When they called her name to receive the Division II Excellence Award, Angela Red, the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance/SWA at McKendree University, was ready for the moment. She projected confidence and expressed gratitude to those who had helped facilitate her spectacular rise in the compliance profession.
Those who know her best weren’t surprised. They also know that this is merely the first chapter for Red, and that a promising future awaits. The Journal of NCAA Compliance caught up with Red to learn more about her ascension through the ranks.
Question: At what point did you know that you wanted to work in collegiate athletics?
Answer: Initially, I always had an interest in health and fitness. I realized my junior year in college that I wanted to work in college athletics. My former college soccer coach at the University of Missouri-St. Louis also served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance & SWA. From watching what she did on a daily basis and in talking with her, I became interested in compliance. Once I had my mind set on compliance, I focused on the next steps I needed to take to advance into the field.
Q: What were the lessons you took from your experience as an intern at the Great Lakes Valley Conference office?
A: I learned that although I may not have interest in all areas within college athletics, I should be open to learning and experiencing it all. It is great to work outside of your comfort zone, learn new things, and be able to adapt. I was also able to better understand the membership structure, meaning from the NCAA level to conference offices down to member institutions, and how all three work together and the roles that all 3 serve.
Q: You have rapidly excelled in the compliance profession. What factors have contributed to that success?
A: I have been fortunate to have mentors that have pushed me to become involved not only at my institution, but at the conference and national level as well. I am a person who is always looking new ways to “teach” compliance, so I am constantly reaching out to other compliance administrators to learn about what they are doing and to build relationships. We are all in this together. My involvement with NAAC over the years has helped as well in trying to advance in the compliance profession and community.
Q: Tell us about the experience of McKendree’s transition process from the NAIA to full membership in NCAA Division II?
A: The membership transition process from NAIA to DII was a challenging, but worthwhile experience. I was able to come in and build our compliance department and processes. There was a huge learning curve for the university, but everyone was great at adapting and working together. Outside of just compliance, it was tremendous to learn about every other aspect of the department and university. Everyone on the athletics administration staff had a hand in ensuring our transition was a success, in all areas, which was a tremendous learning experience. I look back on it now and see how much of a rewarding experience it was.
Q: What is the biggest challenge of running a compliance program at a Division II school?
A: Several compliance administrators on campus wear multiple hats. For instance, I am in charge of compliance, but oversee sport programs and support staff, serve as the SWA and SAAC Advisor, etc. It becomes a challenge at times to ensure that you are managing all of those responsibilities effectively and to the best of your ability. I say that it’s a challenge, but I pride myself on being extremely organized, manage my time well, and that I am here to serve our university and student-athletes. So, you just get it done. It may serve as a challenge to some, but I embrace the role that I serve and love what I do.
Q: Besides overseeing compliance, you are the SWA, have Title IX responsibilities, and are active in NAAC and the NCAA. How do you juggle all of these things?
A: Again, I pride myself on my time management as well as organizational skills to complete tasks. You have to plan as much as you are able, but must also be flexible and mindful that unforeseen meetings, discussions may come up every day. If you have a willingness to learn, you must be willing to put in the time and effort to get the job done.
Q: We know about the culture of entitlement at the Division I level. Is there anything like that at Division II?
A: Most DII institutions have smaller staffs than at the DI level. With that being said, there are fewer staff members at a DII institution to complete all tasks within the athletics department. It is imperative that the staff work well together, and help each other to provide an overall great experience to the student-athletes because at the end of the day, that is the reason we are here.
Q: Who has been the biggest influence on your career and why?
A: My mother and father. They instilled in me at a very young age to remain humble, strive for greatness, and with effort and hard work I could achieve anything that I set out to achieve. At first, It was hard to get into college athletics. But I never gave up. I was determined and I kept working at it until I was afforded the opportunity at the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Once I was able to get that experience, it opened many more doors for me. I am truly thankful for where I am today.
