Dutch Baughman, executive director of the Division I-A Athletics Directors' Association, frequently has addressed groups of athletics administrators and shared his perspective on the traits of successful athletics directors.

Baughman's organization often assists institutions as they seek to fill positions, and it also assists individuals as they seek to find the right fit for themselves.

"We are a resource. We don't recommend individual candidates, but we do assist presidents and chairs of search committees in a variety of ways, including helping them develop profiles of what they want the successful candidate to be," he said.

Because of his work in this area, Baughman developed a presentation on "Becoming an athletics director." A certified facilitator for the Franklin Covey company, Baughman frequently gives presentations to professional organizations in athletics. Below are some of his insights on the qualities required for success in athletics administration.

A successful athletics director must:

Have the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of different audiences. From the faculty senate and the university president to parents, alumni groups and student-athletes, many different people rely on many types of communication from the AD.

Be very well organized. So much comes to this person, from so many different directions, and much of it is urgent in nature. Even an athletics director with a support person must have a system and a level of organization that permits the job to be done efficiently and effectively.

Understand and have experience in a wide variety of athletically related fields. ADs need to understand everything from fundraising and budgeting to marketing and promotions, facility management and more.

Possess effective leadership skills. ADs must be able to influence many people -- often called "stakeholders" in Baughman parlance -- who have an interest in the athletics program. This includes coaches, student-athletes, alumni groups and many others. The AD needs to be able to influence these people in a positive way. Included in this leadership, Baughman said, should be a set of core values and ethical considerations that guide decisions and provide a basis for effective leadership.

Maintain good relations with coaches. ADs have to be able to understand the coaches' world and support them. Baughman said that doesn't mean capitulating to everything coaches want, but rather being able to give them what they need to be successful.

Maintain good relations with student-athletes, and care about them as human beings.

Possess effective skills in media relations. As the mouthpiece for the athletics department, ADs need to establish themselves with the media as credible, trustworthy and competent.

Be a chameleon. Athletics directors have to be adaptable, Baughman says, and they need to be comfortable in many different types of environments, from the locker room to the university president's office and the faculty meeting. They must be able to fit in with those different types of people and different types of places.

Realize that it's a 24-hour-a-day job. Baughman said ADs are always "on," whether they're on campus or at the local grocery store. "You're always on duty, representing your institution and your athletics department. You have to realize that people are going to want to talk to you about your job virtually everywhere. You have to realize that being an AD is your life's work. There's no such thing as an AD with a 9-to-5 job.

-- Kay Hawes