Analyzing every job posting across College Athletics last year to identify market trends in 2025.
41,165 College Athletics jobs were posted in 2024. What a year! 🤯 Coaching jobs accounted for 21,238, while administrative positions totaled 19,927.
Intercollegiate was introduced to the world in 2024, which stands alone as the most comprehensive job board in college athletics. Its extensive database features every job posting across College Athletics, allowing you to analyze every job from every school.
So, we put Intercollegiate to work. After tracking an entire year of the College Athletics job market, we’re ready to share our findings to enable you to navigate your career path more effectively in 2025 and beyond 💯
Overview: Job Postings Year in Review
In total, 41,165 jobs were posted across collegiate athletics in 2024:
- Coaching jobs: 21,238
- Administrative jobs: 19,927
On average, 791 jobs were posted per week, equaling 3,430 job postings each month. However, not all weeks and months are equal – a full calendar year of job market analysis taught us that the seasonality of college sports creates peaks and valleys of job openings in the market.
2024 was defined by an offseason hiring surge from April to August, with June marking the single busiest month for job postings. Coaching roles dominated during this period, while administrative positions showed more consistent demand throughout the year. The quieter months of September through November reflected the operational focus of athletic departments during the “crossover season” of fall and winter sports.
January–March: A Measured Start
The year begins with relatively modest hiring activity, as departments remain focused on supporting winter and spring sports. Fall sports’ off-season results in higher volume during this time than the latter third of the year, but this period is not typically associated with high-volume hiring. However, strategic job seekers may find opportunities to stand out with fewer applications in the pool.
April–August: The Offseason Hiring Surge
The most prominent hiring period spans April through August, aligning with the conclusion of spring sports and the onset of summer. This window represents a strategic time for departments to reevaluate staffing needs, finalize coaching changes, and execute budget-driven administrative hires before the next fiscal year begins. Coaching positions tend to dominate in volume, as programs seek to solidify staff rosters for summer workouts and fall seasons. Administrative hiring also surges, driven by planning for the upcoming academic year and initiatives like facility upgrades, fundraising campaigns, and compliance updates.
- June as the Peak: June consistently emerges as the single most active hiring month, as it sits at the intersection of fiscal deadlines and the heart of the offseason. Both coaching and administrative job postings peak during this time, making it a critical target for job seekers.
September–November: Crossover Season and Decline
From September through November, job postings decline sharply, reflecting the operational demands of the “crossover season,” when fall and winter sports overlap. During this period, hiring takes a back seat to the logistical challenges of managing overlapping competitions, staffing events, and ensuring compliance across multiple sports. Administrative roles may still open sporadically, often tied to immediate departmental needs or unplanned vacancies, but coaching opportunities remain scarce.
December: A Strategic Rebound
The December data reveals a subtle but noteworthy uptick in job postings compared to November. This suggests that some athletic departments use the quiet period after fall championships to address staffing gaps before the new year. Job seekers can leverage December as an early-bird opportunity, positioning themselves ahead of the broader January surge.
Recommendations for Job Seekers
The data underscores the importance of timing in the job search process. For those in the College Athletics industry, the April-to-August period should be a primary focus, as this is when hiring is most active. However, December also presents a hidden gem of opportunity for proactive applicants aiming to get ahead of the competition. Professionals should set realistic expectations during the fall, when postings are at their lowest.
Administration Jobs Breakdown
19,927 job openings were posted across administrative categories in 2024. Departmental categories that posted the most jobs were:
- Sports Medicine: 4,509
- Facilities, Event Operations, and Equipment: 4,170
- Marketing, Communications, Content Creation: 3,268
- Student Services: 3,145
- Business, Finance, & HR: 1,152
- Development: 1,040
- Ticketing: 748
- Compliance: 727
- Senior Leadership: 522
- External Relations: 483
Coaching Jobs Breakdown
21,238 coaching job openings were posted in 2024. Sports with the most jobs posted this month were:
- Football: 2,867
- Soccer: 1,584
- Women’s Basketball: 1,456
- Volleyball: 1,280
- Track and Field: 1,208
- Men’s Basketball: 1,194
- Softball: 1,066
- Baseball: 883
- Lacrosse: 879
- Cross Country: 809
Key Observations and Trends
Understanding the seasonality of College Athletics’ job market could be critical in your next job search. Let’s dive a level deeper, comparing and contrasting hiring trends between coaching jobs and administrative positions.
January-February: Admin Positions Lead The Way
The year begins with administrative jobs outpacing coaching positions. This trend reflects the early-year focus on structural and operational needs within athletic departments. These roles are critical, as departments gear up for the end of fiscal planning cycles and the start of spring sports.
