International Journal of Sport Management

Examining the Support Systems Necessary for High School Sport Practitioners
 to Manage the Athletic Director-Head Coach Dual Role

Tyler J. Ratts

High school sport practitioners who work in the dual role of athletic director and head coach face enhanced role conflict and role overload. These stressors necessitate establishing a strong support system to address issues that can arise. Thus, the purpose of this study was to detail the support groups relied upon by those serving as both the athletic director and a head coach and the ways in which they are leveraged to effectively manage responsibilities. Using semi-structured interviews with 15 participants across school classification (i.e., 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A) and sport coached, five main themes (i.e., administration, athletic department, coaching staff, student-athletes, and family) provide deeper context into these established support systems. From a theoretical and practical lens, findings advance understanding of role conflict and role overload and offer guidance for those working in this high school sport dual role when reflecting on the support network they have established.

Keywords: role conflict, role overload, support system, high school athletics, athletic director, head coach

Citation: Ratts, T. J. (2025). Examining the support systems necessary for high school sport practitioners
 to manage the athletic director-head coach dual role. International Journal of Sport Management, 26(1), 1-22.

References

  • Adeyemo, A.O. (2022). Place, race, and sports: Examining the beliefs and aspirations of motivated Black male students who play high school sports. Urban Education, 57(1), 154-183.
  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
  • Brown, S.P., Jones, E., & Leigh, T.W. (2005). The attenuating effect of role overload on relationships linking self-efficacy and goal level to work performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(5), 972-979.
  • Bruening, J.E., & Dixon, M.A. (2007). Work–family conflict in coaching II: Managing role conflict. Journal of Sport Management, 1(4), 471-496.
  • Conant, E. B. (2017). The impact of role conflict on job satisfaction of independent school athletic directors. Journal of Amateur Sport, 3(1), 1-26.
  • Conner, C., & Bohan, C.H. (2018). Social studies teacher–athletic coaches’ experiences coping with role conflict. Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 8(1), 54-71.
  • Coverman, S. (1989). Role overload, role conflict, and stress: Addressing consequences of multiple role demands. Social Forces, 67(4), 965-982.
  • Creary, S.J., & Gordon, J. R. (2016). Role conflict, role overload, and role strain. Encyclopedia of Family Studies, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119085621.wbefs012
  • Creswell, J.W., & Guetterman, T.C. (2019). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (6th ed.). Pearson.
  • Duxbury, L., Stevenson, M., & Higgins, C. (2018). Too much to do, too little time: Role overload and stress in a multi-role environment. International Journal of Stress Management, 25(3), 250-266.
  • Eys, M.A., Schinke, R.J., & Jeffery, S.M. (2007). Role perceptions in sport groups. In M.R. Beauchamp & M.A. Eys (Eds.), Group dynamics in exercise and sport psychology (pp. 99-116). Routledge.
  • Forsyth, E. (2021). Athletic director. In P.M. Pedersen (Ed.), Encyclopedia of sport management (pp. 40-42). Edward Elgar.
  • Forsyth, E.W., Martin, T.G., & Whisenant, W.A. (2022). Interscholastic athletics. In P.M. Pedersen & L. Thibault (Eds.), Contemporary sport management (7th ed., pp. 173-196). Human Kinetics.
  • Gould, D., Carson, S., Fifer, A., Lauer, L., & Benham, R. (2009). Stakeholders’ perceptions of social-emotional and life skill development issues characterizing contemporary high school sports. Journal of Coaching Education, 2(1), 20-44.
  • Graham, J.A., & Dixon, M.A. (2017). Work–family balance among coach-fathers: A qualitative examination of enrichment, conflict, and role management strategies. Journal of Sport Management, 31(3), 288-305.
  • Grant, S. (2021). Interscholastic athletics. In P.M. Pedersen (Ed.), Encyclopedia of sport management (pp. 266-268). Edward Elgar.
  • Ha, J.P., Hums, M A., & Greenwell, T.C. (2011). Dual role of physical education teacher-athletic directors in Korean secondary schools. Physical Educator, 68(4), 221-233.
  • Jensen, J.M., Patel, P C., & Messersmith, J.G. (2013). High-performance work systems and job control: Consequences for anxiety, role overload, and turnover intentions. Journal of Management, 39(6), 1699-1724.
  • Judge, L.W., & Judge, I.L. (2009). Understanding the occupational stress of interscholastic athletic directors. ICHPER-SD Journal of Research, 4(2), 37-44.
  • Kahn, R.L., Wolfe, D.M., Quinn, R.P., Snoek, J.D., & Rosenthal, R.A. (1964). Organizational stress: Studies in role conflict and ambiguity. John Wiley.
  • Katz, D., & Kahn, R.L. (1978). The social psychology of organizations. Wiley.
  • Konukman, F., Agbuga, B., Erdogan, S., Zorba, E., Demirhan, G., & Yilmaz, I. (2010). Teacher-coach role conflict in school-based physical education in USA: A literature review and suggestions for the future. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 2, 19-24.
