i Jeffrey L. Engbers Health Exercise and Sports Science This ...

and finance, keeping athletic programs competitive, risk management, and dealing with
parents of athletes. The challenges were examined using the following independent
variables: gender, type of institution, geographical location, AD experience, and Learfield
Directors Cup finish (2010-2011).
A total of 439 surveys were sent to active NCAA Division III Athletic Directors
(ADs). The ADs were asked to complete an online survey containing questions about
their job and the challenges they face in their role as ADs. There were 208 ADs who
completed the survey in its entirety, resulting in a response rate of 47%. These responses
were then analyzed to see if there were any differences among the aforementioned
independent variables.
The results of the research questions included the following. First, when exploring
the relationship of challenges reported by public institution ADs and private institution
ADs, there were no significant differences found. Second, when exploring the
relationship of challenges reported by male ADs and female ADs, just one significant
difference emerged. Male ADs tended to perceive time management as a challenge more
frequently than female ADs. Third, when examining the differences between the more
competitive institutions at the national level and the less competitive institutions at the
national level, no significant findings emerged from the data. Fourth, the correlation
between frequency of each challenge and AD years of experience was weak. Correlations
were found, however, within budget/finance. As ADs’ years of experience increased,
responses to time and frequency associated with budget/finance also increased. Fifth, just
two significant differences were found between regions of the United States. First, ADs
in the Mid West and South/West agreed with the intensity portion of the challenge of
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