The Road Less Traveled: Analyzing the Career Paths of Women Athletic Directors Utilizing Social Network Analysis

Authors

Mary C. Motley, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFollow
Jonathan A. Jensen, Texas A&M UniversityFollow
Erianne Weight, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFollow
Brad Bates, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFollow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.51221/sc.jiia.2025.18.1.3

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyze the career paths of current NCAA Division I women athletic directors (ADs), towards the goal of building and identifying networks within intercollegiate athletics. By using social network analysis (SNA), this research builds out a hiring network within intercollegiate athletics by analyzing the career changes of current Division I women ADs. The objectives of this study included exploring current women AD career paths, uncovering institutions deemed most influential in the network, and comparing the career paths of women and men ADs. Findings suggest that on average, women ADs have longer career paths than men, and are alongside a much sparser network. Most women who pursued the title of AD climbed their way up through various positions in college athletics, while hubs in the network accelerated an AD's career. Institutional authorities hired women at a higher position and often at a senior executive level, prior to becoming an AD.

Recommended Citation

Motley, Mary C.; Jensen, Jonathan A.; Weight, Erianne; and Bates, Brad (2025) "The Road Less Traveled: Analyzing the Career Paths of Women Athletic Directors Utilizing Social Network Analysis," Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics: Vol. 18: Iss. 1, Article 3.
DOI: 10.51221/sc.jiia.2025.18.1.3
Available at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/jiia/vol18/iss1/3