Fort Hays State University Athletics invites applications for the position of Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine & Performance. This senior leadership role offers the opportunity to lead an extensive team of highly skilled professionals within state-of-the-art sports medicine and sports performance facilities. The position provides strategic, administrative, and clinical oversight of all sports medicine, athletic training, sports performance, and student-athlete wellness operations in support of FHSU’s NCAA Division II and varsity intercollegiate athletics program.
The Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine & Performance serves as a key member of the Department’s Administrative Leadership Team and is responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining an elite, evidence-based, and student-centered sports medicine and performance model that supports the health, safety, performance, and holistic development of all Tiger student-athletes.
This position carries institution-wide impact, influencing student-athlete success, risk management, staff development, development initiatives, community partnerships, and the overall culture of health, wellness, and performance across the athletics department and university.
Leadership Philosophy & Cultural Expectations
The successful candidate will be a transformational, thought leader who:
- Establishes and lives a culture of excellence, accountability, integrity, care, and collaboration
- Serves as an engaged mentor to staff and student-athletes
- Leads with a forward-thinking growth mindset grounded in best practice, innovation, and continual improvement
- Champions interprofessional collaboration within athletics, campus partners, and throughout the regional medical and wellness community
- Demonstrates passion for building, sustaining, and advancing an elite NCAA Division II sports medicine and performance program
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Administrative & Departmental Leadership
- Serve as a senior administrator within the FHSU Athletics Department, contributing to strategic planning, policy development, and departmental leadership initiatives.
- Provide vision, direction, and operational oversight for both the Sports Medicine and the Sports Performance teams.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate departmental policies, procedures, and protocols consistent with NCAA, MIAA, NATA, NSCA, institutional, and state regulations.
- Oversee sports medicine and sports performance budgeting, purchasing, inventory control, and long-term resource planning.
- Coordinate staffing models, scheduling, workload distribution, and performance evaluations.
- Ensure comprehensive risk management, documentation, credential verification, and compliance practices.
Clinical Sports Medicine Practice
- Serve as a licensed, practicing sports medicine clinician, providing direct student-athlete care services as needed.
- Oversee injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and return-to-play decision-making in collaboration with Team Physicians and allied healthcare providers.
- Ensure adherence to NATA standards of practice, ethical guidelines, and evidence-based medical care.
- Provide mentorship and clinical leadership to athletic trainers, hybrid ATC/CSCS staff, graduate assistants, and interns.
Sports Performance Leadership & Integration
- Provide administrative and strategic oversight of the Sports Performance program in alignment with NSCA and NCAA best practices.
- Ensure seamless integration between sports performance, athletic training, coaching staffs, and medical providers.
- Support data-informed approaches to student-athlete development, injury risk reduction, workload management, and performance outcomes.
- Promote consistent standards, expectations, and collaboration across all teams.
Student-Athlete Holistic Health & Wellness
- Serve as the departmental leader for holistic student-athlete health and wellness, including physical, mental, and performance health.
- Oversee education initiatives related to nutrition, hydration, recovery, mental health awareness, substance use, and overall well-being.
- Collaborate with campus resources in Health and Wellness Services such as the Counseling Center, Student Health and Academic Accommodations along with the Wellness Center and academic partners.
- Provide leadership for drug & alcohol testing programs and student-athlete education initiatives.
Interprofessional & Community Collaboration
- Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with:
- Team Physicians and local/regional hospital systems
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, mental health, nutrition, and diagnostic imaging providers
- University partners across academic and health disciplines
- Serve as a liaison between Athletics, university administration, and external healthcare partners.
- Promote an integrated care model that prioritizes communication, trust, and shared decision-making.
Outreach & Program Advancement
- Actively participate in departmental development efforts and donor engagement initiatives in collaboration with Athletics Development staff.
- Assist in securing resources, equipment, and professional development opportunities that elevate department capabilities and overall success.
- Serve as a visible ambassador for Fort Hays State University Athletics within the community and profession.
- Support camps, clinics, and educational initiatives aligned with departmental goals.
Staff Mentorship, Education & Professional Development
- Recruit, hire, supervise, mentor, and evaluate professional staff, graduate assistants, interns, and student employees.
- Foster a culture of learning, professional growth, and leadership development.