  • Kossek, E.E., & Lee, K.H. (2017). Work-family conflict and work-life conflict. In Oxford research encyclopedia of business and management. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190224851.013.52
  • Lee, Y. H., & Cho, H. (2021). The roles of different types of passion in emotional exhaustion and turnover intention among athletic coaches. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16(3), 465-476.
  • Lee, Y.H., Richards, K.A.R., & Washhburn, N.S. (2020). Emotional intelligence, job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion, and subjective well-being in high school athletic directors. Psychological Reports, 123(6), 2418-2440.
  • Locke, L.F., & Massengale, J.D. (1978). Role conflict in teacher/coaches. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 49(2), 162-174.
  • Lu, W.C., Lin, S.H., Cheng, C.F., & Wu, M.H. (2022). When coaching is a calling: A moderated mediating model among school sports coaches. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 17(5), 964-973.
  • Martin, J.J., Kelley, B., & Dias, C. (1999). Stress and burnout in female high school athletic directors. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 8(1), 101-116.
  • Martin, J.J., Kelley, B., & Eklund, R.C. (1999). A model of stress and burnout in male high school athletic directors. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 21(3), 280-294.
  • Merriam, S.B., & Tisdell, E.J. (2016). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
  • Miller, G.A., Lutz, R., & Fredenburg, K. (2012). Outstanding high school coaches: Philosophies, views, and practices. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 83(2), 24-29.
  • Miracle, A.W D., & Rees, C R. (2010). Lessons of the locker room: The myth of school sports. Prometheus Books.
  • Montani, F., & Dagenais-Desmarais, V. (2018). Unravelling the relationship between role overload and organizational citizenship behaviour: A test of mediating and moderating effects. European Management Journal, 36(6), 757-768.
  • National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). (2023). High school athletics participation survey. https://www.nfhs.org/media/7212351/2022-23_participation_survey.
pdf
  • O’Boyle, I. (2014). Determining best practice in performance monitoring and evaluation of sport coaches: Lessons from the traditional business environment. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 9(1), 233-246.
  • Patton, M.Q. (2015). Qualitative research and evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). Sage.
  • Perrewé, P.L., Zellars, K.L., Ferris, G.R., Rossi, A.M., Kacmar, C.J., & Ralston, D.A. (2004). Neutralizing job stressors: Political skill as an antidote to the dysfunctional consequences of role conflict. Academy of Management Journal, 47(1), 141-152.
  • Rafique, M. (2022). Supervisor role overload and emotional exhaustion as antecedents of supervisor incivility: The role of time consciousness. Journal of Management & Organization, 29(3) 481-503.
  • Robinson, G.M., Magnusen, M., & Kim, J.W. (2019). The socially effective leader: Exploring the relationship between athletic director political skill and coach commitment and job satisfaction. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 14(2), 197-204.
  • Robinson, G.M., Magnusen, M.J., Neubert, M., & Miller, G. (2021). Servant leadership, leader effectiveness, and the role of political skill: A study of interscholastic sport administrators and coaches. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16(2), 291-303.
  • Robinson, O.C. (2014). Sampling in interview-based qualitative research: A theoretical and practical guide. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 11(1), 25-41.
  • Ryan, T D. (2008). Antecedents for interrole conflict in the high school teacher/coach. Physical Educator, 65(2),58-67.
  • Sage, G.H. (1987). The social world of high school athletic coaches: Multiple role demands and their consequences. Sociology of Sport Journal, 4(3), 213-228.
  • Saunders, B., Sim, J., Kingstone, T., Baker, S., Waterfield, J., Bartlam, B., Burroughs, H., & Jinks, C. (2018). Saturation in qualitative research: Exploring its conceptualization and operationalization. Quality & Quantity, 52(4), 1893-1907.
  • Shultz, K.S., Wang, M., & Olson, D.A. (2010). Role overload and underload in relation to occupational stress and health. Stress and Health, 26(2), 99-111.
  • Sullivan, G.S., Lonsdale, C., & Taylor, I. (2014). Burnout in high school athletic directors: A self-determination perspective. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 26(3), 256-270.
  • Westfall, S. (2020). Worst to first: Turnaround leadership through the lens of successful high school football coaches. International Sport Coaching Journal, 7(2), 163-174.
  • Westfall, S., Martin, E.M., & Gould, D. (2018). The association between the coach-athlete relationship and burnout among high school coaches. Journal of Sport Behavior, 41(1), 107-126.
  • Zdroik, J., & Veliz, P. (2020). Participative decision-making: A case of high school athletics. Journal of Sport Behavior, 43(3), 386-402.

Discover more from International Journal of Sport Management

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading