The NFL/NCAA Administrators Academy assists graduate assistants and interns by expanding their capacity to perform in leadership roles within college and professional athletic administration. The academy provides young professionals seeking opportunities in football administration at the collegiate and pro level with professional development resources and the necessary skills to adapt to an evolving sports business landscape. The NFL and NCAA partner with key industry stakeholders (college conference offices, NFL and Club administrators, and more) on programming content.
Read more about the 2023 event here.
What you’ll learn
The programming experience will be separated into two phases:
- Educational and leadership sessions led by sports business professionals and industry experts.
- A mentorship experience pairing participants with a mentor from the sports business industry for five months.
Phase I - Educational & Leadership Session Topics:
Educational sessions will center around key topics vital for facilitating personal and professional growth for selected learners. Topics for these guided sessions include:
- Strategic thinking - Developing these skills gives administrators the opportunity to demonstrate innovation by putting new ideas into action. Leaders also begin to consider how other departments will be impacted or how they will respond.
- Effective communication - In a leadership role, communication remains a constant part of administrators’ daily responsibilities, whether it is through presentations, emails, or meetings. As administrators prepare to take the next step in their career, communication responsibilities will become more prevalent and excellence will be expected.
- Influence and negotiation - This skill allows leaders to understand how to become strong influencers and establish authority to achieve results. Negotiation skills help address and resolve disagreements between colleagues by finding common ground.
Phase II - Mentorship Program Overview:
At the conclusion of the program, learners will be paired with a mentor from the sports business industry (in either the NFL or college sports). The NFL and NCAA will establish a five-month experience that fosters both professional and personal development of participants through a consistent and structured connection. The goal of this program is to expose the next generation of young professionals to prominent leaders in the sports business industry.
Who is eligible
Learners must be a current intern, graduate assistant, or in the first two years of full-time employment within an athletics department at an NCAA member school, conference office, affiliate organization or the NCAA national office. Individuals must have completed a bachelor’s degree to be eligible to apply for the NFL/NCAA Administrators Academy. Applicants should have a strong desire to work in football administration at the collegiate or professional level.
Cost
The NFL/NCAA Administrators Academy is offered free for selected learners. The NCAA covers costs associated with travel, lodging, meals and program materials for the in-person meeting.
How to apply
The online application for the NFL/NCAA Administrators Academy is available via NCAA Program Hub during the dates specified in the “Key dates” box above.
Note: All applicants will need a recommendation letter from their supervisor.
Questions?
For more information, please contact ldevelopment@ncaa.org.
