From conversations with many of my fellow athletic directors, we are often asked the question, “What can I do to advance my career to become a college athletic director?” Since 1986 when I got my first Division I AD job, I must have been asked this question over a thousand times. To me it is an easy answer, having Ed. D behind my name and being referred to as “DOCTOR” Dick Sander. Receiving my doctorate from the University of Cincinnati changed my career and expedited my advancement from high school basketball coach to Division 1 Athletic Director in five years.
Knowing how important my terminal degree was to me, I have always wanted to create a similar opportunity for others in the world of sport leadership. I wanted to build a program where individuals could continue in their current job while growing both professionally and academically. After a year of working through the maze of academia, with the help of some extremely talented and motivated East Tennessee State University faculty and staff, we were able to create a unique and accessible ED.D in Global Sport Leadership that will enable motivated, talented individuals to complete their doctorate in 2.5 years while continuing to work in their current jobs and develop skills and experiences that will elevate their current productivity.
When I was building the foundation for this program, I spoke with many leaders in all areas of sport leadership even as recently as last month at the NCAA Convention and almost unanimously they indicated that the following ingredients should be the cornerstone of an athletic leadership doctorate:
1. Relevant curriculum
2. Use proven experts to share experiences
3. Aggregate best practices worldwide
4. International travel to view different cultures and sport
5. Complete all requirements in 2.5 years
6. Practitioner based
7. Maintain current job
8. Curriculum supports current job responsibilities
9. Similar to an executive MBA but a doctorate in sport leadership
10. Reasonable price point
11. Diverse cohort of students
12. Practical culminating experience not a dissertation
13. Network of sport professionals from around the world
14. Access to mentors and experts in the sport industry
15. Top of the line distance-learning platform.
Using that feedback and my own personal experience, the ETSU Global Sports Leadership doctorate was born to provide individuals the key to their future in athletic leadership. The initial response has been tremendous and we are now opening the doors to qualified individuals after introducing the pilot program this year.
Click this here or contact Dr. Brian Johnston (johnstob@etsu.edu) for more information on the ETSU Global Sport Leadership Doctoral Degree in Global Sport Leadership and find the key to your future.
About Dr. Richard Sander
Dr. Richard Sander, led Virginia Commonwealth’s athletic program for 20 years, and was introduced as ETSU’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics in 2013. Prior to his time at VCU, Sander served as Assistant Athletic Director and was responsible for athletic fundraising at Memphis State University (now The University of Memphis). Sander earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in 1968. He received a M.S. in Physical Education from Xavier University in 1974, and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Cincinnati in 1980.
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