Director of Player Development

 

Duke Athletics is firmly committed to our values of respect, trust, inclusion, discovery, and excellence, and to continuing our work to be an equitable and inclusive environment for all. Our collective success within and beyond the competitive arena depends on each community member being and feeling welcomed, respected, and valued. Through continuous education, reflection, humility, and accountability, we strive to develop leaders who embody these ideals. .

Be You.

At Duke University, we believe in developing the whole student-athlete—on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. As the Director of Player Development, Football, you’ll play a critical role in supporting the personal, academic, and professional growth of our football student-athletes. You’ll serve as a trusted resource, advocate, and connector, helping players navigate day-to-day challenges while fostering accountability, engagement, and success. You’ll work closely with coaches, academic support staff, athletics partners, and campus programs to ensure each student-athlete has the structure and support needed to thrive at Duke and beyond.

Be Bold.

This role requires initiative, adaptability, and a hands-on approach to student-athlete development. You’ll be empowered to lead programs, manage logistics, and solve problems in real time—often in fast-paced and high-stakes environments.

What You’ll Do:

Player Support & Accountability

• Serve as the primary point of contact for football student-athletes regarding personal concerns, daily issues, and accountability matters
• Address situations such as missed obligations, oversleeping, and personal challenges in collaboration with coaching and support staff
• Manage and assign curfew checks during preseason camp, home games, and away travel

Academic & Campus Engagement

• Act as a liaison between football student-athletes and academic support services
• Coordinate and monitor class checks and report attendance issues to coaching and strength staff
• Assist academic staff in resolving student-athlete issues as they arise
• Coordinate post-practice transportation to ensure timely arrival to classes when needed

Programming & Development Initiatives

• Coordinate guest speakers and player development programming
• Manage and expand community service initiatives for the football program
• Track and manage player attendance at required sessions hosted by Futures, ACE, and other Duke or Athletics programs

Team Operations & Travel

• Manage home and away player ticket distribution
• Travel with the team for away games, including:
  • Managing attendance and curfew checks at hotels and team functions
  • Assisting with TSA screening check-in
  • Supporting player guest ticket needs in coordination with the ticket office
• Attend the team hotel the night before home games and manage attendance and curfews

Recruiting & Onboarding Support

• Support recruiting efforts during home games and special events
• Assist with pre-game and in-game recruiting logistics
• Coordinate new player orientation and move-in logistics in partnership with the Senior Director of Football Recruitment

Collaboration & Program Support

• Attend staff meetings, practices, recruiting events, and departmental meetings as needed
• Support the football operations and recruiting departments as required
• Perform additional duties that contribute to the overall success of the Duke Football Program

Choose Duke.

Duke University offers a dynamic and collaborative athletics environment where innovation, integrity, and excellence are expected and supported. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke provides the opportunity to work within a nationally respected football program while being part of a world-class academic institution committed to student development.

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

Education

Work requires communications, analytical and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a bachelor's degree program.

 

Experience

Work requires the ability to plan and administer programs and direct program activities within a specific functional area, generally acquired through four years of related experience. OR ANY OTHER EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

 

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

Work requires the ability to plan and administer programs and direct program activities within a specific functional area, gen