Athletic Academic Advisor

Athletic Academic Advisor

Company: Villanova University

Job Location: Villanova, 19085

Category: Athletics - Athletic Administration

Type: Full-Time

Posting Number: 20260127S

Location: Villanova, PA

Work Schedule: full-time/12-months

Department: 103-Academic Advisement

Position Summary

The Athletic Academic Advisor serves as a critical member of the Office of Academic Support for Athletics (OAS), responsible for delivering comprehensive, individualized academic support to NCAA Division I student-athletes, with primary oversight of Men's Basketball and other assigned teams. Reporting to the Director of OAS, this role provides holistic academic advising and academic coaching that promotes student-athlete success, retention, and timely graduation while ensuring full compliance with NCAA rules and regulations. The Advisor develops and implements strategic academic plans, monitors progress toward degree and eligibility, and proactively identifies and addresses academic risk through early intervention and targeted support. Serving as a trusted advocate and liaison between student-athletes, coaching staff, faculty, and campus partners, the Advisor helps navigate the complexities of a high-profile, evolving athletics environment. The position also contributes to institutional reporting and academic performance metrics, supports incoming, transfer, and returning student-athletes, and fosters collaborative relationships across the University to ensure a coordinated and student-centered approach to academic success. The highest standards of integrity must be upheld and all NCAA, conference, and university policies and procedures must be adhered to.

Titles of Positions Supervised: Academic Support Assistant (Graduate Student Worker)

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University's mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary academic advisor for Men's Basketball and other assigned NCAA Division I teams, overseeing comprehensive academic support services to promote student-athlete success, retention, and graduation. Provide individualized advising and academic coaching through regular meetings, focusing on study skills, time management, organization, and learning strategies. Develop and implement personalized academic plans that include course selection, registration guidance, curriculum mapping, major/minor exploration, and long-term degree planning. Monitor NCAA, conference, and institutional eligibility requirements; track progress toward degree; and maintain accurate records in compliance with all regulations. Review faculty progress reports, tutor feedback, attendance, and grades to proactively identify concerns and implement targeted interventions. Coordinate structured study hall programming, monitor attendance, and prepare detailed academic reports for coaching staffs. Prepare and distribute official travel letters to faculty to communicate student-athlete absences due to team travel and competition, ensuring alignment with institutional policies and supporting academic continuity. Oversee and support high-risk student-athlete populations, including high-profile students, those with learning disabilities, and those who are academically underprepared, by establishing clear goals and tracking progress. Coordinate tutoring services, provide tutors with guidance and session plans, and review incoming student-athlete academic records to inform support strategies. Support transfer student-athletes by facilitating a smooth transition, including evaluating transfer credits, collaborating on course equivalencies, and developing degree plans aligned with NCAA requirements.
• Serves as a trusted advocate for student-athletes within an evolving athletics landscape, while acting as a critical liaison between coaching staff and academic administration to uphold academic integrity and eligibility in a high-pressure environment. Provide leadership in shaping and implementing academic support structures that balance compliance, retention, and student development in a high-stakes, high-visibility setting. Proactively anticipate and mitigate academic risk through strategic planning, early intervention, and consistent communication, particularly for student-athletes navigating professional-level compensation, frequent roster movement due to the transfer portal, and complex team dynamics.
• Compile semester grade summaries, eligibility reports, and academic updates for coaches and administrators. Contribute to the preparation and tracking of each team's NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) and Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and NCAA Eligibility Certification. Attend and participate in team meetings as appropriate to support academic messaging and accountability.
• Maintain consistent and professional communication with student-athletes, coaches, faculty, and campus partners. Respond promptly to inquiries and regularly communicate important academic deadlines, policies, and key dates throughout the academic year. Cultivate collaborative relationships across campus, including academic advising centers, dean's offices, faculty, academic departments, and student support services. Facilitate referrals and coordinate resources to ensure holistic academic support for student-athletes.
• Support former student-athletes in returning to the University to complete their degrees by providing individualized degree completion plans, reviewing previously earned and remaining requirements, and coordinating with academic departments and the Registrar to facilitate re-enrollment. Offer ongoing advising and support to ensure a successful transition back to the academic environment and timely progress toward graduation.
• Perform other duties and assist with projects as assigned.
• Remain current on national trends in student-athlete academic support, NCAA legislation, and best practices.
• Assist with NCAA, conference and Villanova academic award nominations, recruiting presentations for prospective student-athletes, incoming freshmen scheduling with the Registrar's Office, and faculty receptions/department events.
• Participate in professional organizations (e.g., N4A), conferences, and campus professional development opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications

Formal Education
* Bachelor's Degree in Counseling, Higher Education, Sport Administration or related field

Work Experience
* 1-3 years experience working in higher education, academic advising, counseling or other related field

Work Skills (e.g., written and verbal communication skills)
* Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
* Exceptional oral and written communication skills
* Ability to work in a team environment
* Ability to work with groups and individuals with diverse backgrounds
* Ability to handle multiple projects, priorities and deadlines in a fast paced environment
* Available to work evening and weekend hours and some travel

Equipment Knowledge
* Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
* Ability and willingness to learn new technologies

Preferred Qualifications

Formal Education
* Master's Degree in Counseling, Higher Education, Sport Administration or related field

Work Experience
* 2-3 years experience working in athletic academic advising and/or counseling; experience with student-athletes preferred
* N4A (National Associate of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals) member

Work Skills (e.g., written and verbal communication skills)
* Demonstrated advising skills

Specific Job Knowledge (e.g., knowledge of principles and procedures related to field and area)
* Experience in intercollegiate athletics and knowledge and understanding of NCAA Division I rules and regulations
* Understanding of academic advising principles and student development theory

Equipment Knowledge
* Experience with student information systems (e.g., Banner) and academic tracking software (e.g., DegreeWorks or similar platforms)

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours
Available to work evening and weekend hours and some travel

Closing Date (11:59pm ET)
05/05/2026

Salary Posting Information
This position falls within salaried grade 13 and the range is $51,000-63,800. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate's qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.

Salary Grade
13

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