March–July: Coaching Jobs Take Over
Starting in March, coaching job postings surpass administrative openings, a trend that continues through July. The peak discrepancy occurs in June, where coaching jobs (2,857) significantly outnumber administrative postings (1,780). This period aligns with the offseason hiring surge, as programs prioritize filling coaching vacancies to prepare for summer training and the fall season. These months are particularly pivotal for job seekers in coaching roles, as the urgency to solidify team leadership drives high demand.
August: A Narrow Margin
In August, the gap between coaching and administrative jobs narrows considerably, with coaching positions maintaining a slight edge. This suggests that while the offseason hiring spree for coaches is winding down, administrative roles begin to rise as departments transition into preparation for the academic year.
September–December: Administrative Jobs Regain Dominance
From September onward, administrative job postings once again outpace coaching roles. The dominance of administrative roles during these months reflects the operational focus of athletic departments during the busy crossover season, where logistical, compliance, and event management tasks take precedence over hiring coaches.
In December, both categories experience a modest rebound, though administrative roles maintain their lead. This uptick likely reflects end-of-year adjustments and preparation for the upcoming fiscal and academic cycles.
What We Can Learn
- Seasonal Hiring Cycles Vary by Role: The data clearly illustrates that administrative and coaching jobs follow distinct seasonal patterns. Coaching positions dominate in the heart of the offseason (April-July), while administrative jobs are more consistent throughout the year with a less exaggerated mid-year peak than coaching.
- Football Jobs Are Pivotal To Q1’s Rise in Postings: With nearly 2x the amount of job postings than all other sports, football plays a massive role in the College Athletics job market. Football’s regular season concludes alongside the calendar year’s end, creating the seasonal rise in demand for coaches and sport-specific supporting roles from January on, as programs look to fill and backfill vacant positions.
- Timing is Crucial for Job Seekers: Professionals targeting coaching roles should understand that the highest frequency of job postings occur in the April-to-July window. Conversely, administrative job seekers have a broader, more continuous hiring window with less extreme peaks and valleys.
- Crossover Season Reflects Operational Priorities: The shift to administrative hiring dominance in the fall underscores the operational intensity of this period. Professionals in administrative fields should leverage this time to secure roles directly tied to in-season demands.
Predictions for 2025
Looking ahead, the trends suggest that 2025 will likely follow a similar rhythm. The continued influence of NIL policies, potential shifts in NCAA regulations, and evolving budgetary constraints may impact hiring patterns. Nonetheless, the April-to-August offseason will remain pivotal, making it the most advantageous time for the majority of job seekers to act.
Get the Most out of Intercollegiate
With intercollegiate, it’s easy to keep tabs on the entire market and plan your next move. Intercollegiate.co showcases every job from every school, giving job-seekers the peace of mind to find everything they need in one place.
Pro tips for navigating Intercollegiate:
- Explore the latest job openings by narrowing your search filters. For narrowed results, tailor the search to a specific state, conference, salary minimum, or even a specific school.
- Example: Enable “active and expired job posts” to view compensation trends from previously-posted positions.
- Use Intercollegiate Wire to its fullest potential by using filters and keyword searches to narrow the Wire to showcase personnel movements relevant to your niche.
- DI and DII Coaches and Admins can claim and customize their free profile to create custom alerts, bookmark job posts, view personnel profiles across College Athletics, and so much more.
- All others can create a free account to unlock similar features.
FAQs
How many jobs were posted in collegiate athletics in 2024?
In 2024, a total of 41,165 jobs were posted across collegiate athletics, with 21,238 coaching roles and 19,927 administrative positions.
When was the busiest hiring period in 2024?
The hiring surge occurred from April to August, with June marking the peak month. This period aligns with the conclusion of spring sports and the start of the offseason, when departments focus on staffing for summer preparations and the upcoming academic year and associated seasons.
What sports had the highest number of coaching job postings in 2024?
Football led the way with 2,867 job postings, followed by soccer (1,584) and women’s basketball (1,456). These sports demonstrate the high demand for coaching positions across collegiate programs.
Which administrative categories had the most job openings?
The top administrative categories in 2024 were:
- Sports Medicine: 4,509 postings
- Facilities, Event Operations, and Equipment: 4,170 postings
- Marketing, Communications, and Content Creation: 3,268 postings
These categories highlight the operational and infrastructure needs of athletic departments.
What should job seekers know about seasonal hiring patterns?
- Coaching Roles: Focus on the April-to-July window, when hiring peaks.
- Administrative Positions: Expect a steadier demand year-round, with smaller peaks in January, June, and December.
- Fall Decline: From September to November, job postings dip as departments manage in-season operations.
How can job seekers leverage Intercollegiate to navigate the market?
Intercollegiate provides a comprehensive database of every job from every school. To maximize its value:
- Use advanced filters to tailor your search by state, conference, or salary.
- View both active and expired job postings to analyze compensation trends.
- Claim your free profile (DI and DII coaches and admins) to set custom alerts, bookmark jobs, explore personnel profiles, and more.
