Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Leadership and Human Resource Development
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
This basic qualitative study explored how directors of student-athlete development departments use Human Resource Development (HRD) practices to create new and better ways to support college athletes. The research questions framing this study were: 1) How do student-athlete development professionals perceive the role of Human Resource Development (HRD) practices in promoting innovation within their field? 2) How do HRD practices contribute to or hinder innovation within student-athlete development departments from the perspective of student-athlete development directors at Division I institutions? 3) From the perspective of student-athlete development directors, how do HRD practices facilitate or impede innovation in their departments? Through interviews with 11 professionals at Power Four Division I schools, four main themes were identified: (1) Beyond the Scoreboard: Cultivating Complete Student-Athletes, (2) The Connection Advantage: Building Development Through Meaningful Relationships (3) Evolution in Action: Creating Responsive Development Pathways, and (4) Strategic Resilience: Maximizing Impact with Limited Resources. These findings reveal that effective student-athlete development requires an integrated approach that addresses four critical dimensions: (1) holistic identity development that prepares athletes for inevitable career transitions, (2) relationship-centered practices that serve as primary developmental infrastructure rather than merely support, (3) adaptive programming that responds to rapidly evolving needs through organizational learning cycles, and (4) strategic resource management that leverages constraints as innovation catalysts. The study contributes a new theoretical framework for HRD in time-limited athletic contexts while providing practical guidance for athletic departments seeking to maximize student-athlete success both during and beyond their collegiate careers.
Date
5-22-2025
Recommended Citation
Cryer, Kadaja D., "EXPLORING DIRECTORS’ PERCEPTIONS OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES IN FOSTERING INNOVATION WITHIN DIVISION I STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS: A BASIC INTERPRETIVE STUDY" (2025). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 6805.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/6805
Committee Chair
Robinson, Petra