1. Examining Administrator and Coach Perceptions of Value Systems in NCAA Division I Athletic Departments
Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics Meeting
Coyte G. Cooper & Erianne A. Weight

2. Summary of Presentation
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of Study
Significance of Core Values
Data Collection
Results
Implications
Conclusions/Questions

3. Statement of Problem
Presence of “arms race” in intercollegiate athletics
Conference realignment, multi-billion dollar television deals, and star amateur athletes dominate headlines (Knight Commission, 2010; Sack, 2009)
Escalating commercialism as product of administrative reward system
Dualism in value system in Division I athletics
Integrating into higher education – paramount SA experience
“Arms race” and lavish spending for national exposure and perceived financial rewards

4. Influence of Environment
Purpose of Study
Purpose: To explore the priority level of core values from two viewpoints to gain an understanding of the value systems that exist within NCAA Division I athletic departments:
Administrators’ perceptions of critical values in department
Coaches’ perceptions of critical values in department
Influence of Environment
Importance of Values

5. Significance of Core Values
Provide meaningful direction for organization (Abreu et al., 2009; Collin & Porras, 2000)
Shared guiding principles that are “essential and enduring elements” of effective organization (Collin & Porras, 1996)
Congruency is key to realize critical benefits of enhanced efficiency and motivated employees
Athletic department specific: Athletic organism morphed into divided system (Cooper & Weight, 2011)

6. Data Collection Creation of online “Core Values” survey
Assess key values portrayed in mission statements
Broke values into two specific categories
Developed definitions for each value on instrument
Invested in validity review process
Panel of experts (Four senior AD’s, two profs, and one statistician)
Review definitions and make suggestions for final scale
Distribution to D-I athletic departments
Targeted head AD’s and coaches (other administrators included)

7. Results (Organizational Values - Administrator)

8. Results (Aspirational Values - Administrator)

9. Variations in Organizational Values

10. Variations in Aspirational Values

11. Contradictions Between Values & Practice?
Administrator Narratives (n=178):
No contradictions exist (55%)
Tensions exist, but values supersede (10%)
Culture is in a process of transformation (6%)
Systemic contradictions exist (29%)
Financial gains often prioritized over values (27%)
Winning often prioritized over values by coaches and some administrators (16%)

12. Contradictions Between Values & Practice?
Coaches (n=1005):
No contradictions exist (54%)
Tensions exist, but values supersede (4%)
Systemic contradictions exist (41%)
Overall administrator hypocrisy (29%)
Variation in standards between sports (22%)
Lack of financial support to facilitate value-achievement (12%)
Winning prioritized over values (8%)
Little care for coaches & staff (6%)
Other (20%)
No values – no contradictions (1%)

13. Conclusions
In an era where intercollegiate athletics morals are continually being contested it is critical to understand the values driving decisions.
Evidence of sound ideals and practices
Evidence of inconsistency between stated values and entrenched practices
At minimum: poor leadership and lack of value culturization
At extreme: clear administrator hypocrisy and outright patronization of the public and internal stakeholders.

14. Conclusions
It is imperative for internal and external stakeholders of intercollegiate athletics to demand values-driven leadership based on education-centered ethos.
This model exists within a majority of respondent schools.
The benefits of value-culturalization (e.g. increased morale, productivity, and decision making) were evident in these schools.

15. The tremendous opportunity for good within intercollegiate athletics…
“College athletics have a bad reputation right now…and the media show[s] all the negatives. There is not a contradiction within my athletic department between values and practice. My administrators and leaders have the best interest of the student-athletes in mind and are doing their best to make value-driven decisions that are morally right” -FBS-AQ Female Assistant Coach

16. Contact Information
Coyte Cooper
Phone:
Twitter
Erianne Weight
Phone:
Twitter