Abstract
Statement of Problem The purpose of this work was to examine collegiate female coaches and male and female athletic directors at the NCAA Division 1 level about the decline of women coaches after the passing of Title IX in 1972, focusing on women sports within the Mountain West Conference and what factors played major roles in the decline of female coaches on the women side of sports. Furthermore, it showed what major affects this decline of female coaches had on collegiate female athletes. Additionally, this study measured the potential strategies to retain and promote female coaches in NCAA Division 1 athletics. Sources of Data The goal of this study was to survey all female head coaches and assistant coaches coaching female sports and male and female athletic directors within the Mountain West Conference at the Division 1 level. This survey would determine why there is a decline of female coaches at the Division 1 level, how perceptions of gender roles contributed to a decrease of female coaches at the collegiate level, and what potential strategies could be implemented to help promote female coaching positions and improve retention of female coaches at the collegiate Division 1 level. Only qualitative research was done for this study. The research instrument used was an open-ended 14-question survey sent to participants who choose to participate in this study. An open-ended question format was used in order to get more analysis about the questions asked in which more depth was added in the data collected. Surveys and questionnaires within qualitative research allowed the researcher to collect large amounts of data in a relatively shorter amount of time and with a larger participant population (Mills, 2017). This survey was created solely by the researcher through research and personal experience as a female collegiate coach. The researcher used the same survey for all participants in order to gain appropriate responses to answer the research questions stated above. Conclusions Reached Content analysis of the 68 participants, female collegiate coaches and male and female athletic directors of the Mountain West Conference found that the decline of female collegiate coaches was mostly due to the passing of the 1972 Amendment Act, Title IX. Title IX was passed to bring parity to females in collegiate athletics to their male counterparts. Although female student-athletes were positively affected by Title IX, it negatively affected female collegiate coaches. This negative affect was due to increased job positions and additional money put into the female collegiate sports teams. Other factors that contributed to this decline of female collegiate coaches were coaching inequalities, pay discrepancies, balancing professional and personal lives, along with hiring/firing decisions made by athletic directors. Besides Title IX, most participants in this study found that work/life balance mostly contributed to female coaches leaving the profession. They felt as though there was not enough support from athletic departments to juggle being working mothers. Recommendations from these participants included better childcare options and more support and a family friendly work environment. Lastly, participants felt that the lack of continued education in this profession deterred women coaches. With the coaching profession constantly evolving, they felt as though more education is necessary to maintain their success and become the best coach they can be in their professions. In the future, Division 1 schools will be partnering with the Alliance of Women Coaches to put on leadership conferences for women coaches. Hopefully, this will help retain and promote female coaches at the collegiate level.