Xavier Harper, Executive Recruiting Coordinator

ghiggison@parkersearch.com | xharper@parkersearch.com

Parker Executive Search

770-804-1996 ext. 118 | 770-804-1996 ext. 123

Tarleton State University provide equal opportunity to all employees, students, applicants for employment, and the public regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, or veteran status. Tarleton State University will promptly and thoroughly investigate all complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment, and related retaliation in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, A&M System Policy 08.01, and Regulation 08.01.01, and university rules and/or procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience supervisory positions within a NCAA D1 intercollegiate athletic program.
• Experience with personnel management, budget management, development, external relations, and marketing.
• Demonstrated success in revenue generation for Athletics.
• Experience in the oversight and administration of budget and/or financial management and personnel management.
• Demonstrated planning and assessment skills.
• Demonstrated record of success in improving the management, quality, operations, and customer service within a major division of an institution.
• Excellent leadership and organizational skills.
• High ethical standards.
• Demonstrated effectiveness as an administrator in positions of increasing responsibility in higher education.