How to Embrace Lifelong Learning As An AD

Commit to Continuous Professional Development

Athletic administration is always changing. New tools, new expectations, new challenges. To lead well, you need more than experience—you need curiosity, humility, and a clear commitment to growth.

The best athletic directors don’t just manage teams. They build their own skillset with the same energy they ask of their athletes and coaches.

“Once you stop learning, you start dying.”
– Albert Einstein

Professional development isn’t about checking a box. It’s about staying sharp, staying ready, and staying connected to the people and ideas that move your program forward.

Here are practical ways to stay committed to your own growth:

1. Earn Certifications and Designations
2. Attend Conferences and Clinics
3. Join Professional Networks
4. Create a Personal Growth Plan
5. Read Books and Blogs from Industry Experts
6. Build a Mentorship Circle
7. Reflect and Recalibrate

1: Earn Certifications and Designations

Professional credentials signal credibility, sharpen your skills, and can connect you to a group of likeminded individuals thinking through the same things you are. 

Pursue nationally recognized certifications through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). These include:

• Registered Athletic Administrator (RAA)

• Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA)

• Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA)

Each step deepens your knowledge and strengthens your standing within your school, your state, and the national AD community.

2: Attend Conferences and Clinics

Make it a goal to attend at least one major conference or clinic each year. Top options include:

• The NIAAA/NFHS National Athletic Directors Conference

• Your state’s athletic administrators association gatherings

These events offer more than just sessions and booth talk, they provide fresh ideas, vendor exposure, and real conversations with people facing the same challenges you are.

3: Join Professional Networks

You don’t have to grow alone. Connect with other ADs through online communities like:

• High School Athletic Directors Facebook group

• AD networks on LinkedIn

• Forums and tools on platforms like CoachAD.com

These spaces are rich with templates, policy examples, advice, and encouragement that you can apply right away.

4: Create a Personal Growth Plan

Pick two or three areas you want to grow in this school year. Maybe it’s fundraising, digital communication, or building a more equitable program.

Use courses, books, or hands-on projects to work toward those goals, develop the habit of writing them down. Share your plan with a colleague or supervisor for accountability and momentum.

5: Read Books and Blogs from Industry Experts

Even one strong book per semester can shape the way you lead. Consider titles like:

• The DNA of an AD by Scott Garvis

• 3D Coach by Jeff Duke

• Lead...for God’s Sake! by Todd Gongwer

Pair those reads with updates from blogs and newsletters by NFHS, Bound, Coach & AD, or Proactive Coaching to stay aligned with current trends.

6: Build a Mentorship Circle

There’s no substitute for someone who’s been there. Reach out to veteran ADs with more mileage—and be intentional about mentoring those newer to the role.

Regular conversations with peers who understand your world can offer more insight than a dozen sessions or articles.

7: Reflect and Recalibrate

Don’t wait until summer to pause and evaluate. After each season, carve out time to ask yourself:

• What worked?

• Where did I struggle?

• What could I handle differently next time?

Use that reflection to reset your development plan and move forward with purpose.

Leadership starts with self-leadership. When you keep growing, your teams, your staff, and your entire community gets better alongside you.

Learn with intention. Lead with clarity. Stay in the game.