If you work in college athletics, chances are January doesn’t feel like a fresh start. You’re not easing into a new year— you’re:
- Deep in winter seasons
- Planning for spring competition
- Managing NIL questions daily
- Balancing compliance, education, and risk
- Possibly doing the work of more than one role
Sound familiar? So as I like to think, “new year, new goals” doesn’t always apply. But a mid-year reset does. Here are practical ways athletic administrators can reassess workload, protect capacity, and finish the winter and spring seasons strong—without burning out.
1. Reassess what actually needs your time. When staffing is tight, everything can feel urgent- but not everything requires you. Try this quick reset:
- What tasks only you can do
- What tasks could be templated, automated, or delegated
- What tasks are “nice to have” vs. truly necessary
Even a small reduction in decision fatigue creates breathing room.
Tip: If you’re answering the same NIL or compliance questions repeatedly, that’s a sign something needs to be centralized—not repeated.
2. Shift from reactive to “structured support” for NIL. Many admins are overwhelmed not because NIL is too big—but because it’s too fragmented.
Instead of:
- One-off conversations
- Last-minute approvals
- Repeating the same guidance
Consider:
- Clear FAQs for athletes
- Office hours vs. constant interruptions
- Approved resource lists (financial, legal, branding)
- Standard language athletes can reference
You don’t need to be an NIL expert.
You need a system that reduces friction and risk.
3. Acknowledge role creep (then set boundaries). Many administrators are quietly carrying:
- Extra teams
- Added responsibilities
- Temporary gaps that became permanent
- Emotional labor that’s never tracked
If that’s you, pause and ask:
- What was added to my plate this year?
- What never came off?
- What assumptions are people making about my availability?
This isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing the right things sustainably.
4. Create “seasonal wins,” not massive overhauls. Mid-year is not the time for full system rebuilds. Instead, aim for:
- One improved workflow
- One clearer communication channel
- One athlete education piece that saves time later
- One process you won’t have to rethink next year
Small wins compound—especially when capacity is limited.
5. Use cross-department alignment to reduce redundancy. Compliance, NIL, student-athlete development, and academics often overlap—but operate in silos. Ask:
- Where are we duplicating education?
- Where can messaging be aligned?
- What information can be shared earlier?
Alignment doesn’t add work—it removes it.
6. Redefine what “finishing strong” actually means. Finishing strong doesn’t always mean more initiatives, programing or availability. Sometimes it looks like:
- Fewer mistakes
- Clearer expectations
- Athletes better prepared to make decisions
- Admins still standing in April
That counts.
If you’re feeling underwater, you’re not failing—you’re responding to a system that’s still evolving. Mid-year isn’t about reinvention. It’s about stabilizing, simplifying, and protecting the people doing the work.
Athletics departments don’t run on resolutions.
They run on resilient, thoughtful administrators.
And that’s already happening—whether it gets acknowledged or not. Stay strong out there!