Cal Football Director of Player Development (4517U), Intercollegiate Athletics #87570

Position Summary

The Director of Player Development for Football provides visionary leadership centered on the comprehensive advancement of student-athletes, emphasizing academic excellence and personal growth while overseeing seamless entry and continued engagement. At the heart of this position is academic engagement coordination (50%), executed through a deep partnership with the Football Academic Coordinator. The role involves working closely with Athletic Study Center staff, aligning student-athletes and coaching staff through regular meetings and compliance reviews, and navigating campus hurdles to resolve academic challenges.

Management of professional readiness, roster stability, and program-wide collaboration through Cameron Institute career and community engagement (35%) is also required, along with recruitment & retention support (5%) and cross‑functional responsibilities (5%).

• New Student-Athlete Integration & Orientation (5%)
  • Develop and execute comprehensive onboarding processes for all new football student-athletes (high school, transfers).
  • Communicate the program’s developmental philosophy to incoming student-athletes and families.
  • Liaison to 1st year seminar.
  • Facilitate initial integration and connection to Cameron Institute pillars.
  • Support completion of key Cameron Institute action items.
  • Coordinate with Academic Advisors and Learning Specialists to ensure new students access appropriate academic resources.
  • Participate in new student orientations and academic team meetings during first semester.
  • Monitor early academic and social integration indicators; identify and address barriers to success.
• Primary Oversight of Academic Support, Planning, and Student Success Initiatives (40%)
  • Serve as a co‑architect of Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) in partnership with the Football Academic Coordinator.
  • Collaborate with the Coordinator to evaluate and categorize student-athletes based on academic profiles and performance.
  • Maintain detailed academic portfolios and review programming with the Coordinator.
  • Adjust academic programming in response to student progress and evolving needs.
• Academic Support Coordination
  • Partner with the Football Academic Coordinator to lead coordination with the Athletic Study Center.
  • Co‑develop study groups and structured programming tailored to football student-athlete needs.
  • Coordinate and facilitate workshops and specialized interventions.
  • Monitor academic performance trends jointly and adjust support strategies proactively.
• Academic Communication & Stakeholder Management
  • Conduct regular academic team meetings with student-athletes in co‑leadership with the Coordinator.
  • Communicate essential academic information, deadlines, and policies to student-athletes, coaches, and staff.
  • Attend weekly coaches’ and academic staff meetings and represent ASC in monthly compliance meetings.
  • Maintain shared accountability for keeping stakeholders apprised of critical issues and deadlines.
• Academic Problem‑Solving & Support
  • Troubleshoot and resolve student‑athlete issues involving faculty and campus constituents.
  • Act as joint advocates and liaisons for students facing academic challenges.
  • Collaborate with institutional partners to address and remove barriers to success.
  • Coordinate grade appeals and academic probation support.
• Leadership of Professional Development, Career Exploration, and Community Impact Initiatives (30%)
  • Facilitate networking opportunities with Cameron Institute Career Advisor support.
  • Support placement and referral of student-athletes into internships and career programs.
  • Bridge to career services for long‑term goal planning.
  • Collaborate with career services and alumni engagement partners.
  • Provide coaching for resume development, interview preparation, and professional skills.
  • Ensure completion of year‑over‑year career milestones.
  • Lead football career programming efforts housed in Football.

• Strong ability to create academic plans, monitor progress, and promote core academic principles and time‑management practices.
• Ability to support academically challenged students, quickly identifying issues and developing recovery plans.
• Advanced knowledge of…