How to Answer: If you were informed your budget would be cut by 15%, how would you address this shortfall?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Athletic Director job interview.
27. If you were informed your budget would be cut by 15%, how would you address this shortfall?
What You Need to Know
Whether you recruited the help of your booster club for fundraising efforts or reduced your team's travel or the number of games, share how you dealt with and troubleshot the issue if this has happened to you. If this hasn't happened, showcase your resourcefulness and management skills by breaking down the steps you would consider. Before your interview, spend time familiarizing yourself with the institution's budget you are interviewing with, and try to come up with options that are realistic and applicable to them.
Written by Kevin Downey on December 29th, 2022
Entry Level Example
"I suppose it depends on where the budget currently stood and what there was to work with. I recently had a conversation with an athletic director who ran a program that was already well under budget and then suffered cuts by another 20%. They had no choice but to shift the entire athletic program to a lower division. But I would evaluate everything, carefully weigh all my options, and try to think of several viable options. I would then hold a meeting with all our stakeholders and see what we could come up with."
Written by Kevin Downey on December 29th, 2022
Answer Example
"I'd implement cutbacks evenly across all the institutions' sports. I'd recruit the parents to contribute to expenses, such as athletic physicals and fees. I'd ramp up fundraising efforts, build relationships with higher wealth donors, restructure the financial support tiers, and possibly recruit parents for fundraising."
Written by Kevin Downey on December 29th, 2022
Experienced Example
"I suppose it depends on the institution, their priorities, and community involvement. I would avoid any cuts that would create controversies, such as eliminating any sport that brings national attention to the institution, eliminating any boys' or girls' sports, or eliminating athletic trainers or staff. I might double up on schedules to save on transportation costs and restrict the range of travel, trying to keep it more localized. I would evaluate any big-ticket items, like construction, renovations of facilities, or scholarships."
Written by Kevin Downey on December 29th, 2022