Several parents complain that a coach plays favorites. After evaluating the situation, you realize this is true. How do you address the situation?

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Entry Level Example
Answer Example
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As an athletic director, you have a critical role to play and must display above-average communication skills to communicate differently with students, parents, and coaches. You'll have to showcase excellent communication skills in written form, as well as verbal and non-verbal forms. While answering this question, share the communication approach you would take with the students and the parents and the corrective action you would take with the coach in question.

"I would assure the parents that I would talk with our coaches and get to the bottom of it. I would then pull the coach in question aside and weigh all the circumstances before making a decision. I would help the coach develop a winning strategy where everyone is happy."

I would have a frank conversation with the coach, informing them of my conversation with the parents and relaying their concerns and my observations. I would give them a chance to respond and remind them that we should be coaching all our players equally. We want every member of the team to shine; otherwise, there will be less collaboration and less opportunity for success.

I've run into this issue a few times; however, I don't wait for the parents to come around before I address the situation. I challenge my coaches to not play favorites and to identify the strengths of every teammate. Too often, they state that they are trying to help me, and my budgeting concerns, by promoting their best players. The six words I've heard too often are, 'you want to win, don't you?' To which I reply, when a good coach is doing their job, every one of their players is their top player.