- Encourage and support continuing education, credential advancement, and professional involvement (NATA, NSCA, NCAA).
- Model ethical leadership, accountability, and lifelong learning.
Compliance & Standards
- Ensure full compliance with NCAA Division II, MIAA Conference, NATA, NSCA, state licensure, and institutional policies.
- Maintain accurate medical records, performance documentation, and compliance reporting.
- Lead education efforts related to health care policies, emergency action plans, concussion management, and risk mitigation.
Work Environment & Expectations
- Flexible schedule with early mornings, evenings, weekends, travel, and emergency response as required.
- Physically active clinical and performance environments.
- High visibility leadership role within Athletics and the University.
Required Minimum Qualifications
- CAATE Accredited degree in Athletic Training.
- BOC certified Athletic Trainer in good standing.
- Current or Eligible for Athletic Training Licensure in the State of Kansas at the time of appointment.
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in collegiate athletic training, with demonstrated supervisory or leadership responsibilities.
- Athletic training experience across multiple sports, including high‑risk and high‑volume sports
- Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive sports medicine services, including injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and return‑to‑play protocols.
- Demonstrated administrative and supervisory experience within a sports medicine or athletics healthcare setting, including:
- Policy and procedure development
- Budget planning and fiscal oversight
- Staffing models and coverage assignments
- Risk management and medical best practice assurance
- Comprehensive working knowledge of NCAA Division II regulations, the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook, and applicable Interassociation Consensus Statements related to student‑athlete health and safety.
- Demonstrated communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced collegiate environment.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with athletic administrators, team physicians, sports performance staff, coaches, mental health professionals, and campus partners.
- Demonstrated commitment to student‑athlete health, safety, and welfare, including adherence to NATA ethical standards and evidence‑based practice.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree or Terminal degree in a sports medicine or sports performance related field.
- NSCA Certified Performance & Sport Scientist (CPSS) certification.
- Previous experience in sports performance
- Experience providing or overseeing sports performance services at a football sponsoring institution.
- Comprehensive understanding of applied sports performance science, with the proven ability to support and guide the foundational and operational principles of a sports performance department.
- Proven ability to provide administrative leadership and oversight for a comprehensive sports performance team.
- Experience integrating sports performance models, including collaboration with strength and conditioning, nutrition, sports science, and wellness initiatives.
- Knowledge of contemporary load monitoring, injury surveillance, and performance technology platforms commonly used in collegiate athletics.
- Record of leadership within professional organizations, such as NCAA committees, NATA, NSCA, district or state athletic training or strength & conditioning associations.
Benefits: To review our competitive benefit package, please visit
FHSU Benefits.
Priority Deadline: Screening of complete applications will begin May 22, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
Application Process: To apply for this position, please visit
FHSU Careers. Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.
Required Application Documents: Applicants must submit letter of application addressing the qualifications listed above, a current resume, and the names and contact information of three references.
Applicant documents must be submitted in one PDF.
Community of Hays
FHSU is located in Hays, a vibrant college town of approximately 20,000, located halfway between Kansas City and Denver on Interstate 70. Hays is the regional center for education, health care, professional services, shopping, culture, and recreation for the western half of Kansas. The community boasts excellent recreational programs and facilities, including the comprehensive Center for Health Improvement, Hays Aquatic Park, Smoky Hill Country Club, Hays Municipal Golf Course, and extensive walking, running, and biking trails. Hays is within 45 minutes of two large lakes that offer great opportunities for boating, fishing, and camping. The Hays Municipal Airport provides connecting service to Denver with several flights daily. The Hays community is home to excellent Pre-K and K-12, public and private schools. With over 60 restaurants, major retail outlets, a low unemployment rate, and very short commute times, the city provides a safe, welcoming, low-cost, high-quality living environment for the residents who call "Hays, America" home.
Notice of Non-discrimination: FHSU is committed to providing equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, employment, services, and activities in compliance with federal and state nondiscrimination laws. FHSU prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression), age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its programs, activities, admissions, or employment.
Background Check: Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check.
Notice to KPERS retirees applying for a position: Recent legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for both you and your employer if you go back to work for a KPERS employer. Please contact your KPERS representative or
www.kpers.org for further information on how this might affect you.
