NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The Michael F. Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma has launched a future athletics director program to provide unique training for NCAA Division I athletics department leaders. This executive-level program, developed in partnership with OU Athletics, will host its inaugural cohort in fall 2025.
Tailored for athletics administrators aspiring to senior and executive leadership roles in collegiate sports, the program will equip participants with the tools to effectively lead D1 athletics programs amidst the complexities of the evolving professionalized model of collegiate athletics.
“Leadership in collegiate athletics requires vision, adaptability and a strategic mindset,” said Joe Castiglione, OU vice president for intercollegiate programs and director of athletics. “The Future Athletics Director program is designed to cultivate these essential qualities, preparing the next generation of athletics leaders to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.”
Program highlights include:
“The collegiate sports landscape is evolving rapidly, and the demands on athletics administrators have never been higher. OU’s future athletics director program offers a unique, immersive and rigorous experience that goes beyond traditional education,” said Sean Daly, Price College associate professor and sports business program director.
Price College Interim Dean Laku Chidambaram added, “At Price College of Business, we are committed to developing leaders who can navigate complexity and drive innovation. The future athletics director program exemplifies this commitment by equipping athletics administrators with strategic business acumen and leadership skills necessary to lead with impact in the rapidly evolving ultra-competitive world of collegiate sports.”
Scheduled to run October 22-26, 2025, the Future Athletics Director program is open to athletics professionals from across the country who are looking to elevate their careers and lead the future of collegiate sports administration.
“We’re planting our flag in executive-level collegiate sports education,” said Nick Tobey, Price College executive director of executive education. “This is a hands-on, immersive, in-person learning experience. Students will learn finance, strategy and media skills, and most importantly, they’ll solve real-world problems unique to the future of sports leadership. That’s what sets this program apart.”
Learn more about and apply for OU’s future athletics directors program.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
A newly funded research project led by David Schvartzman will use trailblazing technology to transform understanding of lightning and electrification, helping to improve storm warnings and better assess the risk of structural damage and power outages from thunderstorms.
This spring, the University of Oklahoma will launch a comprehensive Campus Master Planning effort for the Norman campus to guide the development of its physical environment over the next decade and beyond, ensuring it aligns with the University’s increasing impact across its mission areas of teaching and research and its ongoing commitment to the student experience.
The University of Oklahoma community has been recognized by the Broadcast Education Association at its 2026 Festival of Media Arts. Students and faculty combined to earn 35 different awards at the event.
