What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Academic Services (Olympic) - Thornton Center - UTK position at University of Tennessee, Knoxville?
Job Description
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Olympic sports subdivision within Thornton Athletics Student Life Center to enhance academic success and support for student-athletes in assigned programs. A focus on enhancing the academic success and development of student-athletes in assigned programs. The role sets the vision and direction for academic support initiatives, oversees the day-to-day operations of the Olympic sports unit within the Thornton Center, and ensures the delivery of comprehensive, student-centered programming aligned with institutional priorities and NCAA, SEC, and university regulations.
The position supervises and develops professional staff, including the Associate Director, Assistant Director, and academic counselors, while serving as the primary academic contact for Olympic sport programs. The role works closely with coaches, prospective student-athletes, and their families to support recruitment, enrollment, and academic success.
Responsibilities
Required Qualifications
For best consideration applicants should submit the materials below before Tuesday, May 12 th , 2026.
The Thornton Athletics Student Life Center delivers an unparalleled student-athlete experience through transformational programs and services tailored to the exact specifications of empowered graduates and world-changing leaders. Our team creates an individualized roadmap to academic excellence, career and leadership development, personal enhancement, and community engagement for each student-athlete.
About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Olympic sports subdivision within Thornton Athletics Student Life Center to enhance academic success and support for student-athletes in assigned programs. A focus on enhancing the academic success and development of student-athletes in assigned programs. The role sets the vision and direction for academic support initiatives, oversees the day-to-day operations of the Olympic sports unit within the Thornton Center, and ensures the delivery of comprehensive, student-centered programming aligned with institutional priorities and NCAA, SEC, and university regulations.
The position supervises and develops professional staff, including the Associate Director, Assistant Director, and academic counselors, while serving as the primary academic contact for Olympic sport programs. The role works closely with coaches, prospective student-athletes, and their families to support recruitment, enrollment, and academic success.
Responsibilities
- Oversight of the day-to-day operations of the Olympic sport academic support unit within the Thornton Center. Set the direction and vision of student support program. Supervise and develop all personnel within Olympic sports.
- Collaborate with key campus partners on a consistent basis (Proactive communication and responding to student issues that are brought to our attention). Build and maintain relationships with academic departments and student success units throughout campus in an effort to sustain a collaborative environment throughout campus. Serve on and contribute to high level campus committees. Report relevant campus updates back to Thornton Center staff for evaluation and development of programming.
- Supervision of Associate Director, Assistant Director, and academic counselors within Olympic sports; serve as primary academic contact for all Olympic sport programming; monitor NCAA, SEC and UT academic regulations and implement changes to services offered when regulations change; Meet with coaches and prospective students and their family’s concerning enrollment at the University.
- Collaborate with the Center for Global Engagement, Admissions, Athletics Compliance, NCAA certifying officer, and Thornton Center staff to develop and execute department-wide international student admissions and programming initiatives in accordance with NCAA, SEC, and university guidelines.
Required Qualifications
- Education: Master’s Degree
- Experience: 5 Years experience with student-athlete support
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Academic Advising, Leadership, Organized, Teaching, Counseling, Problem Solving, Effective Time Management. Experience working with diverse populations. Knowledge of NCAA and SEC rules and regulations.
- Education: Doctoral Degree
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Academic Advising, Leadership, Organized, Teaching, Counseling, Problem Solving, Effective Time Management. Experience working with diverse populations. Knowledge of NCAA and SEC rules and regulations.
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Anticipated hiring range: salary commensurate with experience
- Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
- Find more information on UT Benefits here
For best consideration applicants should submit the materials below before Tuesday, May 12 th , 2026.
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- 3 Professional References
The Thornton Athletics Student Life Center delivers an unparalleled student-athlete experience through transformational programs and services tailored to the exact specifications of empowered graduates and world-changing leaders. Our team creates an individualized roadmap to academic excellence, career and leadership development, personal enhancement, and community engagement for each student-athlete.
About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!