Leadership, Management, and Organizational Culture in High School Athletic Departments from the Perspective of Athletic Directors: A thematic Approach

Abstract

Leadership, Management, and Organizational Culture in High School Athletic Departments from the Perspective of Athletic Directors: A Thematic Approach by Matthew D. Posey October 2017 This study examines four high school athletic departments in the middle Tennessee area in order to address two questions: What are the cultural values that drive high school athletic departments, and what leadership and management-related attitudes and behaviors emerge from those values? After careful consideration of the interviews and literature review, the researcher determined there were three main pieces that were relevant to high school athletic departments today: conflict surrounding sport specialization, communication, and the importance placed on winning. Those main topics emerged from the nine subthemes discovered in the interview process. By having a mission statement and managing those three aspects of today’s high school sports culture, the researcher believes that current and prospective high school athletic directors can learn from these lessons about how creating a strong culture can lead to positive results.