Director of Athletics

Overview

Position Title:

Director of Athletics

Status:
Twelve Months, Exempt

Reports to:

Assistant Head of School

Direct reports:
Associate/Assistant Directors of Athletics, Athletic Trainer

The Director of Athletics will help Kents Hill School define and pursue a comprehensive, visionary future for the student-athlete experience. This position ensures our athletic and afternoon programs remain vibrant cornerstones of the community, rooted in our Core Values of Courage, Care, Integrity, Responsibility, and Curiosity. Central to this role is the ability to thoughtfully balance the needs of all students, providing robust support for athletes with collegiate aspirations while fostering a welcoming, high-quality environment for those exploring a sport or fitness activity for the first time.

The Director must maintain a proactive posture in program oversight, continuously reviewing and evolving the role of both athletics and afternoon activities to ensure they reflect the Kents Hill mission. By leading with foresight and innovation, the Director will ensure that every student, regardless of skill level, finds a meaningful and transformative path through our athletic and co-curricular programs.

• Strategic Athletic & Activity Leadership:
  Experience in sports and co-curricular administration, with a sophisticated understanding of the unique ecosystem of independent boarding schools and their robust afternoon programs.
• Operational Excellence: A track record of mastery over complex logistics, including multi-sport facility management, intricate scheduling for competitive leagues (e.g., NEPSAC or MAISAD), and diverse afternoon activity program development.
• Regulatory Knowledge:
  Familiarity with the governance and policies of independent school athletic associations, ensuring institutional compliance and competitive integrity across all sports and structured afternoon offerings.
• Inclusive Program Development:
  Proven ability to curate a comprehensive afternoon experience that serves the entire spectrum of the student body from high-performance athletic training and collegiate recruitment pathways to recreational options and artistic pursuits.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  
  Ability to act as a key institutional partner, working alongside the Academics, Admissions, Advancement, Facilities, and Finance teams to ensure all afternoon initiatives drive enrollment and reflect Kents Hill’s fiscal and philosophical priorities.
• Talent Management & Equity:
  Demonstrated success in scouting, hiring, and nurturing a diverse coaching and activity staff, with a focus on professional growth and equitable representation.
• Administrative Efficiency:
  Exceptional managerial skills, including the ability to manage departmental budgets and lead a lean administrative team through a culture of shared ownership and mutual accountability.

• Presence & Relationship-Building: A highly visible leader who leads by example on the sidelines, in the hallways, and within activity spaces, cultivating deep trust with students, faculty, and families.
• Empathetic Communication:
  An articulate and thoughtful communicator who provides clarity and transparency in all interactions related to both athletics and activities, whether delivering a public address or handling private correspondence.
• Holistic Student Focus: A heartfelt commitment to the "student" in student-athlete, prioritizing the emotional, physical, and character development of all students.
• Focused on Trust & Integrity:
  Shows a nuanced ability to build trust across departments and communities, balancing empathy with firm boundaries to uphold school culture and standards in all afternoon programming.
• Inclusive Visionary: A leader who moves beyond compliance to actively foster a culture of Built on Belonging, ensuring every student feels valued within the Kents Hill athletic and afternoon activity community.
• Pragmatic Stewardship:
  Thrives in the “all-in” boarding environment by fully embracing daily operational demands—from equipment management to facility readiness—recognizing that attention to every detail directly enhances the…