NCADA Mentoring and Leadership

HISTORY AND OVERVIEW

The NCADA mentoring program began ten years ago with the idea of matching veteran school athletic directors (mentors) with new athletic directors. We want a new athletic director to have help available as soon as they are hired or as soon as possible. The Mentoring Program is dependent on experienced athletic directors volunteering to be a mentor and taking the time to help new ADs. City-county athletic directors or school system administrators must be aware of new AD’s within their system and work to make them comfortable. It is also vital that new athletic directors seek help either by contacting their system administrator for athletics and/or Chad Duncan, NCADA Mentor Chair. For a list of mentors by region, just click on the NCADA Mentoring List. Select someone from your region and contact them immediately. The athletic directors on this list have volunteered to help.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

• To develop more longevity within the Athletic Administrator vocation
• Provide a support base for the new Athletic Administrator
• Make the new Athletic Administrator feel welcome and supported in the vocation
• Identify potential future leaders from among the new Athletic Administrators
• Provide a base for knowledge and information for the new Athletic Administrator:
  • What is NCADA
  • What is NIAAA
  • What is NCHSAA
  • What is NFHS
  • Office management skills
  • Strategies to use in performing the job

THE PROGRAM AND TIMELINE

• Meet with new athletic directors at the NCADA Annual Conference each year
• Offer LTC 502 (Athletic Administration: Principles, Strategies, and Methods) at the Summer Leadership Conference in Greensboro for the new ADs in July each year
• Provide a new AD booklet, including job descriptions, NCHSAA calendar of events, checklists for starting a sports season, and checklists (monthly, by sport, game night procedures, home athletic contests). 

MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Setting Realistic Expectations
• Being Available
• Listening
• Maintaining Contact
• Being Open Minded
• Providing Encouragement
• Build the Relationship
• Communicating Often
• Give and Receive Feedback
• Share Successes and Failures

NEW AD RESPONSIBILITIES

• Mutual Gain is the Goal
• Welcome the Mentor’s Interest and Concern
• Be Open to Feedback
• Set Realistic Expectations
• Communicate Problems Early
• Initiate Frequent Contact
• Give Opinions for Solving Problems
• Discuss Successes and Failures
• Search for Ways to Achieve Objectives
• Follow Through on Commitments
• Be Honest with Mentor
• Build a Solid Relationship