Slow season continues for college coaching and admin job postings. Marketing, Comms, and Content Creation Jobs lead the way with 130 postings. Fall sports that recorded more openings than October include soccer, football, and volleyball.
Thanks to Intercollegiate’s extensive database that features every job posting in collegiate athletics, we’ve compiled a “by the numbers” report to showcase trends. Whether you’re a coach, administrator, or job seeker, understanding these trends can help you navigate your career path more effectively.
Job Postings Overview
1,161 jobs in collegiate athletics were posted in November. Coaching jobs accounted for 546 postings, while administrative positions totaled 615.
Our last three reports (August, September and October) have shown a decline in college athletics job postings, and November continued the trend. The downward trajectory can be attributed to the academic year being in full swing, fall and winter sports coinciding, and the calendar year coming to a close.
The chart above depicts job postings rising sharply from January and peak in June, aligning with a hiring surge in the offseason. A steady decline follows in July through the present, with the effects of “crossover season” showing itself in the data in October and November. When searching for the most optimal time of year to hunt for jobs, this data should be kept in mind.
While many sports and admin classifications posted less jobs than in October, a few areas yielded positive demand. Let’s dive into November’s numbers.
Administrative Jobs Breakdown
615 job openings were posted this month across administrative job categories, which marks an 18% decrease from October. Departmental categories that posted the most jobs were:
- Marketing, Communications, Content Creation: 130 (-7% job postings from the month of October)
- Facilities, Event Operations, and Equipment: 124 (-26%)
- Sports Medicine: 103 (-24%)
- Student Services: 89 (-9%)
- Business, Finance, & HR: 62 (+27%)
One unique trend worth noting: Marketing, Communications, and Content Creation had the most job postings of any category for the first time in 2024, identifying the ongoing need for professionals in this niche.
Pro Tip: Check out our Definitive Guide to Marketing, Communications, and Content Creation jobs for an in-depth look at the field.
November marked the fifth month where more administrative jobs were posted than coaching.
According to the data, there is more demand for administrative roles than coaching in the months of September – February, while March – August featured more coaching job openings than admin.
Coaching Jobs Breakdown
546 job openings were posted for college athletics coaching, which is 6% less than October’s total. Sports with the most jobs posted this month were:
- Soccer: 88 (+100% job postings from the month of October)
- Football: 82 (+121%)
- Volleyball: 45 (+64%)
- Track and Field: 37 (-10%)
- Baseball: 22 (-20%)
- Lacrosse: 21 (-35%)
- Cross Country: 20 (-5%)
- Women’s Basketball: 20 (-62%)
- Tennis: 19 (-27%)
- Softball: 19 (-69%)
Comparing the numbers to previous months, November saw major shakeups in data trends. Some fall sports saw higher demand as their seasons concluded. Soccer, football, and volleyball all saw more job postings in November than the month prior, while the rest of the top ten continued to decline in job postings. Soccer topped the charts for the first time this year, as November brings playoffs for some programs and coaching changes for others.
With winter sports in full swing, coaching jobs for in-season sports reached all-time lows for 2024. November marked the first month in 2024 that basketball (men’s and/or women’s) were not in the top five.
Last month we referenced “crossover season,” and the effects of fall and winter sports’ overlap means that more coaches are in-season, resulting in less job openings. That held steady in November, but coaching job openings should start to trend upward next month.
Top Job by Salary
Intercollegiate hosts two unique features that allow us to share this data. Salaries and pay details, when provided, are displayed on Intercollegiate’s site, allowing you to filter by pay to help you find a job that meets your needs. Open and expired job posts remain visible, allowing you to see key data such as the last time a search was conducted for the respective job.
In the month of November, here were the highest-paying jobs of postings that listed a salary range:
Get the Most out of Intercollegiate
While the job market slows with the school year in full swing, 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.
- Create a free account to unlock the ability to bookmark job posts, create custom email alerts, view profiles of the 50,000+ personnel across college athletics, and more.
FAQs
How many job openings were posted in collegiate athletics in November 2024?
A total of 1,161 jobs were posted, with 546 coaching positions and 615 administrative roles. This reflects a continued decline in postings during the slower hiring season.
What trends were observed in administrative job postings in November 2024?
Marketing, Communications, and Content Creation jobs led all administrative categories with 130 postings. Facilities and Event Operations (124) and Sports Medicine (103) followed, though both saw declines. Interestingly, Business, Finance, and HR roles increased by 27%, showcasing niche demand during the slowdown.
Which sports had the most coaching job postings in November 2024?
Soccer led with 88 postings, followed by football (82) and volleyball (45). These increases coincided with the end of fall sports seasons, while winter sports like basketball saw steep declines.
Why did coaching job postings for some sports increase in November 2024?
The rise in soccer, football, and volleyball postings aligns with the end of fall sports seasons, as many programs prepare for offseason coaching changes. This contrasts with sports like basketball, which experienced significant declines due to being in-season.
What were the highest-paying jobs in collegiate athletics posted in November 2024?
Top-paying jobs included:
- $220,000 – $260,000/year: Director of Athletics, Illinois State University
- $109,000 – $164,000/year: Senior Associate Athletics Director, Penn State University
- $130,000 – $155,000/year: Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, California Baptist University
How can job seekers maximize their use of Intercollegiate during the slow hiring season?
Leverage Intercollegiate’s features by:
- Using search filters to tailor results by state, conference, or salary.
- Exploring expired job posts to analyze compensation trends.
- Creating a free account for custom email alerts, bookmarking jobs, and viewing personnel profiles.
